Best Tripods For Wildlife Photography

When it comes to wildlife photography, a solid, reliable tripod is a must-have tool in your kit. The best tripods for wildlife photography not only stabilizes your camera, ensuring sharp, high-quality images, but also allows for versatility when shooting at different angles and heights.

If you’re looking for a good tripod to add to your travel photography gear to photograph wildlife, it’s important to know and understand the features you’ll need in order to make the best comparisons.

Selecting the best tripod for wildlife photography can be challenging due to the vast array of options available. You’ll find good wildlife photography tripods in all price ranges to suit any budget.

Tripod size and weight are important to note if you’ll carrying it while traveling or hiking. Also note the load capacity to be sure the tripod can hold your heaviest camera and lens combination.

Below are the top 5 tripods we recommend for wildlife photography based on our year out in the field taking pictures of all types of animals: bald eagles, grizzly and black bears, moose, wolves, and wild horses.

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Where Should I Buy Camera Equipment?

We get all our Camera Equipment at B&H Photo! They are a reputable company that’s been in business for over 45 years. Their customer service and knowledge about photography equipment gives us peace of mind when spending money on higher ticket items like cameras, tripods and lenses.

We also use B&H Photo to buy our camera accessories like filters, memory cards, cleaning kits, portable hard drives, and more!

Best Wildlife Photography Cameras

Check out our article detailing the best cameras for wildlife photography and the features you need to look for:

• Good burst mode
• Decent buffer depth 
• Fast and efficient autofocus 
• Lens or lens range

Nikon 500mm f5.6 Lens Review

Looking for an affordable lens for wildlife? Check out our review and why we LOVE the Nikon 500mm f5.6 lens for nature photography!

Best Tripods for Wildlife Photography

Here’s a list of the top 5 wildlife photography tripods we recommend. The key features for each tripod are listed to help you make an informed decision on the tripod that’s best for your camera gear and photography needs.

Don’t forget about the tripod head for wildlife photography! Be sure to check if the tripod you want comes with a tripod head, or if that head will work for taking pictures of wildlife!

Gitzo Systematic Series 5 Carbon Fiber Tripod

This tripod works amazing for wildlife photography due to its sturdy construction and healthy load capacity. The Gitzo Systematic Series 5 Carbon Fiber Tripod provides great stability, even with heavy telephoto lenses, for sharp captures in the wild.

Key Features

• Arca-Type Ball Head with Lever Release
• Load Capacity: 66 lb
• Maximum Height: 71.26″
• Minimum Height: 8.86″
• Folded Length: 28.54″
• Leg Sections: 4
• Weight: 8.2 lb
• 6X Carbon eXact Tubes
• G-Lock Ultra Twist Locks
• Arca-Type Compatible QR Plate Included

Really Right Stuff TVC-33 Versa Series 3 Mk2 Carbon Fiber Tripod

This Really Right Stuff tripod is a high performing medium weight tripod great for wildlife photography.

The TVC-33 Versa Series Carbon Fiber Tripod provides a very sturdy platform for cameras and large lenses with a high load capacity. 

It’s high quality, lightweight design folds down to under 26 inches.

Key Features

• Load Capacity: 85 lb
• Max Height: 58.6″
• Min Height: 4.1″
• Folded Length: 25.6″
• Leg Sections: 3
• Weight: 4.3 lb
• Twist Locks with Integrated Wipers
• Rubber Ball Feet
• Variable Angle Stops
• Versa Apex with Multiple 1/4″-20 Sockets

Benro MeFoto Globetrotter Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

We have found the this tripod to be versatile and dependable. It is lightweight and very compact when folded down making it ideal for travel and hiking. 

The Mefoto Globetrotter Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is capable of handling moderate camera and lens combinations for wildlife photography. It’s the tripod we use regularly when we’re out taking landscape photos, and know we might also encounter animals to photograph.

Key Features

• Load Capacity: 26.4 lb
• Max Height: 64.2″
• Min Height: 16.1″
• Folded Length: 16.1″
• Leg Sections: 5
• Weight: 3.8 lb
• Converts to Monopod
• Q2 Triple Action Arca-Type Ball Head
• Arca-Swiss Style QR Plate
• Separate Head and Pan Lock

Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

We love this travel tripod! It is ideal for travel and hiking due to a very compact fold down design that allows it to fit nicely into our camera backpack.

The Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is strong and sturdy despite its lightweight structure.

We use this tripod for wildlife photography, and find it will handle all but the heaviest telephoto lenses. This Peak Design tripod stabilizes our Nikon D850 and Nikon 500mm F5.6 very well.

Watch our video below to see our full review of this tripod!

Key Features

• Load Capacity: 20 lb
• Maximum Height: 60″
• Minimum Height: 5.5″
• Folded Length: 15.5″
• Leg Sections: 5
• Weight: 2.8 lb
• Single Adjustment and Locking Ring
• Peak Design Plate & Arca-Type Compatible
• Aluminum Leg Locking Cams
• Mobile Mount Stores Inside Center Column

Three Legged Thing Winston 2.0 

This wildlife photography tripod extends very tall, folds up small, and carries a heavy load. The Three Legged Thing Winston 2.0 is perfect for wildlife photography when you’re out hiking!

It is a great all-around tripod that performs well with larger lenses.

Key Features

• Load Capacity: 88.0 lb
• Max Height: 72.9″, Min Height: 5.7″
• Folded Length: 24.0″
• Leg Sections: 3, Weight: 3.8 lb
• Carbon Fiber Legs, Bubble Level
• Twist Locks, Rubber Feet
• 3-Position Leg Angle Locks
• Reversible, Rapid Column
• Monopod-Convertible Legs and Column
• Carry Case with Strap

Camera Gear at B&H Photo

Peak Design Travel Tripod Review

We love our Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod. It is ideal for hiking due to a very compact fold-down design that allows it to fit nicely into our camera backpack. It’s strong and sturdy despite its lightweight structure, and will handle all but the heaviest telephoto lenses. This tripod stabilizes my Nikon D850 and Nikon 500mm F5.6 lens very well – it’s a terrific tripod for wildlife photography.