When ever you are visiting a new country do not expect for them to have the same rules and customs and mannerisms of people in your home country. What is normal for you may not be for them and whats normal for them may not be normal for you. To avoid making a fool of yourself and possibly causing an international incident it is important to listen twice as much as you talk. Observe and do what the locals do or just sit back and watch from a distance.
"it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. "
It’s about respect but also you will find that when you listen and observe quietly that you are introduced to things, people, and places that you would not otherwise be introduced to.
For you it is vacation but for everyone else they are just trying to earn a living and do well by their family and their culture. Understanding this it is important to try and make sure every interaction you have with anyone on your trip is a positive interaction for them. Be prepared to give small gifts for the random people you meet on your journey for they will remember you and bless you with experiences, home cooked food, and access that you would not otherwise be privileged to. After you have made friends ask them questions about the best way to proceed. They will tell you stuff that is not on any normal tour guide or brochure and that will make your trip all the more unique and memorable.
Be mindful, a small camera will allow you to take photos of everyday life but a big lens will draw a crowd so If you have a big lens be mindful not to photograph every person you meet, respect their privacy and do not photograph their face without their permission, it may not be their best day and you should be mindful of that. Snap a photo if you must but always ask before you keep the photo.
Belive it or not similar rules apply to animals as with people but not for the same reason. Animals are naked and are not ashamed of their nakedness or bad hair day, but they generally do not enjoy being stalked. When photographing wildlife it is a safety issue to constantly watch one specific animal especially a baby animal when their mother is around. Too much attention on the most vulnerable member of the herd will cause the parents to think you are a predator who wants to eat them. And you don’t want an angry overly protective mama rhino after you.
Keep your distance,
if they can see you don’t stare in one direction too long,
don’t make noises,
stay downwind of the animals you wish to photograph,
avoid obnoxious smells perfumes deodorants
and if at all possible try to arrive at the destination before the animals wake up so they are comming to you, you are not approaching them.
AND NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PUT YOURSELF BETWEEN A BABY AND ITS MOTHER.
When photographing rhinos ideally you want to keep a tree between you and them and try and hug that tree, be one with the tree. Rhinos have bad eyesight but they can detect movement so don’t make any sharp movements and make sure to silence your camera as much as possible before you arrive to the photography location.
Rhinos as well as many thick skinned animals are most active when it is cool outside, after the sun comes up and it starts to get hot they prefer to bed down under a nice big shade tree or in the mud if no tree is around them. So arriving on site before they do will give you the best opportunity to catch them doing something other than laying down.