I would say that without doubt a good pair of binoculars for your safari is essential. Not only does it help in spotting game and viewing it from a distance, but no matter how close you get to the wildlife, there is always so much detail you will miss out on without good binoculars.

Self-focusing binoculars, night vision binoculars, German military binoculars, infrared night vision binoculars, Swarovski binoculars, Carl Zeiss, the list goes on and on and then were not even getting into different sizes, prices and magnifications of binoculars! So which do you choose and more importantly which pair is the best suited for a wildlife Safari in Africa?

My guide to the best Binoculars to take on Safari.

In this guide I will attempt to point you in the right direction and list binoculars for sale that I recommend to take on safari and why I think they are the best binoculars to take on safari. Most of the binoculars listed on this page are being sold by Amazon, they have literally hundreds of binoculars on their site and usually list them at the lowest price available.

Safari vs Wildlife Binoculars

Many binoculars that are specifically designed for wildlife observation make excellent safari binoculars, but not all. So what is the difference? The word "Safari" is Swahili that means a Journey or Expedition, that stems from the Arabic word "safar" that also means "journey". So in my eyes a good pair of binoculars for safaris needs to be a good wildlife binocular, pretty good birding binocular, but must also be tough and small enough to travel with.

Size of Binoculars for Safaris

I have divided the reviews below into size categories:

• Full-sized Binoculars
• Compact Binoculars
• Mid-sized Binoculars

 

Also take a look at the best Binocular Accessories to take on safari.

Full Size Binoculars:

Taking full sized 10x42 or 8x42 binoculars on safari is not an ideal choice for many people and I usually recommend taking mid-sized or even a compact instead. This is because if you are going on holiday it makes sense to keep the size and weight of your luggage down to a minimum. On top of this, if you are planing on a walking safari and you also want to take your camera as well, a smaller pair of binoculars is just that much easier to carry.

Smaller binoculars do have their downsides however. The biggest being that fact that because they have smaller objective lenses, they let in less light and therefore don't perform as well, especially in low light conditions as comparable binoculars with larger lenses.

Low Light... For the most part light will not be a problem, but remember most of the safaris that you go on will leave very early in the morning (sometimes at or just before sunrise) and then late on in the afternoon. This is because birds and larger animals are far more active at this time. But it is also when lighting is not optimum. Now, I am not saying that compact binoculars will not work, in fact I still suggest that for many people they are the ideal binoculars for safaris, but for those who want the best possible image and who are not so worried about size and weight, then a quality full sized binocular is the way to go.

Compact Binoculars:

For most people, I would recommend that a good pair of compacts is the ideal choice as a safari binocular, this is mostly because they take up hardly any room in your luggage. But even more so if you plan on going on a walking safari as they are far easy to carry with you than larger optics, especially if you want to carry your camera with you as well.

Mid Size Binoculars:

Mid-Sized binoculars with objective lenses of about 32 - 36mm are the ideal compromise between light gathering potential and size. Small enough to easily carry around and fit in with your hand luggage if you are going traveling like on safari, yet they still have large enough objective lenses to gather enough light to work well in poor light conditions, like what you often find early mornings and late afternoons when many birds and other wildlife is most active.

Binocular Accessories:

Below are a few reviews of accessories and carrying solutions that you may also consider taking with you:

Lowepro Field Station Belt Pack You're on a walk to watch wildlife on safari or anywhere with your binoculars, field guide and a notebook. One thing that has always been a problem was finding a dedicated carrying solution. The Lowepro Field Station, part of their Optics Series is a purpose-built beltpack designed to offer comfort, hands-free support and convenient access to your essential birdwatching and safari gear.

	LockDown Optics Deployment System If you want to comfortably carry full sized binoculars on a walking safari and still be able use both hands so that you can also carry your camera then the LockDown binocular harness from S4Gear may be just what you have been looking for. Take a look at my full review where I give them a thorough testing and discover just why I not only highly recommend them, but also use them myself.

What makes a good Safari Binocular?

