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Home → Tours and Travel

Photographing Wildlife at Etosha National Park (Part 2)

By Massimo Vignoli 15 Comments
Published On December 29, 2024

This is the second half of my two-part article on photographing Etosha National Park in Namibia. This second part concerns gear and photography. (If you missed the first chapter, it concerns the park, the best period to visit, and why Etosha is a deserving place for photography.)

White Rhinoceros and the Pan
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 280, 1/320, f/4.0

How to Find Wildlife in Etosha

In the first part of this article, I explained why it is exciting to be able to self-drive in Etosha National Park. I enjoyed it so much that I cannot wait to do similar drives in other places in the future. But there is a challenge associated with it: You must find the animals yourself!

In Etosha’s dry season, animals are often found near the waterholes, which gives you a good place to start. But you still need to employ your scouting skills. Even a pride of lions is not easy to spot when resting in the shade of some trees hundreds of meters away.

Lion cubs sons
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 1000, 1/250, f/5.6

Based on my own experience searching for animals, I can offer a prepared adventurer the following bits of advice:

  • Buy a large map of the park, and carry a pen with you to mark the locations you see and what you find, including the time of day.
  • Share your information with others at the lodges, and listen to where they went and what they saw during the day. Use your map to take notes.
  • Use your binoculars frequently and ask those in your car to do the same.
  • When looking for predators, you should pay attention to where herbivores look, where they are running, or if they are concentrated somewhere in the opposite area of the waterhole. You can often infer the location of the predators from this information!
  • Stay ready at a moment’s notice; things happen fast sometimes.
  • Think forward. Nothing is more rewarding than forecasting an animal’s behavior, moving accordingly, and being in the best position to take your photos.
  • Look at other vehicles. A tourist jeep at the roadside often means something interesting to see.
  • If a place is crowded or the light is terrible, move on. Etosha is a big park, and it’s not worth waiting around if there is nothing special for you.
  • Respect animals, other tourists, and photographers.
  • Stay on the authorized roads.
  • Don’t get out of your car outside the authorized places.

I’ve avoided making a list of “best waterholes” to check because such a thing doesn’t exist. I had much luck with lions at Rietfontein, for example – at the time of my visit, the resident Pride of Lions had some cubs so young that they meowed like house cats! But that was a transient event and probably is already gone. For all I know, Rietfontein will not be a promising spot next time I visit.

Lionesse with cubs
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 110, 1/500, f/4.0

My experience in this location also spoke to the importance of watching animal behavior. For the most part, I was not photographing these lions near the waterhole, but actually about 1 km away. I only found them because I noticed a lioness with swollen mammary glands walking purposefully in one direction away from the water.

Another time, I spotted a dot of red in the distance, and binoculars confirmed that it was a cheetah with two cubs and a kill! I spent all day photographing them and only left when it was necessary to return to the lodge. We were in the middle of nowhere and in total solitude!

cheetahs family with a kill
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 220, 1/1000, f/4.0

Recommended Photography Gear

The first piece of gear I recommend is a simply beanbag. Resting and stabilizing the camera on the car’s open window is mandatory. This is how you will photograph wildlife here – no tripod or monopod is required. If you are space-constrained, consider flying with an empty beanbag and filling it upon arrival.

The second tool I advise you to bring is a good set of binoculars. It is very useful for spotting and observing the animals comfortably.

Bustard
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S @ 320mm, ISO 900, 1/800, f/5.3

As for the cameras and lenses, my best advice is to take with you:

  • Two cameras, letting you take photos with two different lenses without swapping them too often.
  • One normal zoom, such as a 24-120mm, to shoot candid photos and pictures of the landscape.
  • One long zoom, such as a 100-400mm, for larger and closer wildlife.
  • A supertelephoto lens, such as a 500mm, 600mm, or 800mm.

If you are constrained on space, you can replace the two longer lenses and cover most reasonable needs by using a 180-600mm or 200-600mm lens. Since Etosha closes at night, and sunrise/sunset photography is not really an option, even an f/5.6 or f/6.3 lens captures enough light for wildlife photography.

