#2 gets my vote.

You need to straighten the horizon in #3 I think.

. Helps if you read the instructions first

I never use any sort of blower - all that does is blow the dirt around in the body. Canned air is not a good idea generally.

I use an Arctic Butterfly with excellent results. I have never needed anything else.

Why do you say don't bother about an Arctic Butterfly David?

South African safari vehicles tend to be open - no windows at all.
East African safari vehicle have a pop roof so you stand up and take photos through the roof, or through the wide open windows. Lions are so used to vehicles you are in little danger, unless you get out when you are recognised as prey.

A driver guide doesn't not take photos - he looks for wildlife and leaves it to the guests to get their shots. If he is taking photos too he can't be watching out for potential danger or other wildlife.
It takes a lot of training to be a driver guide.

Yes the wildlife can be close to the vehicle but it can also be a long way away, in which case 300mm is not enough, especially for birds and shyer animals.

I don't find the Bigma too big, and would rather have that than have to keep changing lenses.

It does even less for me straightened . It just looks wrong.

Me and him

I don't like the converging verticals in #3 either.
1 and 4 for me, though I do like #5 as well.

Which is why my husband resists the temptation to buy guitars in the US

Just found this which may appeal, especially after recent discussions of cheap airlines on the forum .

Hmm the link isn't coming up correctly.
This is the link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPyl2tOaKxM&feature=player_embedded

Now that's a good idea