How to Capture Jaw-Dropping Safari Photos

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a safari. The smell of the dust, the golden light of dawn spreading across the savannah, and the heart-stopping moment a lion emerges from the tall grass—it’s a memory you’ll want to hold on to forever. But for many, capturing perfect, frame-worthy safari photos can feel intimidating. Will your pictures be blurry? Will the animals be too far away?

But don’t worry. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take stunning safari photos. With a few key tips on gear, settings, and technique, you can come home with incredible images that tell the story of your adventure. One piece of advice that will have the biggest impact on your photos is to spend some time preparing yourself by familiarising yourself with whatever equipment you plan to use on safari.

The right gear (and what you already have)

The first rule of safari photography is simple: the best camera is the one you have with you. While professional gear can make a difference, you can still capture amazing moments with a modern smartphone.

Your smartphone: A surprisingly powerful tool

While a dedicated camera with a telephoto lens is ideal for capturing close-ups of distant wildlife, don’t underestimate the capabilities of the device you carry with you every day. Modern smartphones have features that are perfect for capturing special moments on safari and for getting creative with your shots.

• Unrivalled convenience: Your phone is always on, in your hand, and ready to shoot. This means you’ll never miss a spontaneous moment—from the stunning sunrise over the plains to small details that sometimes make big memories around the lodge.
• Don’t zoom, crop: Instead of using the digital zoom, which can result in blurry, low-quality photos, take a wider shot and then crop in later when editing. The high-resolution sensors in modern phones give you plenty of detail to work with.
• Embrace the “other” lenses: Many new phones have multiple lenses. The wide-angle lens is fantastic for capturing vast landscapes, showing a herd of elephants against a sweeping backdrop, or taking a memorable photo of your vehicle and fellow travellers.
• Burst mode for the win: The action on a safari can happen in a flash. Use your phone’s burst mode (by holding down the shutter button) to take a rapid-fire series of photos. This increases your chances of capturing a perfectly timed shot of a bird taking flight or a cheetah starting a sprint.
• The magic of computational photography: Modern phones use AI and software to create amazing effects. Portrait mode can add a professional-looking blurred background to a close-up of a unique plant or a fellow traveller. The built-in Night Mode can help you get surprisingly clear photos of the stars or the campfire at night.
• Pro-Tip: Check your storage! All these amazing modes and high-resolution shots can quickly fill up your phone’s memory. Before you leave for your trip, take a moment to free up space by backing up and deleting any old photos, videos, and apps you no longer need. This ensures you have plenty of room to capture every magical moment.

Getting the most out of more professional gear

Some camps and lodges have rental photographic equipment for you to use on safari, along with experts to help you get up to speed on the techniques they require. If you are looking to upgrade your own gear or are keen to use more professional equipment, here’s a quick guide to the essentials so that your safari photos are perfect:

• The lens is key: Your camera body is important, but a good telephoto zoom lens can make a big difference, even perhaps allowing you to get the shot you might otherwise have missed. An animal might be a hundred metres away, so a lens with a focal length of 300 mm or more is a must-have for those tight close-ups. Consider using a wide-angle lens to capture the vastness of the landscape and show the animals in their environment. The best lens you can afford can improve your photography more than upgrading your camera body.
• Don’t forget the small stuff: Ensure you have plenty of extra batteries and memory cards. There’s nothing worse than running out of power or storage just as the leopard you have been tracking is spotted.
• Stability is important: A beanbag or monopod is also far more practical than a traditional tripod while on safari. They provide stability inside the vehicle without taking up too much space.
• Keep it clean: Whether you are using an iPhone, Samsung, or the latest full-frame DSLR, a small lens cleaning kit (a blower brush and microfibre cloth) will be your best friend against the ever-present dust.