A good safari binocular will have many of the same features as good birdwatching binoculars, wildlife or hunting binoculars as well as military binoculars, but must also be simple to travel with, so they need to be:

Small and Compact: Unless you like struggling with loads of luggage on holiday, it makes sense that the optics that you are planning to travel with are pretty small or even compact binoculars. This is even more important if you are planning on going on a walking safari, compact binoculars are way less annoying than lugging around a huge pair especially if you want to carry your camera with you as well. (importance 7/10)

Tough: Even though the safari vehicles are pretty comfortable, you are sure to drop them at some time during your holiday, remember you are also going to be packing them in your luggage and so a flimsy pair will only end up getting broken. (importance 7/10)

Exit Pupil Size: This is basically the amount of light that enters the objective lens (big lens at the end of the binoculars) and then exit the ocular lens and into your eyes. It is an important measure if you want to know how well a binocular will perform in dim light. Whilst most of your game viewing will probably occur in decent light conditions, you will probably head off before sunrise for the morning game drive and then also go on a sunset drive as this is when most game is most active. I would aim for an exit pupils size of at least 2.5 Read how to work out the exit pupil size here (importance 6/10)

Magnification: You want to get right up and personal with what ever you are looking at so a decent magnification is important. A magnification that is too big will mean a reduction in your field of view making it harder to pinpoint that fast moving cheetah or bird, it will also make it difficult to keep the image through your binoculars steady unless you have a tripod or some image stabilisation binoculars. For me around 10x is ideal and definitely not less than 8x and not more than 12x (importance 7/10)

Field of View: This is the horizontal width of the image you can see whilst looking through the binoculars at a certain distance. It is usually expressed as a number of feet per thousand yards of distance (273ft at 1000 yards). A wide field-of-view is good for quickly locating the object you wish to view, this is very important for fast moving and small objects, like birds. Large magnifications, usually mean a smaller field of view, and a higher field of view often means a less powerful magnification. For more read my guide to Safari Binoculars & Field of View (importance 6/10)

Not too expensive: always choose a pair that you can afford to loose. Remember you are traveling to Africa, now to be honest I sometimes feel more scared of being pick pocketed in London than I do walking around many cities in Africa and when you get to the game reserve and your lodge you will be completely safe. But as a tourist anywhere in the world you immediately become some sort of a target and it is best to only travel with "what you can afford to loose" This also rings true if you were to leave your binoculars somewhere on your travels, which often happens or if they were to get broken with your luggage etc. Not too expensive is a relative factor, so it is important to set a budget that you are comfortable with. (importance 5/10)

Waterproof Binoculars: Hopefully it won't rain on your holiday, but safari vehicles are not the most waterproof modes of transport and sometimes some of the best game viewing experiences can happen when it is raining. On one occasion I sat with some hardy guests watching a cheetah shelter from the rain under a tree. Waterproof binoculars for safari are preferable, but not essential. (importance 4/10). Read more on Waterproof binoculars here.

Conclusion

So to sum up, the ultimate safari binocular is a tough, waterproof compact binocular with a magnification of between 8x and 12x, has a good field of view and produces a bright image even in poor light conditions. It must also be at a price that you can afford to loose. Simple!

 

Binocular Basics

If you would like some more detailed information, check out this excellent article on the Best Binoculars for Safari Holidays

The Ultimate Safari Binocular

Steiner Wildlife 10.5x28 Official blurb: The perfect combination of shock resistance, visual performance and comfortable handling. Designed with glare and UV blocking ability to offer clear, distortion free images in bright sunlight. The High-Contrast Optics offer excellent visual experiences at a very reasonable price (approx £179 / $299) Why I say it is the ultimate safari Binocular: Price - Not the cheapest out there, but far from the most expensive Quality- Steiner is a quality German brand Robust - I have dropped my personal pair often, left them in the rain in the landrover overnight, had them covered in dust and sand and they keep coming back for more! Size: Compact enough for for fitting into your hand luggage and more importantly for taking with you an that walking safari without having to leave your camera behind! Stats: Excellent magnification (10.5) even for bird watching and lets in plenty of light (28) compared to other binoculars this size. UK Readers: > > Buy now on Amazon.co.uk As an alternative you could try the Steiner 8.5x26 Wildlife Binoculars from Jessops in the UK. These Binoculars have a slightly smaller magnification and object lens, making them more compact and easier to carry on safari. US Readers: > > Steiner 10.5x28 on Amazon.com

Price of Binoculars
How much should you pay? This is a pretty hard question to answer, because everybody has a different idea of what is "allot of money"

The old saying of "you only get what you pay for" is very true for binoculars, I have used very cheap binoculars in the past, sure they magnify an image but when you compare them side by side with a more expensive pair there is NO comparison, because the more you pay, the higher the resolution, the finer the detail and the greater the pleasure. So don't skimp too much and go for that £12.99 ($10) pair, you will regret it when your sitting on the back of that landrover looking at all that game in the distance! That also does not mean that you have to buy that £1000+ Swarovski binoculars, if you do have that kind of money to spend and you are going to use you binoculars often go ahead, Swarovski and Leica make incredible binoculars and you will be buying the best.

