Tanzania Photo Safaris
Experience incredible moments in nature and take them home on your camera
WIDE HORIZONS, MAGICAL COLOURS AND FASCINATING WILDLIFE CREATE THE PERFECT NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY DESTINATION
Tanzania’s diverse topography and wildlife combine to create a dream destination for photographers. Capture the low warm light that casts long shadows across the landscape and makes the wildlife’s eyes sparkle. Capture a story in a single photo as cheetahs stalk a gazelle in the short grass of the Serengeti plains and a lion mother returns home to her hungry cubs from a successful hunt. What do you need to make this happen? A private safari with an adapted 4×4 Land Cruiser and an experienced guide who knows how to get you to the right place, at the right time to compose the perfect shot. We got you covered!
Just like me, our Guide Max has a passion for photography so it was a pleasure having him as a guide since he was very understanding and supportive when I wanted to stop or drive to a certain spot to take pictures.Jannik | Tanzania Photo Safaris
When to go
The dry season is the best time for wildlife photography, whilst landscape photography is at its best during or after the rains. For those hoping to photograph the night sky the cloudless dry season is the time for you. We recommend avoiding the most popular parks during the most popular travel time. Instead, travel to niche parks or during the low and shoulder season. You will have equally exciting wildlife sightings without humans and vehicles disturbing your perfect shot.
Dry Season
June until OctoberBest time for wildlife and night-sky photography
June until OctoberBest time for wildlife and night-sky photography
Tanzania’s main dry season is from June to October. Depending on your location the temperatures range from 20°C (68°F) to 30°C (86°F). Humidity levels are low with minimal chance of rain. It can be very cold in the mornings and evenings when the light is at its best, so remember to pack warm clothes. The second dry season from January to February is wedged between two rainy seasons and the landscapes can be beautifully green.
Rainy Season
March until MayIdeal for dramatic landscape photography
March until MayIdeal for dramatic landscape photography
The long rains occur from March to May when heavy moist air is brought inland by the trade winds. Heavy daily rain with landscape-crossing thunderstorms creates dramatic contrasting light and colours. It is the low season and some areas on the Southern and Westerly Circuit may not be accessible. The short rains are less predictable and occur from November to December in short bursts. These are both great periods for landscape photography.
Accommodations
SLEEP WHERE THE WILDLIFE SLEEPS
We suggest staying inside the national parks in accommodation in direct proximity to wildlife. This means, on early morning game drives, you do not have very far to go and can start capturing the sunrise magic right away. And in the evening, you can take advantage of the last light. Some select camps even have a photography hide. Our Mobile Explorer Camp, with all home comforts, is one of the best ways to access remote places to take wildlife photography. You stay on private campsites inside the national parks – dusk to dawn and even nighttime photography!
Highlights of a photo safari in Tanzania
What to expect on Tanzania photography safaris
The best photography safari in Tanzania is a private experience in an adapted 4×4. Get the most out of your safari by choosing a set of photography goals and travelling with our experienced guides who know how to get you to the right places to realise your photographic bucket list.
What to see on photo safaris in Tanzania
Here are some themes to consider on your photo safari in Tanzania:
Landscape photography
Tanzania is home to extraordinarily beautiful landscapes. The red Lake Natron and the looming volcano of Ol Doinyo Lengai offer extraordinary landscape photography. As does Ngorongoro Crater with the world’s largest intact caldera; Mkomazi National Park has incredible views of Mount Kilimanjaro; Ruaha National Park is home to ginormous mystical baobab trees; Kilimanjaro National Park has five distinct vegetative zones and Saadani National Park is where the savannah meets the beach.
Wildlife Photography
You can achieve exceptional wildlife photography, with fewer visitors in the Ruaha National Park and Nyerere National Park & Selous Game Reserve on the Southern Circuit. They form a huge ecosystem where vast numbers of wildlife reside, including the Big Five. At Gombe Stream National Park you can get close to chimpanzees and other primates.
Bird Photography
Tarangire National Park offers exceptional dry-season bird photography as does Mahale Mountains National Park on the white beaches of Lake Tanganyika.
Urban Photography
Tanzania has a complex history due to the trade of enslaved people, ivory, and spices. In Zanzibar’s Stone Town, you can see remnants of this history everywhere. The warm light cast on unique Islam-influenced stone buildings contrasts with the deep colours of Zanzibaris’ clothing to create exceptional urban photography.
Equipment and facilities for photography safaris in Tanzania
On a private guided photography safari, the right vehicle is vital. Ours have roof hatches that allow you to stand through the roof. With nothing to obstruct your view you never miss a moment – like a cheetah during a hunt. All of our vehicles have USB ports to charge spare batteries.
Our guides have years of experience and know exactly how to get into the right place, at the right time. As they know the parks intimately, they can help you to locate the animals on your bucket list.
A safari is notoriously dusty. We recommend bringing multiple camera bodies to avoid changing lenses and using dry bags to keep dust out of sensitive equipment.
How to plan a photography safari
Capturing extraordinary wildlife photography is at its best at ground level, but for obvious reasons, this is not a safe option. However, it can be possible by choosing:
- Accommodations with photography hides. Situated near waterholes and rivers, eye-level wildlife photography can be achieved when animals arrive to quench their thirst.
- A guided walking safari is when ground-level photography can be at its best. Notice little details, such as a dung beetle rolling a ball of dung in the foreground, whilst zebras stand blurred in the background.
- A guided boat safari for exciting river wildlife photography. Nyerere National Park is the best place to do this. At Saadani National Park, during a boat safari, you can capture how the beach transitions to mangroves and then wide-open plains.
Other top tips include choosing:
- Times when natural phenomena occur, like the wildebeest migration from June to October or the wildebeest calving season from January to February. Both take place in the Serengeti National Park. Or witness ~5 million flamingos on Lake Natron from September to May. Or see hundreds of hippos crammed into muddy pools whilst countless crocodiles reside in river caves during the dry season at Katavi National Park. Or experience a mini wildebeest migration with huge herds of elephants as an added bonus at Tarangire National Park.
- Places of great character, like Udzungwa Mountain National Park, accessed only on foot offer exceptional forest photography with sweeping views and cascading waterfalls. Or Arusha National Park where from a canoe on Lake Momella you can photograph hippos with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.
- Incredible parks, champions of conservation, such as Mkomazi National Park where the Wild Dog and Black Rhino were reintroduced.
- The shoulder seasons between the high and low seasons to experience fewer visitors in the parks.
Experience Tanzania with us
Speak to one of our travel experts
Let's start planning your trip!
We will get back to you within 2 working days.