Green Season Safari Photography

Court reveals the magic of the African safari “green season” and the special photography opportunities it holds—along with tips to make the most of your subjects, weather, lighting, etc. The green season is essentially the slower/lower time of year for visitation, largely due to the fact that the rains down in Africa (you’re humming the Toto song in your head now, aren’t you?) fall mostly between late November and March. And while some travelers find this a liability, these seasonal changes tend to excite photographers. Though you may need to put up with a thundershower or two during the course of your adventure, the rewards are certainly worth it. Big, billowy clouds yield extraordinary sunrises and sunsets; lush grass provides a verdant backdrop for grazing wildlife; and baby animals are born at this time, when food is most plentiful. We could easily call this the Emerald Season, because it’s a real gem. Learn more about this extraordinary, too often overlooked, time of year in Africa and all the splendors it holds for photographers — plus the techniques Court uses to capture its dramatic beauty.


Originally presented December 15, 2020