The value for money binoculars - excellent binoculars at an affordable price

Steiner 10 X 26 Safari Binoculars Why I say it is the best value for money binocular: Price - At around £73 (hover over the image to get current price) I think for what you get this is pretty had to beat. Less than half the price as the Ultimate Binoculars above but I don't think you get less than half the quality here, so I reckon this is a good deal. Quality- Steiner is a quality German brand another great binocular from Steiner (Sorry I have to admit I have a bit of a soft spot for Steiner's and I use them myself.) Robust - Still has that tough rubber exterior as the more expensive models Size: Compact enough for for fitting into your hand luggage and more importantly for taking with you an that walking safari without having to leave your camera behind! Stats: Excellent magnification (10) even for bird watching and still lets in enough light (26) to catch that last look of the lion in the distance as the sun fades behind the horizon! UK Readers: > > Buy now on Amazon.co.uk US Readers: > > Steiner 10x26 on Amazon.com

Money is no object binoculars, I just want the best!
Canon 10 x 42L Image Stabilising Water Proof Binoculars with Neck Strap & Case Manufacturer's Blurb: The 10x42L IS WP binoculars are the first from Canon to be engraved with the hallowed red L-series ring: a mark until now reserved for Canon's finest professional photographic lenses; the pinnacle of Canon's 60 year heritage in precision optics design and manufacture. Raising optical performance standards, the binoculars feature 2 Ultra-low Dispersion glass (UD) lens elements on each side.
Developed by Canon, these elements are effective in eliminating chromatic aberration - the rainbow-like distortion that affects lesser quality binoculars. The result is super bright, high contrast, 10x magnification viewing clarity. To suppress vibrations caused by viewing hand-held, on moving vehicles or boats, the 10x42L IS WP binoculars include Canon's Vari-Angle Prism (VAP) Image Stabilizer (IS). Tiny gyros detect the slightest movements, while a microprocessor controls a special prism to correct the refraction angle of incoming light. Designed to survive the toughest outdoor conditions, the 10x42L IS WP binoculars are fully waterproof. The design incorporates a distinctive easy-grip for wet conditions, and a robust rubber coating to withstand all your adventures. To prevent fogging on internal lens elements caused by the ingress of moisture, all exterior surfaces are treated with a special metallic coating. This works in concert with special O-rings and use of waterproof adhesives on all external contact points to prevent water molecules permeating the outside casing. All the lens element surfaces are treated with Canon's Super Spectra coatings. These ensure vivid high contrast images with accurate color balance by eliminating unwanted internal reflections that cause 'ghosting' (secondary images) and 'flare' (low contrast, washed out images). The exceptionally large 4.2mm exit pupil allows a bright field of view in low light conditions. Every aspect of the 10x42L IS WP binoculars is designed around viewing comfort. A wide 65 angle of view gets plenty of horizon into view, while a 16mm Long Eye Relief minimizes vignetting (or the 'tunnel effect') that can affect prescription glasses wearers. A correction lock prevents unintentional diopter correction errors, and the extending eyecups can be rotated for customized fitting.! My take on it: I have never tried these out but based on all that is said above, if it were not for the rather hefty price tag (Approx £1,160) these would probably be the ultimate safari binoculars! if you have a pair or have used a pair and would like to comment, please contact me so I can add it here. > > Buy now on Amazon.co.uk

How to Focus Binoculars
That depends on which type of binoculars you have. The "center focus" is the most common type, and has a knob in the center to focus on your subject. You need to calibrate them for your vision once using the diopter adjustment ring that is usually located near the eyepiece on the left barrel of your binoculars. From then on it is only a matter of focusing on the subject when you view it.

