Uganda Photo Safari: Gorillas and Chimps

Uganda offers remarkable variety for photographers, from open savannahs to dense rainforest, and from quiet primate encounters to wide, wildlife-rich landscapes. In Bwindi and Mgahinga, we’ll spend two days tracking mountain gorillas. These treks take time and effort, but the reward is a rare chance to observe and photograph the gorillas in their natural setting. While the encounters obviously can’t be planned or predicted, you’re likely to come pretty close to these incredible creatures. It’s humbling, exciting, and - needless to say - amazing for photography. It’s worth the trek, which can be long, depending on where the gorillas are. (Note that a good level of fitness is required!) Kibale Forest provides another perspective and a wide variety of wildlife photography opportunities, as this tropical rainforest is home to an enormous number of primates and birds. Here, you can expect to photograph chimpanzees and a great number of monkey species, including Columbus Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, and L’Hoest Monkeys. In contrast with Bwindi and Kibale, Queen Elizabeth National Park offers wide vistas of savannah and wetlands, mixed with shady forests and large lakes. The park provides a stunning backdrop for its abundance of wildlife, which includes 95 mammal species, 20 predators and over 610 bird species, making the park a birder’s paradise. Four of the Big Five can be spotted; lions, leopards, buffalos, and elephants. And don’t forget to point your camera up, as famously, some of the lion prides spend most of their time in trees. Throughout the trip, your photography guide will offer guidance in the field, from camera settings and composition to building a thoughtful photographic story. With a small group and flexible schedule, there’s plenty of space to work at your own pace and develop your skills in diverse environments.