Not only are wildlife trips fun to plan, but better preparation can also help manage the unpredictability of wildlife a little better, increasing our chances of getting the sightings or photos we want. In this video, Sumeet Moghe, an experienced wildlife photographer and an expert wildlife photography trip planner, breaks down the nuances of planning a wildlife trip well. We break down wildlife trips by the complexity of planning involved, and speak about how to go about each category of trip, be it a small trip near your home that one may do very frequently, or a trip to a far away destination that may happen only once or twice. Sumeet and I share examples and analogies to illustrate different levels of planning. We compare local or short weekend trips (snack trips), trips within your country (home-cooked meal trips), and international or high-stakes trips (Michelin star trips). Each type of trip comes with its own set of challenges and requires varying levels of preparation. We discuss the essential questions to ask yourself and your guide when planning a trip. Understanding your primary goals and expectations, identifying the species or behaviours you want to photograph, and knowing how common these species are at your destination helps streamline your planning process. We also speak about important questions to have answered before heading out, be it with your fellow travellers, or with your guide to have a common set of expectations.