Classic Safari Photography

Warning: This is a technical reply that only camera enthusiasts might find useful. It is not necessary to bring an expensive camera. Several people on my safaris used only their iPhone cameras and got very nice photos of nearby animals.

I did Africa's Wildlife in 2015 and the Classic Safari in 2016. Both safaris were during the dry season when dust is more of a problem. Each time I took two Canon 7D Mark II cameras (crop-sensor like your DX Nikon D500). One of the 7D’s was my own and the other one I rented from lensrentals.com (a very good rental company). On my 7D was my EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II and the other body had my EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS. Several other travelers brought DSLRs with a single zoom lens but I was the only one with 2 bodies.

I don't think you'll want to change lenses. It isn't simple to change lenses in the trucks and you'll miss action while switching. But more than that is the dusty environment I found in Kenya and Tanzania. I'm positive you'll end up with dust on your sensor if you remove lenses in the truck. I tried to keep the front of my lenses dust-free but the bodies got quite dusty. I wasn't able to clean that dust off until after I was home.

So if you have one body I'd plan on keeping the same lens on it at all times while in the truck.

If you want two cameras you could take one DSLR and a high-quality point-and-shoot (like a Sony RX100) or take 2 DSLRs. If you take 2 DSLRS, I think that one ought to have at least 300mm to get sufficient "reach." Your 200-500 lens is a great choice. For the second lens you might want something wider than your 35mm. The animals are sometimes very close. While in Ngorongoro, a young male lion urinated on the rear tire of my truck - only feet from where I was sitting. I'd take your 18-200.

One problem with 2 DSLRs is figuring out how you will handle them in the truck. You won't need to walk very far with 2 cameras but you will need to juggle them while in the truck. At home I use a Joby Pro Sling Strap. I like it much better than a neck strap and I like it better than a Black Rapid Sling Strap. The camera I used most (the 100-400) was on my right hip and its Joby strap was "on top." The camera I used least (the 17-55) was on my left hip and its Joby sling strap was put on first so it was "under" the other strap. It was very easy to get at my 100-400. Getting at the 17-55 wasn't as convenient but wasn't a problem. Black Rapid makes a Double Strap designed for two DSLRs that might have worked better. But 2 neck straps would be fine I'm sure.

On the Africa’s Wildlife safari I took a monopod thinking I’d use it in the Africa's Wildlife open truck. I used it only once. For the Classic Safari I took a camera Bean Bag filled with lightweight buckwheat hulls to use with the pop-top roofs of the Classic Safari vans and Land Cruisers. I never used it nor did I use the dusty Bean Bags that the driver carried in his truck.

On the airplane the cameras and lenses were in a camera backpack that I carried on the plane. The weight of the backpack was way more than the 15 pounds the airline permitted as a carry-on. I tried to lift and wear the backpack in a way that disguised the true weight. I wasn’t questioned about the backpack but if I had been questioned I would have objected to checking the bag and cameras because of the $5800 value and the fragile nature of my 2 cameras and 2 lenses. If it became necessary I was ready to put lenses into pants pockets and hang cameras around my neck - then their weight wouldn’t count as a carry-on bag! The overseas airline has a 15-pound weight limit on carry-on bags and I clearly exceeded that but Odysseys didn’t have a problem with the excess weight of my carry-on. Prior to the trip I asked Odysseys about the weight of my camera backpack carry-on and they said it was OK. And it wasn't a problem in the trucks.

My checked bag was well under the 33-pound weight limit that Odyssey listed for the trip. My checked bag weighed only 26 pounds (including several pounds of gifts for a Maasai school) and I had all I needed. My Patagonia 60L Black Hole duffle weighed only a 2.5 pounds empty and easily held my gear. You don't need a new outfit every day - it's a safari. I packed carefully and wore the same clothes a couple of times before washing them. The animals didn’t care and other travelers were doing the same. 

Africa is my favorite destination. The Odyssey safaris were fantastic. They’re not a “Photography Safari” (intended only for serious photographers) but I’m certain you’ll get some great photos. But don’t spend all your time with your eye to the viewfinder. Africa is a special place. Take time to just look around. Smell the air. Listen to the sounds. Talk to the drivers and others. Ask your driver to teach you how to sing "Jambo Bwana." Make sure you really experience Africa.