Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Travel Tips
  3. Cool Gadgets
  4. The Best Binoculars for Spotting Wildlife on Safari

The Best Binoculars for Spotting Wildlife on Safari

By Rena Behar
March 14, 2019
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Getty Images
There seems to be a running joke that the number one cause of divorce among travelers in Africa is only bringing one pair of binoculars on safari. Rather than coming to blows over who gets to watch the elephants bathing in that far-off pool or zoom in on that pack of sunning lions, pick up a pair or two of binoculars to make sure you can see the wildlife in all its detail, down to the feathers of the birds on the water buffalo’s back.

Binoculars are most often identified by both their model name and a set of two numbers. The first number represents the magnification. For safaris and other wildlife viewing, most sources recommend an 8x or a 10x, so animals will look eight or ten times closer to you than they actually are. If you go too much higher, the image may get blurry if you’re holding the binoculars without extra stabilization — something you won’t really have in a jeep.

The second number is the size of the objective lens (the front one) in millimeters, which tells you how much light the lenses let in. A larger number means more light gets in; and 42 seems to be the sweet spot for maximum clarity without adding too much weight. Given that wildlife is most active around dawn and dusk, it’s important to make sure your binoculars can handle low lighting. Many binoculars with designations like “compact” or “travel” top out around 28; this keeps them smaller, potentially even foldable, but they won’t perform as well in darker conditions. If you want to go deeper down the binocular tech specs rabbit hole, B&H Photo offers a comprehensive guide to lenses, while REI will help you sort them out using slightly shorter sentences.

Related: The Top 10 Safari Outfitters

In addition to the correct magnification and lens size, you want to look for a rugged housing (probably rubber) and waterproof design. You are taking these into the bush, after all. A carrying strap is a nice bonus for bringing them along on game drives or walks, and be mindful of weight, since you will be carrying them both on your expeditions and in your luggage.

There are binoculars with built-in cameras and binocular apps on the market, as well, but we don’t recommend them. You’re getting the worst of both worlds with camera binoculars, and apps are still inherently limited by your phone camera’s abilities. If photos are what you’re after, you’re better off investing in a camera with a good zoom lens.

There’s not much consensus in the online review sphere about which specific binocular models are the very best, but the same brands pop up over and over again, so feel free to comfortably explore their catalogs if the particular model we mention here isn’t quite to your liking.
Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Athlon Optics Midas 8x42 ED

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

This Athlon pair topped the Wirecutter’s list and was one of the Strategist’s expert’s recommendations. They’re noted for their exceptional durability and easy focusing, a definite bonus when you’re trying to follow animals along their path.

To buy: amazon.com, $230

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Celestron Trailseeker

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

Wirecutter’s second-favorite was only dinged for its slightly blurrier edge of field, but does come with a lower price tag than their top pick from Athlons.

To buy: amazon.com, $190

2 of 12

3 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Nikon ProStaff 7

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

The 7 is the most recent addition to Nikon’s very good entry-level ProStaff line. The 3 and 5 are also solid options and sometimes you can find them even cheaper.

To buy: amazon.com, $177

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Nikon Monarch 5

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

Available in 8x or 10x42, the Monarch 5 makes consistent appearances on best-of lists in this price range. For about double the price, you’ll get similar features but a larger field of view with the Monarch 7 (8x and 10x).

To buy: amazon.com, $247

4 of 12

5 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Celestron Nature DX

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

The Celestron Nature, meanwhile, is an Outdoor Gear Lab best buy. Both the Nature and TrailSeeker appear on Audobon Society’s best budget binoculars list, and birders know their binoculars.

To buy: amazon.com, $113

5 of 12

6 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bushnell Legend L Series

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

Bushnell is another classic binocular brand, and this midpoint of their Legend series has solid qualifications for a reasonable price.

To buy: (8x42) amazon.com, $160; (10x42) amazon.com, $146

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Vortex Viper HD 8x42

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

Outdoor Gear Lab’s editor’s choice binoculars won their praise for finding the balance between price and performance, earning the designation of the best binoculars you can get before you hit a four-digit price tag.

To buy: amazon.com, $432

7 of 12

8 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Olympus 10x42 PRO

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

These are Digital Camera World’s 2019 pick for best safari binoculars for their excellent light transmittance plus anti-fog and waterproof capabilities.

To buy: amazon.com, $519

8 of 12

9 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Leica Trinovid

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

Leica also brings the quality of their camera lenses into their high-end binoculars. Digital Camera World likes the Trinovid for the combination of superior picture and rugged build.

To buy: amazon.com, $984

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Swarovski EL 8.5x42

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

Think you’re going to convert to a lifetime of birdwatching? Swarovski’s lens quality is consistently top of the line, but you’ll pay top of the line prices for it. If money is no object for you, try out this Outdoor Gear Lab top pick.

To buy: amazon.com, $2,659

10 of 12

11 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Zeiss Victory SF

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

If you really want to invest in your binoculars, Zeiss makes some of the best. Choose between 8x42 or 10x42 depending on your preference and steadiness of your hands. If you’re just buying a pair for one safari, you don’t really need to spend this much, but who are we to stop you if you absolutely must have them.

To buy: amazon.com, $2,750

11 of 12

12 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Leica Noctivid

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon

Step even further up with Leica’s Noctivid, a Strategist and Field & Stream pick for their maximized ergonomics, build quality, and crystal clear images.

To buy: amazon.com, $2,799

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Rena Behar

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 12 Athlon Optics Midas 8x42 ED
2 of 12 Celestron Trailseeker
3 of 12 Nikon ProStaff 7
4 of 12 Nikon Monarch 5
5 of 12 Celestron Nature DX
6 of 12 Bushnell Legend L Series
7 of 12 Vortex Viper HD 8x42
8 of 12 Olympus 10x42 PRO
9 of 12 Leica Trinovid
10 of 12 Swarovski EL 8.5x42
11 of 12 Zeiss Victory SF
12 of 12 Leica Noctivid

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

The Best Binoculars for Spotting Wildlife on Safari
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.