If you’re really keen on wildlife photography, especially in Botswana, you may have heard of Wilderness Safaris guide and photographer Ona Basimane. His photos have appeared in publications like Peolwane, Discover Botswana and Travel Ideas, and he was a guest speaker at the Wild Shots Wildlife Photography Symposium in South Africa in 2013 and 2015.
Then in 2010 he got a job in the Central Kalahari with Wilderness Safaris, and that’s when he bought his first camera – the beginning of a new phase in his life.
So what are his two top tips for someone planning a photo safari to Botswana?
‘First, you need to know your camera well,’ he says. ‘Knowing the limitations of your camera gear is useful too. It’s no use shooting wildly and being disappointed when you get home because your lens wasn’t long enough or wide enough to get what you hoped for. If it’s new camera gear, it helps if you’re open to learning how to use it effectively from the guide or even from fellow travellers.’
You should also be clear about what you want to photograph. If you’re in an area that offers good predator-prey interactions, focus on that. By contrast, it’s no use hoping to get prize-winning shots of water birds if you’re visiting an area like the Central Kalahari where few of them live.
He has lots of tips for guides too. For instance, if your guest wants to get a shot of reflections in the water, you need calm weather when the water is like glass. ‘Mornings in winter here tend to be windy, causing ripples that aren’t great for reflections,’ he says.
Ona is never happier than when he sends a guest home with pictures that are focused and sharp. ‘Then they can edit them and share them with family and friends – and hopefully come back again,’ he grins.
* This is part of a series called Voices of Botswana, which shares the stories of some of the people we met on our Botswana adventure. You can find them all in the people category of this blog.
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za. I do not hold copyright of Ona Basimane’s photographs.