That said, I think of 500mm as a minimum and 600mm+ as ideal for Etosha. Since you are not allowed to leave your car, and the car must stay on designated roads, it is common to find animals that are further than you might wish. A camera with a high pixel density helps here, too.

Giraffe in autumn colors
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 90, 1/500, f/5.6

That said, I disagree with a frequently-recommended idea of renting an exotic lens before this kind of trip. While an exotic lens can help take memorable images, there is a learning curve nobody should underestimate. They are also heavy and expensive. If you don’t have a longe enough already, I would rather rent a 180-600mm or 200-600mm instead of an exotic 400mm f/2.8 or 600mm f/4.

By the way, depending on your taste, a smartphone can substitute the short zoom with good results, especially if it is recent. Etosha is more about the wildlife than the landscapes,

Ostrich and the Etosha Pan
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 840mm, ISO 200, 1/500, f/5.6

What about other equipment? Well, electricity is not a problem in Etosha, so you can bring a reasonable number of batteries and charge them when needed. My advice is that 4-5 batteries will be plenty even for shooting all day with two cameras (or three batteries with a gripped camera like the Nikon Z9 or Canon EOS R3). Just make sure you have enough chargers to fill all of them overnight! Namibia uses a specific plug, so bring enough adapters, too.

Black faced impala
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S @ 290mm, ISO 160, 1/1000, f/5.6

Don’t forget to bring a blower and some microfiber towels to handle the dust! (I spent 5 minutes cleaning up my lenses every night during safaris). I don’t frequently move my gear out and in during the day to avoid filling the backpack with dust. Actually, I prefer to keep the gear out most of the time, ready to use, covered with a pillow cover.

As for storage, I personally keep everything in a GuraGear Kiboko 30L backpack. The important thing is not the particular backpack, but that you are able to fit all your gear and still bring the backpack on an airline.

Family of elephants
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 600mm f/4 TC VR S @ 600mm, ISO 140, 1/1000, f/4.0

While I usually bring my laptop on photo trips, I leave it back home for a trip like this. I want to dive into the atmosphere of the place, which I can’t do by spending hours on my computer. I also use the available time to speak with people and share information about animals and locations. Or maybe rest with my buddies and consider the photos we would like to take tomorrow.

My last advice is to bring double the size memory card you find reasonable at home. I averaged 4k photos per day of safari. By shooting RAW files, that quickly pushes you over the 1TB territory after 4-5 days. Your storage needs will vary, but do yourself a favor and avoid falling short of space. Who knows, hopefully you have a lucky week!

Tree animals and Etosha pan
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S @ 160mm, ISO 140, 1/320, f/13.0

I hope you enjoyed these essays about Etosha National Park and how to take rewarding photos there. If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.

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Filed Under: Tours and Travel Tagged With: Essays, Safari, Travel, Wildlife Photography

About Massimo Vignoli

Massimo Vignoli is a passionate Italian wildlife photographer and outdoor adventurer. He began his photography journey more than 20 years ago, to relax and balance his career in the finance industry. Since then, his love for nature has grown more and more. By showing his photos, he hopes to help people gain a better understanding of wildlife, of how strong and delicate it is, to increase their respect for nature. You can see more of Massimo's photos on his website.

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jwalin
jwalin
May 7, 2025 3:23 pm

First, beautiful shots so congrats on that and thank you for excellent write up Massimo. I am heading to Etosha for first time in June and will be in the park for 8 days with option to add another day, should be decent enough time I hope ! I am staying in Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni so question I have – did you stay or drive on Eastern side of the camps (Olifantsrus, Dolomite) and if so how was it ?

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  jwalin
May 7, 2025 3:32 pm

Hi Jwalin, I’m glad you liked it!
I didn’t visit the eastern side because the local organization I used to book with advised us against it. They told me the best part was the western, and I trusted them. But honestly, I don’t remember the reason, and I can’t enforce their position.
Please share in case you get detailed info there!

