Overland Travel & Transit - Wildlife

South America : Asia : Africa : Middle East

Get Inspired Into the Wild

Observing wildlife within their natural habitat has to be one of the most satisfying and inspiring experiences where ever it is. Most countries through all the continents have a mixed variety of different national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to visit. A quick research online will quickly show endless amounts of safari wildlife oriented websites, and photographic wildlife workshops who compete with one another. This is excellent for those who plan a quick two week trip for the soul purpose of doing a wildlife safari, as it caters for different budget levels. However, this is unnecessary if you are travelling overland through a continent, thus picking up much cheaper deals en route. 

It's easier and cheaper when arriving at any particular wildlife location to contact locals who offer their services as a guide or as a driver. There's never an issue finding these guys in villages bordering close to sanctuaries and national parks. Negotiating a price is like bartering on steroids - especially when locals are trying to cut a deal all at the same time. The outcome generally results in an offer that can't be refused.

Another alternative is to hire some wheels yourself, and to share the cost of the rental between one or two other visitors for a few days. If sharing a vehicle as a passenger, then ensure any itinerary planned journey is agreed on beforehand - like arriving at certain locations as early as possible, and returning to home base when it becomes dark. Personally, on a few occasions, it would of been easier to rent my own vehicle so that  I could stop at random locations for as long as necessary before speeding off elsewhere. Whatever deals are made - don't rush into any agreement unless you're totally satisfied that it works in your favour.

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Isolated Wildlife Parks - Grab a Map

Some wildlife national parks issue good maps with a complete layout of roads, watering holes with an identification chart of animals. Don't rely on cell phone coverage in isolated national parks. A Red List of threatened species can be researched here at IUNC (Int. Union of Conversation and Nature)

​You wouldn't believe how many idiots, who hop out of vehicles ignoring warning signs staring right in front of them. Lions, leopard, and other carnivore eating animals have no issues devouring humans. It happens to those who think nothing will happen to them grabbing selfie snaps, or in the need to piss. If you need to piss, do it in a bottle inside the vehicle. Basic Rules:  Don't leave the car : Don't leave roads : Get out of vehicles where it's permitted to do so : Don't feed wildlife : Don't honk horns : Don't free camp just anywhere

Wildlife Dark Side Blissfulness 

Global travel blogging influencers have a habit of selling themselves off around the planet as if everything is
pure dream state blissfulness. The truth - it isn't!  You'll rarely never see, if ever, fluffy sexy bikini clad travel influencers posing themselves together with chained up elephants. The dark side of controlled wildlife tourism has been around for decades. Don't become a part of it, or support it.

Capturing wildlife images, and then enlarging them into canvas is usually rewarding, but don't expect smart phone cameras to give the same quality one's looking for. Almost any brand DSLR camera body using quality zoom or tele-lenses will guarantee satisfaction. For example, the below image was taken with a Nikon D3 body and AFS Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VRII lens. 

Almost any brand DSLR camera body using quality zoom or tele-lenses will guarantee satisfaction. For example, these image snaps were taken with a D3 12 MP body and AFS Nikon 200-400mm f/4 VRII lens. 

Getting up close to any wildlife depends on the region and season. The migration runs are spectacular, but to fully appreciate something like this can only be seen from the air. Renting a chopper - with no door, or a fixed wing isn't cheap, but if it's a one time splurge - then go for it, and don't hesitate. The best locations on the ground are always at watering holes or near a freshly killed carcass during the early morning or late afternoons. These spots will almost guarantee many different types of wildlife. There are usually more animals sharing watering holes at sun rise or just before dusk. 
There's no guarantee of capturing close up shots of wildlife in certain game parks. For example, Kruger national park in South Africa is so vast that one needs to have plenty of time and patience to track down wildlife - which can amount from days to weeks of monitoring where herds are located. The bigger the park, the more time it takes to spot wildlife. Watering holes are always the best location - animals need a daily intake of water.

Using a local guide can pay off big time with their experience and knowledge of animal movements and locations from their daily routines. Spotting animals within small game parks is much easier, and are generally accustomed to the 1000's of visitors driving in close range everyday, which will get you up close.

