Finding the best binoculars for a safari online can be a little tricky. Everyone seems to have their own personal opinion about what works best in this unique environment. You might see some fascinating animals during your trip to Africa, but it isn’t like visiting a zoo. These animals are in the wild and will likely avoid you at all costs. You’ll need some binoculars that have the following qualities to have the best experience possible.
1. Added Durability
Riding in a safari vehicle is not the most comfortable experience in the world. In your excitement to see an elephants, it’s easy to drop everything in your pack and then have someone else smash into your gear because they are equally excited. The best binoculars for a safari are going to have an added layer of toughness to them that will help to protect them against those little accidents. Look for binoculars that have some form of armor on them, like a rubber armor, and a high quality carrying case that will help to keep them protected.
2. Set Back Lenses
Being in a safari vehicle might bring you some nice views, but the authentic experience requires you to get out of that vehicle and out into the scratchy brush of Africa. If the lenses of your binoculars are framed near the edge, then there’s a good chance that you’ll scratch them up – even glass lenses – through your normal movement. Having objective lenses that are set back within the body of the binoculars will prevent this.
3. Good Lens Caps
The African environment can be quite challenging at times. Not only is there brush to thick about, but there is also a lot of dust and debris. When the wind blows, that dust and debris can impact the exposed lenses of your binoculars. This can cause as much damage to your equipment as walking through the brush can at times. By having good lens caps available that lock onto your binoculars and stay attached so you don’t have to throw them into a pocket or your bag is a nice feature to have.
4. Full Sized Binoculars Are Best
There are three basic categories for safari binoculars: full sized, mid-sized, and compact. Each has its advantages, but because full-sized binoculars are twice the size of most compact binoculars, you’ll have more light available to you and this will make all of the images you see brighter and more realistic. Compact binoculars, on the other hand, are typically more affordable and easier to carry along when you are traveling. Mid-sized binoculars bridge the gap by combining cost, convenience, and use.
5. A Good Field of View
Having an intense level of magnification is great for seeing things in fine detail up close, even when they are far away. What this does not do, however, is provide you with a good field of view that is natural. Finding a field of view that is about 100 yards at 1,000 yards is going to be suitable for most safaris, but the wider the FOV, the better the user experience is typically going to be.
The best binoculars for a safari are the ones that will provide you with the best view at the best price while having a high amount of durability. By using these 5 tips as you shop, you’ll be able to find the perfect binoculars for your upcoming trip.
Author Bio
Guest post by Procular. An Australia retailer for binoculars, spotting scopes and optics.