I am planning a longer safari trip than my usual sometime next year and this time I am going to get more serious about wildlife photography, and so between now and them I am gathering all the equipment that I will need.

One item that is essential to getting the best of photos as well as your video is a tripod. In the past, to save weight and space, I have not taken one with me, rather relying on the image stabilizer on the camera. This is fine when the light is good, but there have been many photos of mine that could have been better, if I had taken them from a sturdy base. Now that I am also starting to take more video, to prevent camera shake, a tripod is almost essential. 

Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT Tripod

The tripod that I use at home is the Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT, it is incredible in that it has what Vanguard call their "Multi-Angle Central Column System" that enables you to move the central column of the tripod in pretty much a complete circle around the legs. Brilliant for photography as well as video, I have also used it with my scope for astronomy as the rotating central column allows you to position the scope in a position that makes for comfortable viewing of the heavens. 

I'd love to take this tripod with me, but to be honest it is just way to big and heavy.

Alternatives

Tripods for travel and in particular safaris need to have all of the features that make any good tripod (sturdy being the most important), but must also be lightweight as well as compact when folded up making them easy to carry in my luggage.

Gitzo GT1541T Traveller Tripod

I have been researching the GT1541T tripod from Gitzo and for me it looks to have all the travel features that I am looking for and should be sturdy enough to carry my equipment. But as a professional piece of kit it also does not come cheap (approx £360 / $550.), but they do say you get what you pay for... I suppose!

ogh well, we will have to wait and see what Santa brings me this year!

For more information: Gitzo Tripod Review – GT1541T Traveller Tripod

Tamrac ZipShot Ultra-Compact Travel tripod

A MUCH cheaper option ( $50 in the US and about £30 in the UK) is an ultra compact tripod from Tamrac, that looks amaizing, I just have a slight concern in that it may not be stable enough for me. 

For more information: Tamrac ZipShot Ultra-Compact Travel tripod