Good problem to have

[Chisox2335]

Man your wife says why don't you just get a 1dx2 and your asking a bunch of strangers on the internet what to do!! .
Luck sod, have a great trip! ;D

Agreed! Number one reasons to get the 1DX Mark II now?

3. Because you have the money to spare.
2. It will be available.
1. Your wife is very sweet to you and says it is okay. Fortunate man.

Good call CFB

 

[Random Orbits]

Man your wife says why don't you just get a 1dx2 and your asking a bunch of strangers on the internet what to do!! .
Luck sod, have a great trip! ;D

+1. You have time. Try the 1DX II in the store first and see if it is a good match for you to use as a primary camera. For an expected rental price of 800-1000, you're better off buying and and selling it after your trip/after the 5DIV comes out. If you prefer what the 5DIV offers, then you're out the "cost" of the rental but had one to use for several months (much longer than the rental period for the trip). And if you decide to keep it, then you found the best camera for you and you got to use it when it counted most -- on your big trip.

 

[Hector1970]

If you can afford it the 1DX II would be the way to go.
If you can afford it CF fast and Batteries are only a relatively minor expense.
With dust and potentially heavy rain (depending on time of year) the best weather sealing you can get may be an advantage. The low light advantage the camera brings would be very useful as the animals can be captured in low light.
Just make sure you have the glass to go with it to maximise it's potential.
If you pair it with a 70-300 F4-F5.6 III you'd be wasting your time
Why wouldn't you pick a 1DX II.
Weight would be one reason. Every gram/ounce matters in the heat and holding it for potentially hours through the roof of a jeep.
Noise of the 1DX II doesn't matter at all. All the big game wouldn't be concerned by it in the slightest. What I found strange is how much they ignore humans. They look right past you..
It's an amazing experience and so beautiful.
Just bring a big light scarf/wrap to put around you head to keep off the Tsetse Fly.
In Sub Saharan Africa this is the biggest annoyance. It may not be a factor where you are going

 

[TAW]

#1) Be thankful you have such a wonderful wife
#2) Be thankful you have such a wonderful wife
#3) Be thankful you have such a wonderful wife

My personal experience is once I had a 1 Series body, I rarely picked up the 5 series body. With that said, I don't mind the size or weight, the cost difference is not that significant after figuring out how long the camera will last and resale value (maybe $50 month - probably less), and the megapixels and silent shutter are more then adequate for me... So the negatives for me aren't significant and there are a lot of positives. It all depends on how those negatives will impact you.

Have a wonderful trip!
tom

 

[Chisox2335]

If you can afford it the 1DX II would be the way to go.
If you can afford it CF fast and Batteries are only a relatively minor expense.
With dust and potentially heavy rain (depending on time of year) the best weather sealing you can get may be an advantage. The low light advantage the camera brings would be very useful as the animals can be captured in low light.
Just make sure you have the glass to go with it to maximise it's potential.
If you pair it with a 70-300 F4-F5.6 III you'd be wasting your time
Why wouldn't you pick a 1DX II.
Weight would be one reason. Every gram/ounce matters in the heat and holding it for potentially hours through the roof of a jeep.
Noise of the 1DX II doesn't matter at all. All the big game wouldn't be concerned by it in the slightest. What I found strange is how much they ignore humans. They look right past you..
It's an amazing experience and so beautiful.
Just bring a big light scarf/wrap to put around you head to keep off the Tsetse Fly.
In Sub Saharan Africa this is the biggest annoyance. It may not be a factor where you are going

I would pair it with my 500mm f4 Mkii or the 100-400 mkii.

I'd be more concerned with leopards, hyenas, birds as far as shutter noise is concerned

 

[Hector1970]

It wouldn't bother Leopards or Hyenas.
I don't recall birds being much of an issue either but they may be more sensitive.
The animals tend to ignore humans.
Leopards are beautiful animals. A bit harder to find than other cats.
They camouflage well up a tree but well worth finding .
The Cheetahs are best for action. They really are very fast.
Lions come across as very lazy - especially the men.

 

[Chisox2335]

It wouldn't bother Leopards or Hyenas.
I don't recall birds being much of an issue either but they may be more sensitive.
The animals tend to ignore humans.
Leopards are beautiful animals. A bit harder to find than other cats.
They camouflage well up a tree but well worth finding .
The Cheetahs are best for action. They really are very fast.
Lions come across as very lazy - especially the men.

A couple shots from my first safari