Just check resellerratings.com like everyone else who wants to know if a store is legit.
And if you're really stoked about hiking up a mountain with a DSLR, then you'll need a backpack to carry it in. If you plan on climbing the mountain where the incline is steep but not completely vertical like a stone wall, then the backpack will get in the way because backpacks that hold DSLRs extend quite a bit behind you because of the thickness of the padding inside. Oh what to do.
I hope you realize that you need to spend a lot of money on lenses for what you plan on doing. I imagine that it'll be sunny in Kenya, so a lens like the 18-135 mm will do very well for you, although
sometimes it won't give you the reach you want. The 18-200 mm is good as it has VR, but VR is most necessary at focal lengths beyond 150 mm and not before that IMO, so the 18-135 mm will still give you great results, especially in sunlight, even without the presence of VR at 100-135 mm, etc.
Getting the 18-135 will save you money and perform well, but can't zoom in far enough.
Next, used this saved money to buy yourself a Nikon 12-24 mm f/4 (priciest option), Tokina 12-24 mm f/4 (heaper alternative that's arguably just as good), Sigma 10-20 mm DC lens (most reviews are very good), or a Sigma 12-24 f4-5.6 DG lens (can fit a full-frame DSLR if Nikon decides to go that route), because you're going to need a wide-angle.
If you really want to know what I think you should get so that you spend as
little $$$ as possible while still allowing you to get photos of the animals you want:
Cheapest Option:
- Nikon D50
- The el-cheapo Nikon 70-300 mm (yes, I know it's slow and you can't isolate the subject, but it's sunny there, and this lens would allow him to take the photo of the animals he might see)
- Tokina 12-24 mm f/4
- Nikon 50 mm f/1.8
- A Monopod to go with the 70-300 mm
- A Lowepro Computrekker backpack so that you can carry your camera, lenses, monopod, AND still have a compartment for water, sunscreen, and a hat.
Still cheap, but better option:
- Nikon D80
- Nikon 80-200 mm f/2.8 (new or used)
- Tokina 12-24 mm f/4
- Nikon 50 mm f/1.8
- A monopod to go with the 80-200 f/2.8
- A Lowepro Computrekker backpack so that you can carry your camera, lenses, monopod, AND still have a compartment for water, sunscreen, and a hat.
Mind you that you shouldn't buy too many heavy lenses, because it would be a pain to hike or climb with.
I went hiking and climbed a mountain in Tasmania like 4 days ago. These photos would have been impossible without the Tokina 12-24 mm lens on my D50.
