Can I use a tripod during a Udawalawe safari?

Yes, you can bring a tripod, but a beanbag or even a monopod is often handier because the space is limited, and you’re moving around constantly in the safari jeep.

In Udawalawe, the safari jeeps go through unpaved, deeply rutted dirt tracks, so the ride feels extremely bumpy. If you have a fully extended tripod, it takes up a lot of room, and it sends the vehicle’s vibrations straight into your camera. Professional wildlife photographers usually lean on a heavier beanbag, resting it on the jeep’s metal roll bars, because it helps stabilise long telephoto lenses quickly when an animal appears.