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Adrian Dawson
Adrian Dawson
January 16, 2025 8:38 am

Nice write up, thank you. I agree with your choice of lenses. I would also ask about how you backup your images? Do you use a 2nd card in your camera as a backup? Next time I go on Safari this year, I will be taking an iPad, card reader and external SSD to copy from card to HD using a dongle.

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Adrian Dawson
January 17, 2025 6:07 am

Hi Adrian, thank you for the appreciation.
As I wrote to David, yes, I used the second slot to make a second copy.
It could be overkill, depending on the reliability of the card you use, but I felt safer in doing so, at least by having a set in my pocket (so separate from my backpack) on the trip back home.
I have three complete copies of the storage I use at home for my photo archive (I mean the original + 3 backups), and I keep them in 2 different locations. Maybe I’m a bit paranoid as well?

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David Benson
David Benson
January 1, 2025 6:04 pm

Nice articles and an interesting observation about not taking a laptop. Did you do anything to have backups? I’m always paranoid and use the laptop to make multiple copies. On an upcoming trip we’re limited to 11.5kg/25lbs for checked and carry on bags, so we’re leaving the laptop behind.

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  David Benson
January 17, 2025 5:58 am

Hi David, I’m glad you enjoyed the article.
I’m also used to making backups, and without my laptop, I used the camera’s second slot to make a second copy.
My camera uses reliable Cfexpress cards. I felt safe, but I also think that with that kind of card, the risk of failure is much reduced even more if you avoid keeping them out and back in frequently.

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Pieter Kers
Pieter Kers
December 30, 2024 2:18 am

Great photos indeed. How much time did you spend in the park? Can imagine the animals are not easy to find. Like very much the ‘rhinoceros + the landscape’ type of photos.

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Pieter Kers
December 30, 2024 3:00 am

Hi Pieter, I’m glad you liked the photos; to show the environment is something I’m after indeed (I wrote an article about that a couple of months ago, search it if you like this kind of images).
I spent there 5 full days. I was with my family, so spotting the animal was a part of the fun. I didn’t think before this trip my wife to be so engaged in using binoculars! And my daughter as well!

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Danny from Belgium
Danny from Belgium
December 29, 2024 3:33 pm

Hello Massimo, That is a beautiful series of photos with beautiful soft colors and the habitat of the animals. The photo with the Elephants is amazing!! We went on safari in Tanzania 2 years ago for a whole month. We had a fantastic guide who knew many hidden places in the parks, where few or no tourists come. Next year we are going back because it was a great experience with many beautiful shots.
Good luck in 2025!

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Danny from Belgium
December 30, 2024 2:54 am

Hi Danny, thank you for your kind words.
One full month in Tanzania (actually in many places in Africa) is a dream of mine. You are a very lucky man! I hope to do it in the future, let’s see…

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Russell Hunter
Russell Hunter
December 29, 2024 1:52 pm

Great article Massimo. As a South African, I have always enjoyed the freedom of self-driving in our national parks as there is no substitute for being able to plan your own day as a photographer. I also agree with all of your recommendations, especially when it comes to talking to others and respecting the environment.

I will have to add Etosha to my visit list. I would love to photograph those white dusty elephants!

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Russell Hunter
December 29, 2024 2:19 pm

Thank you for the kind words. I’m sure you’ll like Etosha!

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PixelMakerPro
PixelMakerPro
December 29, 2024 12:59 pm

Good photos but the extreme limited depth of field in some of them would suggest that the blur option in LR or PS was used or was this natural with the 600mm lens?

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Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  PixelMakerPro
December 29, 2024 2:18 pm

Hi pixelMakerPro, glad you like the photos.
The shallow depth of field is due to the lens, 600/4 is unique in this. I’m actually not even a Lightroom user (I use CaptureOne).

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PixelMakerPro
PixelMakerPro
Reply to  Massimo Vignoli
December 30, 2024 7:47 am

I use capture one also so good to know.

0
Reply

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