Many wildlife sanctuaries and parks prohibit private vehicles for all different reasons which I personally avoid. overland travel photo gear   

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Wildlife Safety & Risks 

Rhinos with babies along roads are dangerous, especially in early morning dim light. Reverse vehicles allowing them to freely decide where they want to roam. A female Rhino can easily attack and damage vehicles within seconds. Floating down canals where Hippos are known to be is another danger. Don't hang around to long if Hippos spot you, they can move faster than any experienced dugout paddle guide. Jackals although looking docile will attack to guard fresh kill. Being bitten by jackals isn't the problem, the concern is if they have rabies. Elephants are known to attack at random, reverse back in vehicles unless you have full cover vehicle insurance.

How many times have you heard of tourists being injured and mauled by wildlife? This scenario certainly goes both ways when certain wildlife become startled by those wanting to photograph subjects as close as possible. Keeping space and having enough distance should be adhered to for both wildlife and visitors to lesson the chances of injury. For example, the sea lion above may look docile, but they hold their territory and will attack if provoked. Deb, who at the time was holding on to most of our photo-gear kept a safe distance just incase this critter was going to move in her direction.

Marine - Beyond Reefs

Great white : Tiger shark : Bull shark : Lemon shark : Mako : White tip : Blue shark : Caribbean reef shark : Dusky : Black tip : Silky : Grey reef shark : Nurse shark : Spinner : Basking shark : Hammerhead : Broadnose

Although shark attacks are uncommon on touristy island shorelines, sharks have no boundaries roaming around on their own free will devouring what they want. Those who swim, or dive beyond reefs, or within cold water currents push the limits of risk of being randomly attacked by sharks. A quick example of one my own underwater experiences, was to dive, hunting for fish beyond the saftey areas of reefs along the coastal regions in western Australia, south of Perth.
With weights, a heavy duty air compressed spear gun, and fish catch bag, the daily visits out to 20+ metre depths continued on for months without being randomly attacked. I would always place my bright coloured catch bag, half loaded with fish kill on the ocean floor, to avoid becoming a target by predators. Diving around with bag contents of quivering fish and blood is straight out asking for trouble.
​On one occasion, at the edge beyond a reef, a friend who joined me had placed his nearly full catch bag of fish on the ocean floor, it had suddenly disappeared without trace. This was a clear warning that a sea predator had snatched the bag. Shark attacks happen when least expected. Image - Pacific ocean floor black tip sharks snap by Rick Hemi.                         

Shark attack Australia : Shark attack Australia : Shark attack Australia : Shark attack Australia : Shark attack Australia : Shark attack New Zealand : Shark attack New Zealand : Shark attack New Zealand : Shark attack South Africa : Shark attack Sinai : Shark attack Sinai : Shark attack South Africa : Sharks attack South Africa : Shark attack Chile : Shark attack Bahamas : Shark attack Costa Rica : Shark attack South Africa : Shark attack Tahiti : Shark attack Seychelles : Shark attack Caribbean : Shark attack New Zealand Jan 2021 : Shark attack Australia May 2021

Thieving Primates

Like human thieves, primates have a tendency to take what ever there is of value. Loose items, like smart phones, necklaces or lightweight cameras that are not properly secured will quickly be snatched up and taken within seconds. Primates doing such acts like this will normally head straight up the nearest tree, and then begin to slowly rip, pull apart, and destroy whatever items they have in front of their victim with a smile. Watching a primate rip a cell phone apart is something that maybe humorous, if it's not yours - which I've seen happen more than once.

Feeding animals in zoos normally isn't a problem, but within wildlife parks or in the wild, feeding animals is a no-brainer. This automatically creates a dependancy for wildlife, like primates and baboon troops expecting a constant free for all food source. Feeding wild troops and other wildlife causes all types of issues among the primate hierarchy. It may also cause erratic behaviour to other visitors at the same location. The above signage was actually designed and erected by me within a bushland region to stop people feeding baboons and primates.

Wildlife Wilderness

On countless occasions, I've witnessed tourists through Africa, Asia, and South America trying their hardest to capture wildlife in the wilderness with smart phone cameras or point & shoots. The end result is always the same - dissapointing! Taking wildlife captures in wilderness locations are normally from long distance, even though it may look close, smart phone cameras and most point & shoots will fail to get close-ups like the image above. This snap was taken from approximately 100 metres using DSLR photo-gear.
​Those out there, who want satisfaction, a collection of wildlife images that surpasses the limitations of smaller lens optics of cell phone cameras, and point & shoots, should think seriously upgrading to DSLR photo-gear.    

