You may also want to bring your own binoculars on safari so we’ll go over some considerations to factor in when buying a pair, as you prepare for the best safaris in East Africa.
Why do you need binoculars on a Safari?
Binoculars are essential for a safari trip because they allow travelers to observe wildlife from a safe and respectful distance. Many animals, such as lions and leopards, prefer to stay hidden in tall grass or dense bushes, making it difficult to see them with the naked eye. With binoculars, safari-goers can appreciate the intricate details of animals, such as the patterns on a cheetah’s coat or the movements of a distant elephant herd. You can also get closer view of birds, which are often small and perched high in trees. Ultimately, binoculars help visitors fully immerse themselves in the beauty of nature without disturbing the animals in their natural habitat.
Safari Binocular Specs
7 x 32, 8 x 40, 10 x 50. You’ll see these specs when referring to binoculars. The first number is the magnification – 7, 8, or 10 times what your eye can see. You’ll want a decent amount of magnification since that’s the reason you’re using the binoculars in the first place.
However, there can be a limit. Too high a magnification, like 12X, may make the image shaky and difficult to hold the binoculars steady.
The second number – 32, 40, 50 – is the size of the lens in millimeters. The larger the lens, the more light it will let in. This is especially important in low-light situations like night safaris.
But again, there is a limit to how large you’ll want your lens to be because bigger also means heavier. An ideal weight for a pair of binoculars you’ll be carrying around all day is about 1.5 lbs. or less.
So, a pair of 10 x 42 binoculars will magnify 10X and let in a good amount of light for early morning or evening game drives.
Binocular Factors
Lens coating – this chemical treatment protects the binoculars’ lens from dirt, dust, and scratches when you’re out in the wild.
Eye Relief – the distance from your eyes to the eyepiece. The larger this distance, the easier on your eye. 12mm – 16mm is a good range.
Fog Proof – this is a method used to keep condensation from settling on the glass and mucking up your otherwise perfect image of that charging wildebeest.
Waterproof – important on the unexpected trails of a safari where splashes occur… and then, of course, there’s also the rain.
The Binoculars’ Prism – this ingenious development replaces several stacked lenses formerly used for magnification. A prism is lighter and clearer than multiple pieces of lens glass.
Discover Our Olympus Binoculars
But you don’t have to go out and buy a pair of binoculars if you don’t have the budget or you are only intending to use them once for your safari. At Africa Kenya Safaris, we are happy to offer our Olympus binoculars for every day of your journey with us.
It’s just one of the many extras we offer you on your personalized adventure with us.
Choose Your East Africa Safari Tour
Our Africa Safaris in Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar
Check out our many East Africa safari tours:
NAIROBI EXCURSIONS
Africa Kenya Safaris offers you full and half-day excursions & trips from Nairobi
KENYA SAFARI FROM NAIROBI
Explore our multi-day Kenya safari adventures ranging from 2 – 12 days from Nairobi.
NAIROBI TO DIANI BEACH SAFARIS
Enjoy a Kenya wildlife safari then finish up your holiday at Kenya’s Diani Beach.
DIANI BEACH KENYA SAFARIS
Explore our Kenya safaris from beach resorts of Diani – voted Africa’s leading beach destination
AMBOSELI KENYA SAFARIS
Explore Amboseli – famous for large herds of elephants and scenic views of Mount Kilimanjaro
KENYA FLIGHT SAFARIS
Book Kenya flight Safaris and explore Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu & Lewa Conservancy.
MASAI MARA KENYA SAFARIS
Masai Mara is home of the Great Wildebeest Migration, Big Five of Africa, Big cats, Masai culture etc.
KENYA BEACH TO NAIROBI SAFARIS
Book Exciting African safaris starting from/to the beautiful Diani beach resorts
KENYA-TANZANIA SAFARIS
Experience wildlife parks, beaches and mountains of Kenya & Tanzania.
KENYA SAFARI & DIANI BEACH
Experience the best of both worlds – a thrilling Kenya safari and a dream Diani beach vacation
KENYA SHORT GROUP SAFARIS
Join our exciting Kenya short Group safari Tours from Nairobi in 4×4 safari jeeps
TANZANIA SAFARI HOLIDAYS
Exciting 4×4 Tanzania safaris from Arusha town. Explore Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara & Tarangire.
ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAYS
Pre/post your African safari holiday in Kenya & Tanzania, ‘escape’ to Africa’s leading beach destination – Zanzibar!
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING TOURS
Best Africa mountain climbing adventure tour packages and safaris. Climb Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro
EAST AFRICA BEACH HOLIDAYS
Best family-friendly beach holidays on the sandy beaches of Mombasa, Diani, Malindi, Watamu, Lamu & Zanzibar
HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES
You came to Africa to live an experience – to see the Big 5, Big cats, wildebeest migration & so much more!
Customize your dream African safari
At Africa Kenya Safaris we are always flexible with your options, we will offer our thoughts on seasons, budgets, lifestyle, accommodations, first-hand experience of the parks, and all the possible activities to fill out your safari story. We’ll work with your impressions and dreams and add our ideas on which to build your adventure.
