WDW Wild Africa Trek...

[Tuffcookie]

Has anyone done it? What is your opinion,in the way of photo opportunities? Is it worth the $$$?

If you took pictures, could you post a few?

Thanks!

TC

 

[NitroStitch]

We took the Wild Africa Trek before they increased the price, but I would recommend it even at a higher price if you love animals. I took my Nikon D5000 and was horrified when it rained the entire time. Fortunately, my camera tolerated being wet, but I'd highly recommend a bag that can be tethered to your vest for camera protection, just in case.

Here's a link to my photos from the Trek (the actual Trek photos are from photos 156 to 694):
http://nitrostitch.smugmug.com/Disney/Disney-Feb-5-6-11-Wild-Africa/16135142_PAym3

A small portion of the Trek follows the regular Safari route, but most of the experience is unique, and even some of the regular Safari route includes much longer stops for great photos of the animals.

 

[ItsOnlyMoney]

If you take the WAT do you take extra lenses?
Or to put it another way, reg lenses say 10 - 30 mm
or 'telephoto' 30 - 110
(I've got a Nikon 1)

 

[NitroStitch]

If you take the WAT do you take extra lenses?
Or to put it another way, reg lenses say 10 - 30 mm
or 'telephoto' 30 - 110
(I've got a Nikon 1)

I went on the WAT shortly after it opened, so they may have changed policies on things. When I went on the Trek, you could only bring things attached to you or your safety vest. Your clothing is covered by the vest and straps go around your waist and upper legs. You can't access your pockets or bring a separate bag unless it was maybe a small lens case clipped to your vest. You would also have to convince the guides that there was zero possibility of dropping a lens cap while changing lenses. You don't have much stopping time on the trek either, so just having opportunity to change is unlikely. If you have an all around lens, I'd suggest using that. If not, serious zoom is still your friend. You get closer to some animals than on the safari but you still aren't eye-to-eye with lions.

Someone with more experience on a recent trip may have different information. I think our tour had a gentleman that brought 2 cameras so he could have two different lens options. It poured during our trek, so lens changing would have been that much worse on that trip. Oh, and your camera has to be strapped to you as well. Enjoy!

 

[ItsOnlyMoney]

Thanks, this is exactly what I wanted to know, Will use 1 lens

I went on the WAT shortly after it opened, so they may have changed policies on things. When I went on the Trek, you could only bring things attached to you or your safety vest. Your clothing is covered by the vest and straps go around your waist and upper legs. You can't access your pockets or bring a separate bag unless it was maybe a small lens case clipped to your vest. You would also have to convince the guides that there was zero possibility of dropping a lens cap while changing lenses. You don't have much stopping time on the trek either, so just having opportunity to change is unlikely. If you have an all around lens, I'd suggest using that. If not, serious zoom is still your friend. You get closer to some animals than on the safari but you still aren't eye-to-eye with lions.

Someone with more experience on a recent trip may have different information. I think our tour had a gentleman that brought 2 cameras so he could have two different lens options. It poured during our trek, so lens changing would have been that much worse on that trip. Oh, and your camera has to be strapped to you as well. Enjoy!

 

[NitroStitch]

Thanks, this is exactly what I wanted to know, Will use 1 lens

You're welcome. Glad I could help. Have a great time!

 

[beachclub]

Don't think of the price as paying a lot of money for a tour. Think of it in this manner, yes you are paying for the tour, but the majority of what you actually pay is going directly to the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund. , so think of it as doing a good deed. And yes it is worth every last penny in every way, we've done it 3 times now

Has anyone done it? What is your opinion,in the way of photo opportunities? Is it worth the $$$?

If you took pictures, could you post a few?

Thanks!

