Going on a safari vacation in the Serengeti or South Africa’s Kruger Park? Or maybe someplace else. But for me, a pair of binoculars would be as important as a sun hat and sunscreen.
Hence…
I would use the best binoculars for safari action near or far from me. And you should, too! In such destinations, there’s so much to see!
So, because the Adasion 12x42 binoculars model magnifies the view in such open savannah plains, up to 367 feet away, it made its way to the top of my list. Carry this model on your next safari and take photos using its smartphone adapter so you can relive the expedition forever.
You should know the reasons why, so read on. 😉
5 Best Binoculars For Safari Reviewed
1. Adasion 12x42 - Best Overall
Adasion 12x42 waterproof model has a universal phone adapter that accommodates smartphones like iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Sony, and LG.
Which better way to share your safari experience with friends back home than to show them what you see? Consequently, its 42mm lens will magnify your images up to 12 times.
Its 18mm eyepiece shows you clear, large images.
You need such clarity for enthralling experiences like bird watching in the Congo rainforest or marveling at tree-climbing lions in Tanzania.
The images of this eyepiece are bright. Thanks to a 16.5mm BAK-4 prism lens that draws over 30% more light than the average lens.
These binoculars weigh 1.25 pounds, a weight you can withstand during a long game drive.
Their 367 feet field of view makes them suitable for a wide range of safari activities like bird watching, game viewing, and hunting because they magnify a wide area.
Pros
- Superior light transmission
- Large field of view
- Easy to adjust
- Large eyepiece
- Compact
- A smartphone adapter
Cons
- Resists light rainfall only
Takeaway
There are safari moments that you capture as soon as they happen. For instance, when you witness a Big Cat Diary type of high-speed hunt, you need these binoculars to save the moment on your phone using their smartphone adapter.
2. Binoculars Adorrgon - Most Popular
With Binoculars Adorrgon birds and other safari species appear 12 times larger because they have a 12x magnification. With their 42mm front lens, expect brighter images and a greater field of view even in low light dusk safaris and sundowners.
Given that safari destinations are vast savannah regions to explore within a short time, this model is one of the best safari binoculars for giving you a field of view of 367 feet.
All its lenses are fully multi-coated for high-definition vision by reducing the loss of light.
During walking safaris to watch birds in the woodlands or hot air balloon rides at sunrise, the neck strap secures these binoculars and keeps your hands free.
The anti-slip grip is another commendable feature to counter the risk of dropping the binoculars in the untamed savannah plains where wild animals roam.
This product is very light because it weighs 1.1 pounds only, which is perfect for long birding or hiking trips.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Odorless rubber
- Lightweight
- Good focus
Cons
- No phone adapter
Takeaway
I can use this pair of binoculars during the great wildebeest migration in Kenya. Since tourists can only view the breathtaking migration of millions of wildebeests from the seat of a Land Cruiser, the 367ft/1,000 yards field of view and 12 times magnification can bring the migration closer to me.
3. Occer 12x25 Compact Binoculars - Best Selling
Occer 12x25 Compact Binoculars’ 12x magnification brings distant objects closer and scans a wide area at once when you’re searching for elusive species like the cheetah.
This model is suitable for all the activities you may have on your must-do list, from bird watching to hiking and game viewing.
The eyecups are adjustable, and these binoculars have a long eye relief to suit you if you wear eyeglasses or not. Their 15mm eyepieces are large for a comfortable fit, even for glass wearers.
Additionally, this model is so small you can hold it in one hand as you view wildlife up to 273 feet away.
Its lens has FMC multilayer broadband green film for consistent color reproduction, which means you see the image in full color. It would be frustrating not to see the real color of the enchanting continent.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Waterproof
- Durable
- Anti-slip rubber armor
- Suitable for adults and kids
Cons
- Not suitable for use in very wet or humid conditions
Takeaway
The Occer 12x25 is a family-friendly model with an anti-slip grip and a compact size suitable for small hands. Maybe, you can buy it as a gift for your kids as you prepare for a family safari.
4. SkyGenius 10x50 Pro Binoculars - Best Budget Buy
With the 50mm objective lens of SkyGenius 10x50 Pro Binoculars, you cannot miss the thrilling hunt of wild cats and other predators.
This model will bring all the hunting action to your eyes, even action taking place about 367 feet from your open-sided Land Cruiser.
Its weak light vision equips you for astronomical experiences during sundowner dinners outside your luxurious tent. The images are sharp, in perfect contrast, and bright.
The 1.8 pounds it weighs is not too heavy, and its anti-slip grip comes in handy during hiking and walking safaris. For exceptional color quality, it has a corrective optical coating.
Its diopter system adjusts vision to give you the same focus on both eyes, and the straps hold the front lens caps so they won’t get lost while on safari.
Pros
- Center focus knob
- Adjustable eyecups
- Shock resistant
Cons
- Double vision requires adjusting.
- Not compact sized
Takeaway
You’ll have an unforgettable safari experience when using a pair of binoculars with a 50mm front lens to see 367 feet away. I would love to see the snow-capped silhouette of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania from the neighboring Amboseli National Park in Kenya using the adjustable focus of these binoculars.
5. Hontry 10x25 Compact Binoculars - Best Value
The Hontry 10x25 Compact Binoculars are family-friendly and suitable for activities like hiking, bird watching, and game viewing.