Mastering your camera settings

Getting to know your camera before you go is the single best thing you can do. Practise on your pets, children or birds in your backyard to get a feel for these key settings:

• Shutter speed: This is arguably the most crucial setting for wildlife. You need a fast shutter speed (1/1000 sec or faster) to freeze the action and prevent blurry photos, especially when an animal is on the move. Of course, in order to use a fast shutter speed, there needs to be sufficient light to expose the image, so in low light, this might mean you need to use a higher ISO setting.
• Aperture (f-stop): To make your subject stand out, use a low f-stop number (like f/4 or f/5.6). This creates a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and putting all the focus on the animal.
• ISO: This setting controls how sensitive your camera’s sensor is to light. Use a low ISO (like 100 or 200) in bright daylight to get crisp, clean images. When the light is low, like at dawn or dusk, you can increase your ISO, but be mindful that it can introduce noise or “grain” into your photos.
• Go with Shutter Priority: If you’re not comfortable shooting in manual mode, use your camera’s Shutter Priority mode (often marked “Tv” for “time value” or “S”). This lets you control the shutter speed, and the camera automatically sets the other settings for a proper exposure.

Some of the fancier smartphone cameras also have these settings, so knowing how to put them to good use will help you make the most of the creative control they offer.

The art of safari photography

Once you have the technical side covered, it’s time to get creative.

• Work with the light: The best time for photos is during the “golden hours” just after sunrise and before sunset. This soft, warm light creates beautiful shadows and an incredible atmosphere. Avoid shooting in the harsh midday sun, which can wash out colours. Many of the game drives occur in the early morning or late afternoon, which is when the light is best for you to catch a great shot.
• Focus on the eyes: A photo of a wild animal feels truly alive when the eyes are in sharp focus. Always aim to lock your focus on the animal’s eyes.
• Control composition: Don’t just centre your subject. Use the rule of thirds, an imaginary grid that divides your frame into nine sections. Placing your subject along the lines or at the intersections creates a more balanced and dynamic image.
• Find your perspective: Try to shoot at the animal’s eye level if you can do so safely. This creates a more intimate and personal feel. Also, remember to take both close-ups and wider shots that show the animal in its natural habitat.

The unwritten rules of the bush

While on game drives, your driver-guide’s highest priorities are your safety and the well-being of the animals. Here are a few tips on safari etiquette and how to make the most of your game drives:

• Be quiet and patient: Moving and speaking softly will avoid startling the animals. The best shots often come from simply waiting and observing.
• Listen to your guide: Your safari guide is an expert. He knows the animals’ behaviour and the area. Always follow his instructions. Driver-guides advice is golden. Many of them are also skilled photographers and are trying to ensure you get the best shot possible.
• Sometimes, put the camera down: While getting great photos is fun, don’t forget to enjoy the moment as you experience the magic of a safari with your own eyes and ears. The sights and sounds of the bush are a big part of the experience. Having great stories to tell is as important as the safari photos you will take.

Bonus Tip: Make the most of photographic hides and bunkers

Many lodges and camps, especially those specialising in photography, have invested in dedicated hides and bunkers.

These are often strategically located near a waterhole or a well-used game trail, offering a unique opportunity to get incredibly close to the wildlife without disturbing them.

• Get a new perspective: Hides are often at or below eye level with the animals. This low-angle perspective creates powerful, intimate photos that feel completely different from shots taken from a safari vehicle.
• Patience is a virtue: Hides require patience. Settle in, get comfortable, and wait for the animals to come to you. This is an opportunity to observe their natural behaviour without the time pressure of being in a moving vehicle.
• Use a tripod or monopod: Unlike a safari vehicle, where a beanbag is often best, a sturdy tripod or monopod is ideal in a hide. It allows you to stabilise your camera for long periods and take sharper, more detailed photos, especially in low-light conditions.

There are also sometimes photography studios at lodges or camps where an expert can assist you with post-production and printing techniques to really make your photos pop!

Ready to capture your own unforgettable moments?

Are you ready to start planning your next photographic adventure? Connect with one of our travel experts by calling our reservations hotline on +442084233000. They can help turn your safari dreams into reality.

Inspire your travel dreams. Sign up for our weekly Somak Luxury Travel newsletters for the latest trending travel offers and editorials by clicking on this link: Newsletter Sign Up