TC

 

[beachclub]

It is still the same policies, nothing can be loose or hanging, you can bring a dslr as long as it has a strap but extra lenses are not allowed.
I couldn't even bring chap stick, you do have to empty all of your pockets and store them in a secure locker.
This was as of our last trek in April.
And since your first trek, they have added a wicked cool boardwalk from the eating building where you have lunch. It goes out back to the white rhino area and you have a direct view (although not seriously close but still can clearly see) the lions den. It was an addition we were treated to this past april. wicked wicked cool...you should go for a second trek since its been so long

I went on the WAT shortly after it opened, so they may have changed policies on things. When I went on the Trek, you could only bring things attached to you or your safety vest. Your clothing is covered by the vest and straps go around your waist and upper legs. You can't access your pockets or bring a separate bag unless it was maybe a small lens case clipped to your vest. You would also have to convince the guides that there was zero possibility of dropping a lens cap while changing lenses. You don't have much stopping time on the trek either, so just having opportunity to change is unlikely. If you have an all around lens, I'd suggest using that. If not, serious zoom is still your friend. You get closer to some animals than on the safari but you still aren't eye-to-eye with lions.

Someone with more experience on a recent trip may have different information. I think our tour had a gentleman that brought 2 cameras so he could have two different lens options. It poured during our trek, so lens changing would have been that much worse on that trip. Oh, and your camera has to be strapped to you as well. Enjoy!

 

[NitroStitch]

It is still the same policies, nothing can be loose or hanging, you can bring a dslr as long as it has a strap but extra lenses are not allowed.
I couldn't even bring chap stick, you do have to empty all of your pockets and store them in a secure locker.
This was as of our last trek in April.
And since your first trek, they have added a wicked cool boardwalk from the eating building where you have lunch. It goes out back to the white rhino area and you have a direct view (although not seriously close but still can clearly see) the lions den. It was an addition we were treated to this past april. wicked wicked cool...you should go for a second trek since its been so long

I've been wanting to go again, since it was so amazing and since there is that new boardwalk that gets you a much better view of the lions than we had initially. I've been time and money challenged lately. LOL

 

[2Tiggies]

We did the WAT last month. It was worth every penny.


Yes, you can take a DSLR and as a previous poster pointed out, only one lens, mounted to the camera and the camera has to be on a neck or shoulder strap.

I would recommend trying for an early morning time slot. Ours was later in the day, due to lack of availability because we booked at short notice and one of the challenges, as always later in the day, is harsh light.

We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have discussed doing it again in the future. Unlike the Kilimanjaro Safari, the truck does stop to allow photos to be taken (or those without cameras to have a better view of the animals). The seats are also differently configured, making it easier to shoot from the truck without leaning over anyone.

The engagement link in my signature takes you to my fiance's review of the WAT. If it makes any difference, I used a 70 -300mm lens on a crop sensor camera and my other half used his 70-200 f2.8 with a teleconverter on a full frame body.

 

[ItsOnlyMoney]

Love your blog!

We are lucky to get an 8:00 am slot. That means tho that we've got to get up early to get there at 7:30.
Hmmm Wonder if I can get DH to use another camera. He doesn't do much photography anymore.

We did the WAT last month. It was worth every penny.


Yes, you can take a DSLR and as a previous poster pointed out, only one lens, mounted to the camera and the camera has to be on a neck or shoulder strap.

The engagement link in my signature takes you to my fiance's review of the WAT. If it makes any difference, I used a 70 -300mm lens on a crop sensor camera and my other half used his 70-200 f2.8 with a teleconverter on a full frame body.

 

[2Tiggies]

Love your blog!

We are lucky to get an 8:00 am slot. That means tho that we've got to get up early to get there at 7:30.
Hmmm Wonder if I can get DH to use another camera. He doesn't do much photography anymore.

Thanks. The blog is actually my fiance's. He's the writer and great photographer.

It will be worth the early rise. Had the option been available, I would have certainly gone for an earlier time, particularly as we had cameras with us.

We had to be there about 30 minutes prior to the start time so that they could check us in, weigh and measure us and fit us with harnesses. There are lockers available for storing your personal belongings. I was allowed to take my lens cloth with me, but on condition that it was zipped into one of the pockets on the vest they issued.

I have some photos in my Flickr WDW 2014 album. Unfortunately you'll have to sift for them and I only uploaded a few and they are scattered around the album. Flickr WDW 2014

As you'll no doubt be aware, you also get photos taken by a couple of the guides during your trek, as well as some of the wildlife stock photos to download. They issued us with a card which had the website to visit and a code to redeem the download. There is no limit to how many times you can download the photos and there were plenty on there.

We were all very impressed and it's a certain must do again sometime in the future. Next time we will be organized and book well ahead of time to secure an early slot. I'd be keen to hear how you enjoyed it on your return.