Here's how you do it:

1. Start by shutting your right eye and leaving your left eye open
2. Use the center knob to focus on an object about 10 meters away
3. Open your right eye
4. Next, shut your left eye and leave your right eye open
5. Using the focus ring (diopter adjustment ring) on the right ocular lens (the one nearest your eye) focus on the same object until you can see clearly
6. Look through the binoculars with both eyes open, and you should have a clear, crisp view of the object.

Done! The binoculars are now calibrated for your vision.

Self Focusing Binoculars Review
Some times known as "auto focus binoculars" or "focus free binoculars" or even "in focus binoculars". They are actually permanent focus binoculars and have been around for over 10 years. There is allot of misconception about "self focusing binoculars" and how they work which has mostly been perpetrated by the advertising industry and marketing, in fact they are not "self-focusing binoculars" or "auto focus binoculars" at all, they are permanent focus binoculars and everything from about 40 feet to infinity remains in focus with no additional adjustments needed. This is accomplished by sophisticated optics which use your eyes natural ability to focus.

Sounds great, but permanent focus binoculars do have their down sides you need to have perfect vision, or your vision needs to have been corrected or you will not be able to see clearly through them and they do not have an effective close range. So when that safari guide gets you nice and close to that rhino and you want to see the detail of his horn, or the texture of his skin, you'll be missing out.

On the plus side, if you are sharing a pair of binoculars with someone who does not have exactly the same vision as you, when you pass it back and forth, you wont have to keep on correction the focus.

Self Focusing Binoculars (permanent focus binoculars)
Bushnell PermaFocus 12x50 Binoculars Manufacturer's Blurb: Don't miss the action while you're fumbling to focus! Bushnell 12x50 PermaFocus® auto focus binoculars feature focus free operation for convenient viewing. Just aim, and your subject comes into clear view! The 12x50 PermaFocus® offers a wide, 265-foot field view – wider than that in most 12X binos – allowing you to see more of your subject. Quality optics are fully coated for bright, crisp images, and ergonomic, rubber armoring provides durability and a slip-resistant grip, even for gloved hands. * 4.2mm exit pupil * 9mm eye relief * 265-foot field of view * Fixed focus * 2-pound field weight
* Note: Focus-free models are designed for viewing distant subjects. The close focus limit is subjective and dependent on the user’s eyesight. My take on it: The 12x50 gives you excellent magnification and allot of light entering the binocular, so even viewing in low light wont be a problem. Bushnell is a quality brand in the world of optics. Probably a bit to big for long game walks, but fine for game drives and at around £90 I think these are pretty well priced. UK Readers, buy here: > > Buy now on Amazon.co.uk US Readers, buy here: > > Amazon.com
Compact Self Focusing Binoculars (permanent focus binoculars)
Bushnell 8x25 PermaFocus Binoculars Manufacturer's Blurb: Don't miss the action while you're fumbling to focus! Bushnell 8x25mm PermaFocus® auto focus compact binoculars feature focus-free operation for convenient viewing. Just aim, and your subject comes into clear view! The 8x25mm PermaFocus® compact offers a wide, 330-foot field view – wider than that in many8X compacts – allowing you to see more of your subject. Quality optics are fully coated for bright, crisp images, and ergonomic, rubber armoring provides durability and a slip-resistant grip, even for gloved hands. * 3.1mm exit pupil; * 10mm eye relief; * 330-foot field of view * Fixed focus, * 1-pound field weight.
My take on it: Nice and compact, so perfect for traveling and game walks, but as always to make binoculars small there is a trade off with the amount of light entering the lenses but these are more than adequate and at around £40 and from a quality brand these my pick for compact permanent focus binoculars. UK Readers: > > Buy now on Amazon.co.uk US Readers: > > Amazon.com Bushnell 8x25 PermaFocus Binoculars: Review on YouTube:

Looking for cheap night vision binoculars?
Check out my night vision binoculars review

Quick Links: Self Focusing Binoculars | Night Vision Binoculars

That's it for my Safari Binocular Reviews, I hope that you found it useful.

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What to Take on Safari

This page is part of a series of posts on what to take on safari, for further reading try:

• Safari Binoculars
• Best Digital Cameras for Safari Holidays
• Best Superzoom Cameras 2012
• African Safari, Travel & Wildlife Books
• What Equipment I take on Safari
• Bird Photography: Equipment used on Safari
• Safari Clothing Advice
• Safari packing list of what to take on safari

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