Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

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sgietler
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p.1 #1 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

I will be doing a self-drive photography safari in kruger national park, south africa this year, and one person I'm with will not go in an open-jeep.

I've never owned a car with a sun-roof or retractable top, can anyone recommend a rental car that they think might work well for wildlife photography? I was thinking something where the top comes down fairly easily, or it has a large sunroof so I would not have to only take photos out of the window.

The rental price would have to be reasonable, so that rules out any high-end "luxury" cars.

thanks alot in advance for your ideas

Jul 03, 2009 at 08:49 PM

Brit-007
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p.1 #2 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

Good luck finding a rental company that will rent going to a safari park....

Jul 03, 2009 at 09:09 PM

AddyvdB
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p.1 #3 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

What a nonsense!! I live in Europe and have been to different counties in Africa on selfdrive safari's. There are many companies who rent cars. Just search on google. I've been to South-Africa and Namibia. This was one combined trip and I rented from a Namibian company. This year I am going to Namibia and Botswana and rented from a South-African company because they are one of the few who also rent tenttrailers. As far as I know it is not allowed to protrude from car windows and open roofs in both counties. I.e. you are not allowed to lean out your window or stand out of a sunroof or open top. Just to dangerous when you are not with a guide. The only open vehicles are those driven by guides. You are forced to photograph from your open car window while being inside the car. In general it gives a better perspective anyway. It is better to rent a 4x4 because of the hight of these cars. Regular sedans are to low in my opinion and can get you in the situation that you can not see clearly because of tall grass and bushes. 4x4 are more expensive.

One one occasion I didn't follow the rules

. I sat in the window of the car door and photographed over the car roof. There was one female lion who was annoyed by this i think. She was about 30 or 40 meters away. I never saw an animal move so fast. I was in the car in a split second and with my camera still on the roof. Luckily it was a mock charge. But I learned my lesson.

The company in Namibia is called "ASCO" and the company in SA is called " Bushlore". There is also Hertz etc, but they are more expensive. Like I said just Google.

Jul 03, 2009 at 09:26 PM

sgietler
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p.1 #4 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

brit-007 - renting a car is no problem, I don't know where you got the idea it would be in south africa.

Addyvdb - thanks alot for your advice. I just found this rule on the kruger park website:

Remember that no part of the body may protrude from a window or sunroof or any other part of the vehicle. Vehicle doors should be closed at all times.

so I'll have to stick to a high-height vehicle.

let me know if anyone has a specific model of a vehicle that is higher than a sedan that they recommend for wildlife photography.

Jul 03, 2009 at 10:27 PM

reggie747
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p.1 #5 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

south africa

Didn't you say so much in your original post or did I miss something ??

Jul 04, 2009 at 12:29 PM

EB-1
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p.1 #6 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

Did Kruger move somewhere else?

EBH

Jul 04, 2009 at 01:41 PM

Vivek
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p.1 #7 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

EB-1 wrote:
Did Kruger move somewhere else?

EBH

I did't think the parks could move; heck I want the African parks in CA!! Ha haa...

Jul 04, 2009 at 02:17 PM

sgietler
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p.1 #8 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

sgietler wrote:
brit-007 - renting a car is no problem, I don't know where you got the idea it would be in south africa.

yes, that does sound funny after I read it again..

I should have said

"I don't know where you got the idea it would be (a problem) in south africa...

I wish those darn parks would stop moving around...

Jul 04, 2009 at 04:33 PM

MSIGuy
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p.1 #9 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

sgietler wrote:

let me know if anyone has a specific model of a vehicle that is higher than a sedan that they recommend for wildlife photography.

Land Rover. Should be fairly common in Safari country.

Jul 05, 2009 at 09:08 AM

AddyvdB
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p.1 #10 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

Land rover is excellent but the most expensive class. You don't need the 4x4 capabilities of a Land rover in Kruger. The height is a big plus tough. A very common alternative would be a Toyota Hillux or a Nissan (Navarra) Double Cab. I would suggest a double cab version of both cars because of the space. Less expensive, a little less height. But like I said, a very good compromise. I believe the Toyota is a little higher than the Nissan. I used the Nissan once, good car.

Good luck.

Jul 05, 2009 at 10:15 AM

sgietler
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p.1 #11 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

thanks alot everyone.

yeah, the land rover would be nice, but will probably cost too much, I'll definitely check on the toyata and nissan double cab recommedations. thanks AddyvdB

Jul 05, 2009 at 04:33 PM

carlsbadbum
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p.1 #12 · Car with sunroof / open-top for african safari?

I did the same at San Diego wild animal park, it feels like I was in Africa.

Jul 08, 2009 at 09:46 PM


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