African Safari suggestions?

My wife and I bought our D3100 about a month ago in preparation for an 11 day safari in Tanzania. I had no SLR experience. I've read several books on DSLRs and wildlife photograph and been taking pictures like mad trying to learn as much as I can before we go.

We're leaving in 2 weeks. We are going to be out in the bush with no camera stores or Amazon deliveries , so I have to pack everything we could need but also limit weight.

I'm looking for suggestions of things I might have forgotten.

Here's what I have now:

• D3100
• Nikkor 18-55 kit lens
• Nikkor 55-300 telephoto lens
• UV and polarizer filters for both lenses
• Lens hoods for both lenses
• Lens pen & cloth
• Remote shutter release
• Carbon fiber monopod & pistol grip head
• Small bendable tripod
• 3 batteries
• 2 battery chargers
• 3 32Gb Class 10 SDHC chips & hard Pelican case
• Lowenpro belt case
• Lowenpro backpack
• Notebook & pencil
• Netbook with 90Gb storage and 250Gb external drive. ViewNx2 loaded.
• For when I get back, Capture NX2 & "After the Shoot" by Hagen

I plan to shoot everything in raw mode; hence all the storage.

BTW - I looked at a 2x teleconverter but don't want to drop another $700 on photo gear!

DON'T GET EATEN!!!

Hope this helps.

carolina photo guy said:

don't get eaten!!!

Hope this helps.

Click to expand...

lol !

Just been there Boomer so PM me i will give you a heads up on what to expect or see my flckr account and select the safari set


Cheetah looking proud by Toppers3, on Flickr

dont pet the animals. especially the big cats!!

BTW thats a lot of kit to carry I took my D3100, both my lens as listed below, cleaning gear, 2 batteries and a good case for the journey. Luggage is limited on safari I think ours was 15KG each and although some take rigid suitases they were the few as most do not.

Remember its a day here 2 days there and all that dust..

BUT it is bloody well worth it I can tell you.....

Are you going to the Saadani River Lodge? The manager there is Greek, and he went around the world 2 years ago, with a 4x4. He has LOTS of stories to tell. Just in case you go there...

I had to settle for the local zoo this afternoon.

Very nice!

good shot....

Nice cat for sure, but… it's not quite sharp. Can't find the exif but I suspect too slow shutter speed or too much cropping, or, out of focus so ever slightly.

Or maybe the glass in between, stopping the tog from being lunch!

Shooting raw? i hope the other people don't mind. lol

Shooting through fence, hence the cropping. Also, this is the first time I have used in camera cropping. I have the raw image... need to go in and see what proper PP can do.

OK, A little editing Marcel. Any better?