Free: Contests & Raffles.
While not everyone can afford a $3,800 300mm F2.8L IS lens, many of us can afford a $1,000 300mm F4 IS lens...coupled with an XTI or 20d/30d/40d would be great.
So, I don't know what the answer is if you don't have the money. You could always rent a nice lens for the weekend when you are going on a photo safari...
It drives me nutts when I get a nice deer on the ground I always take pics with my brother holding it, then when I have him do it, with the same gear, the pics seldom turn out like I would hope. I just cant get him to fill the frame, or focus right or get the whole animal, or not cut off my hat etc.