Canon safari kit: choosing between RF 100-500 and RF 200-800

Your safari lens is the most consequential choice you'll make for a Kruger or Madikwe trip. Two Canon RF zooms dominate the conversation. The RF 100-500 f/4.5-7.1L IS USM is the benchmark. At 500mm it fills the frame with a leopard in a jackalberry, balances nicely on an R5 Mark II, and is short enough to shoot from a Land Cruiser seat. Autofocus is Canon's best, and the image stabiliser pairs beautifully with modern in-body IS. The RF 200-800 f/6.3-9 IS USM gives you 300mm more reach at roughly half the price. The catch is aperture: by 800mm you are at f/9, which limits low-light sightings at dawn and dusk. In good light it is unbeatable value for birds and distant cats. Our field picks: - Bright midday game drives and birders on a budget: RF 200-800. - Mixed light, serious wildlife work, second body not required: RF 100-500. If your budget allows a second body, pair the 100-500 on an R5 Mark II with an R7 carrying a 24-105 for wide context shots.