High elevation levels is required capturing kites in their nests. Below, a jackal buzzard commonly spotted in rugged bushland regions through southern Africa.

Capturing images of Alpha male Baboons requires lenses of at least 600mm plus. Alpha males like the one captured above are usually evasive keeping well away from any human activity. Baboon troops can be spotted through southern Africa. Wherever there's free food handouts -  excluding Alpha males, baboons will be there in droves. They have a habit of taking anything faster than a loaded bullet. Keping car windows half up, doors closed, and accommodation locked will ensure items won't be stolen.  Feeding wild primates and baboons should be avoided unless it's at a zoo. 

White Rhino, captured within the Hluhluwe wildlife game reserve  - KwaZulu Natal

Some wildlife lovers have one or two favourite isolated locations they always return too, to view and capture wildlife. Being a raptor watcher, I came across, by accident, an isolated location where literally hundreds of birds of prey return each year during the cold months. Vultures and different breeds of eagles perching together scattered on trees is something rarely seen anywhere else on the planet.
Above image, there were more than 200 vultures in the original uncrossed image, but there's more than enough evidence showing this location is the ultimate eagle vulture paradise in the world. 

Probably one of my favourite image captures of Steppe Eagles. The capture, even though it looks very close, was actually taken from long distance not to disturb them. A Nikon Nikkor 800mm f/5,6 manual focus lens mounted to a 12 MP D3 body on DX mode took this shot... Who says classic photo-gear doesn't perform? The optics of the Nikon Nikkor 800mm - first produced in 1986 till 2005 (2972 units) is still a good lens in 2020.  

Strolling around on foot through African jungle and savannah isn't recommended unless one is well aware of what's roaming around in it. It's not just big cats to be cautious with. Snakes, poisonous spiders, scorpions, and other creeping crawlies will give painful experiences if bitten. The Amazon rainforest is relatively the same, including dense forest regions in Venezuela and Guyana.

Reaching wildlife parks through Africa can be a mission in itself, this includes renting or sharing vehicles plus entry and accommodation costs. Once inside parks, it then takes time to explore in and around them finding wildlife to photograph. It's here when DSLR photo-gear pays-off capturing images. Don't expect any smart phone cameras to capture the same quality images that DSKR camera equipment has been recognised for through the decades. If you plan on visiting numerous wildlife and national parks, DSLR camera-gear should be the first items ready and packed to go. When the time comes to enlarge wildlife images into poster sized canvases, the difference of quality is then appreciated. 

I personally use Nikon photo-gear of which 99% of the images through this website were captured with. I don't promote camera brands and would have to say that most mid range DSLR camera bodies and lenses are all on par with each other. The only thing worth mentioning here are lenses. If a 20 year old lens can do the job satisfactorily - why update it?  Most of the lenses I'm using are over ten years old. One favourite lens, a manual focus Nikon 800mm f/5.6 ED-IF AI-S was first produced in 1986. Its 5.5Kg weight is cumbersome at times, but the lens still captures most long distant shots. If I was doing wildlife photography for a living, I certainly wouldn't hesitate purchasing the updated version (AFS 800 5.6). As the saying goes, be happy with what photo-gear one uses, and don't stop capturing images until anything needs replacing.

Wildlife On Canvas

Those who use minimal camera-gear using point and shoots, 3/4 cameras, or who rely on smart phone cameras to capture distant wildlife will be bitterly disappointed when the time comes to enlarge their images onto canvas. Most enlargements increased 4-8 times the original size will automatically decrease sharpness ending-up as a blob on the wall. As mentioned through this website, it will depend on what type of lens optics are used  - not just how many megapixels camera bodies have. Cheap coated lenses with minimal glass no-matter the brand should be avoided if quality is the end result one is looking for. Wildlife images taken with anything with a lens on it may look good until it's re-cropped and enlarged. Good images begin with quality made optics. Before leaving home-base, think about investing in DSLR-gear with a few lenses.