Wildlife Photography in Tanzania revolves around two seasons: The Dry Season and the Green Season. During the green season, there are two rainfall periods: the short rains, which occur from November to December, and the long rains, which happen from March to May. Each affects the landscape and the types of pictures one comes back with.
If you want to fill your gallery and Instagram feed with the best of Tanzania? Come with us. Check out this guide for the best time for wildlife photography in Tanzania.
Dry Season vs Green Season: Best Period for Photography Safaris
In the dry season, there is less bushland, and animals congregate in areas with perennial water sources. Wildlife becomes visible and easy to capture with a camera. Gold and brown tones dominate the landscape and can make for some beautiful portraits and silhouettes.
The disadvantage is the presence of dust. Dust is everywhere, even in your camera equipment. It is good to use a rain cover, and it is wise to change lenses in your car rather than outside.
The green season is very different from the dry season. There is more colour, less dust and soft lighting in the green season. In case of short rains, you will have showers in the afternoon, but the dust will be settled. In the long rains, you will have mud roads, low crowds and greener landscapes. Accommodation rates are approximately 30% to 50% cheaper than during the peak season, and with fewer crowds, you can get the privacy to click exotic wildlife moments.
Best Time of the Day for Stronger Safari Images
If you are looking for the two best light windows in Tanzania, then timings like 6:00–8:30 a.m. and 4:30–6:30 p.m are the best for wildlife photography.
That is when the lighting is warm, directional, and easier to handle. Midday lighting, on the other hand, is difficult. It produces harsh lighting, causes heat haze, and flattens distant objects.
Using a private vehicle will come in handy. It enables you to take control of the time and position. It allows you to leave the campsite early in the morning, spend more time at the sighting point, and orient the vehicle such that the sun is at your back.
Some field techniques will go a long way in helping you:
- Use a beanbag on the window ledge or the roof hatch
- Do not use a tripod in the vehicle since it normally becomes an obstruction
- Request your guide to turn off the engine at the critical moments since vibrations affect sharpness
- Light windows become more helpful when you combine them with the right months and regions.
Places Where Light Reliably Works
Wildlife is unpredictable, but light is not. Knowing where light works best can help you plan your wildlife photography in Tanzania more precisely. Here are the top places where you can get the best clicks:
- Serengeti National Park: The vast and open plains of the Serengeti National Park early in the morning at sunrise, when the low light shines on the grass, and the landscape itself becomes the photograph.
- Ngorongoro Crater: The floor of the Ngorongoro Crater early in the morning, when visitor numbers are not yet high; both the light and quiet help the photographer who came early.
- Tarangire National Park: The baobab landscapes of Tarangire National Park during the last hour of sunset, when the trees become shapes.
Which Activities are Best for Photography Safaris?
Low-Angle Perspectives, optimal golden-hour lighting, and stable positioning are necessary for the best wildlife photography in Tanzania. As a wildlife photographer/tourist/traveller, embark on these activities for the best clicks:
- Golden Hour Game Drives during both sunrise and sunset.
- Boat Cruises and River Safaris
- Walking Safaris
- Night Game Drives
- Lakeside and Waterfalls Visits
Let’s Go on a Photography Safari Together
Excited? Let’s not leave this here. At Migsam Safaris, we offer the best guided Photography Safaris across Tanzania. You’ll be accompanied by experienced guides, rangers and photography experts both as a solo traveller and in group tours. With cosy accommodation and comfortable recreation, click what you want while exploring the best of Tanzania.
Connect with us today for the best Photography Safaris in Tanzania.
Where in Tanzania can I go for wildlife photography safaris?
Some of the destinations in Tanzania suitable for wildlife photography include the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park.
At which time of day is the best time for wildlife photography in Tanzania?
Morning and late afternoons work best as the natural lighting is ideal.