Their 10x magnification brings images of birds, mountains, and trees close to you. Further, their field of view is about 362ft to scan a large area in the savannah plains.
Hontry also gives you multi-coated optics in this model as an assurance of sharp images irrespective of the lighting.
This pair weighs only 0.6lbs; it will not add any weight to your hiking backpack when exploring Africa on foot. More so, it’s almost palm-sized, so it takes a little space in your travel carry-on.
Pros
- Used by adults and kids
- Excellent for low night vision
- Shockproof
Cons
- 10mm eye relief only
Takeaway
Rubber armor for shock resistance, lightweight, and anti-skid ability are three features needed when using binoculars in a rugged landscape with nature trails instead of tarmacked roads. You’ll get these three benefits in this model.
Checklist For The Best Compact Binoculars For Safari
Magnification & Objective Lens
The magnification and the diameter of the front lens are two features listed in any safari binoculars review.
A higher magnification enlarges the image more; therefore, a 12x magnification is higher than a 6x magnification. Nonetheless, a larger magnification may cause blurry pictures when your hands are shaky.
The objective lens draws light into the binoculars. As a result, a larger objective lens has brighter images.
Field Of View
This range defines the area you view through the lens. Two factors that influence it are the lens design and the magnification against the lens diameter.
For example, 8x32mm binoculars have a larger field of view than 10x32mm binoculars because the latter magnifies the image two times more than the former.
Eye Relief
You require a comfortable space from the eyepiece of the binoculars to your eye. When you lengthen this eye relief, such as when you wear glasses, the field of view reduces significantly.
Go for binoculars with a long eye relief such that wearing glasses will not hamper your field of view.
The ideal eye relief is between 15 and 20 mm, and adjustable eyecups make the eye relief more comfortable if you don’t wear eyeglasses because you can adjust the distance.
Image Stability
The best binoculars for African safaris are light, about one pound in weight which is ideal for best children's binoculars, but you still need the image stability feature to correct shaky images.
Low Light Vision
If you’ve booked a hot air balloon safari in the morning or sundowner drinks and bush dinners, you’ll need binoculars that work under the low light of such settings.
Waterproof/Fogproof
The tropical forests have humid conditions that require fog-proof binoculars. Such a feature is a must-have. You may not be planning a safari during the rainy season, but you should be ready for an unexpected downpour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do The Binoculars Numbers Mean?
In an example like 10x25mm, the first number stands for magnification, which is the number of times the lens enlarges the object in your view. The second figure specifies the diameter of the front lens. This diameter is always in millimeters, such as 40mm, 25mm, or 42mm.
When you combine the first and the second figure, you have the magnification and the aperture power of the product, say, 10x42.
Do Binoculars Need Cleaning?
Yes, you need to clean your binoculars. Most products, such as the Hontry 10x25, come with a cleaning cloth. It should be dry, clean, and soft, or it will scratch the lens.
How Do I Focus By Binoculars?
First, align the left and right eyepieces to have them at the same level. Next, close the right eye and look at an object through the left eyepiece using your left eye. Rotate the focus ring until the distant object in view is sharp and clear.
Close the left eye, and repeat the same adjustment process for the right eyepiece. It's easier to do this when your binoculars have a diopter system as this feature matches the view in both eyepieces.
What Does Roof Prism And Porro Prism Mean?
Prisms invert the object in view, and one of the differences between roof and Porro prisms is the quality of the image generated. Porro prism is cheap to manufacture. Therefore, binoculars with Porro prism are more affordable than roof prism binoculars and you can find the best binoculars under 500.
Binoculars with roof prisms are slim because the prism magnifies the image in a straight line.
The ones with Porro prism are wide as the light path inside makes a Z shape between the front lens and the ocular (eyepiece) lens. This Z shape increases magnification without lengthening the binoculars.
For that reason, binoculars with Porro prism are light efficient, and they have higher contrast than the ones with a roof prism.
What’s The Difference Between BAK-4 And BK7 Prism?
They are both Porro prisms, but BAK-4 has high-density barium crown glass, and the BK-7 prism has boron crown density. The exit pupil of the BAK-4 is circular when you look through the eyepiece, but the BK-7 presents a squared exit pupil.
This distinction makes products with BAK-4 prism the best safari binoculars for low vision expeditions. It makes the edge of an image clear, unlike the square edge caused by a BK-7 exit pupil.
How Can I Capture Images If My Binoculars Does Not Have A Phone Adapter?
If you choose binoculars without a phone adapter, make sure it has high magnification and a large objective lens.
With these two features, your field of view will be large and clear, and you can then get creative with your smartphone to capture what you see on the lens without a phone adapter.
You’ll only need a steady base to rest your arms while holding your smartphone in front of the eyepiece lens of your binoculars.
Conclusion
The best overall model is the Adasion 12x42 because its features match the expectations of any safari lover. It has a 12x magnification, a wide field of view, it is waterproof, and it has adjustable eyecups.
You want to enjoy and capture the safari experience, and this model has a universal phone adapter that works with most smartphones.
The Hontry 10x25 model guarantees the best value for money because its magnification is 10x. It has a 362ft field of view through a 25mm front lens, which is greater than the 273 feet viewed through Occer 12x25 binoculars. Additionally, it is also compact and light; hence, suitable for kids.
