Photo Safari at Fossil Rim - by David Oberbeck

Safari in Texas

True Photographic Treat

If you or any of your loved ones get excited about taking pictures of animals, you truly owe it to yourself or them to visit Fossil Rim!

Fossil Rim is a great photographic destination - imagine many hundreds of beautiful animals from Addax to Zebras just waiting for you to have the photographic time of your life!

Fossil Rim is so much better than zoos. While you can get some nice pictures at zoos, you are really limited to close-up shots, and you are elbow-to-elbow with crowds of people.

If you want to get rid of the visual clutter of the animal's enclosure you need serious telephoto lenses which are big, heavy, and expensive. At Fossil Rim not only can you easily get strong closeup shots but also compelling scenics without fences or people getting your way – something that would never happen at a zoo!

Visiting Fossil Rim

Fossil Rim is easy to get to, only a short drive from Dallas. It's in beautiful country reminiscent of Africa itself, but it's a whole lot closer! I've been asked “What is the best time to visit Fossil Rim?” My answer is “any time”, because each season at Fossil Rim has its own appeal, look, and photo possibilities. Visiting Fossil Rim just once is simply not enough. I have been there on rainy days and taken cool misty pictures of zebra herds, in winter taken a great silhouette of a lonely sable on a hill, and in May taken pictures of frolicking baby gemsbock. Fossil Rim is a drive-through reserve and offers a self-guided drive, so it's best to have a vehicle which allows you to get the best shots possible.

Safari in Texas

One of the very best ways to get great images is to take one of the guided tours. These tours get you behind the scenes and see things you would not see or experience on the self-guided driving tour; plus you will have a knowledgeable Fossil Rim staff member as a guide to help you get even better images. The guides know the animals and their behavior, and on every tour you will learn fascinating new things from them about the animals. Fossil Rim has open-top Jeeps for these tours that are just perfect for photography!

As with any outdoor photography the best times to photograph are in the early morning and late afternoon on into sunset; the key is being there when the light is best. One plan is to stay in the nearest town, Glen Rose, then drive into the park. But this takes time and you might miss the great light. A much better plan is to stay right in the park – they have two great places to stay allowing you to take full advantage of the light.

The Lodge offers comfortable accommodations with a great deck for taking pictures of the animal herds that come by in the mornings and evenings. Or – for that full African feel – you can stay at my personal favorite: the Foothills Safari Camp. The Camp also overlooks a pond where animals gather in the best light.

The Pavilion at the Safari Camp serves dinner for guests in a great setting. Thanks to Fossil Rim's Chef Kasey, the food is excellent and presented beautifully. What a fabulous ending to a photographic day: Enjoying dinner while animals gather at the water hole below you!