Luca Riedl
Photographer | Munich đ· Shooting with a 1983 Leica đŹ Fluent in shadows and long silences đŸ Dog: Otto. Muse & assistant.
MAY 07, 2024
Choose Your Safari (3-6 months before)
Research locationsâKenya, Tanzania, Botswana, or Namibiaâbased on what you want to see. Decide if you want to catch the Great Migration or explore remote reserves. Book your safari early to secure your spot.
Physical and Mental Preparation (1 month before)
Prepare for long days on bumpy roads and being outdoors in varied weather. Get used to spending extended periods outdoors and mentally prepare for the unpredictability of the wild.
Pack Smartly (1-2 weeks before)
Pack light, neutral-colored clothing, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a camera, and binoculars. Make sure to bring layers for cool mornings and evenings. Leave distractions at homeâyouâll want to fully immerse yourself.
Arrive and Acclimatize
Once you arrive in Africa, take time to adjust to the slower pace. Absorb the surroundings and let yourself disconnect from the rush of everyday life.
Safari Days
Each day will involve early mornings and late afternoons spent tracking animals like elephants, lions, and giraffes. Take time to observe the animalsâ behavior, and listen closely to your guideâs insights on the local ecosystem.
Reflect and Engage
Use your downtime at camp to reflect on what youâve experienced. Talk to the guides and locals about conservation efforts and the balance between wildlife and human communities. This is a time to learn, appreciate, and give back.
Be Present: This isnât a place for rushing or multitasking. Turn off your phone, sit back, and just be in the moment. The sounds, the sights, the animalsâtheyâre all reminders of how big and wild the world is.
Talk to Your Guide: These guides know the land better than anyone. Ask questions, learn from them, and listen. Their stories will give you a new appreciation for the wildlife and the communities that live here.
Donât Just WatchâObserve: Itâs easy to just snap photos, but take time to really watch how animals move, interact, and live. Itâs more than just seeing themâitâs understanding their place in the world, and by extension, yours.
Journal It All: You wonât want to forget any of this. Write down how it feels to see a lion in the wild or what itâs like to hear the sounds of the savanna at night. These are the moments that will stay with you.
Be Open to the Unexpected: Safaris donât always go as planned, and thatâs the beauty of it. Sometimes, the most magical moments happen when youâre least expecting them. Keep an open mind and roll with the adventure.
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