Customized Gorilla Photo Tours in Africa
Our customized gorilla photography tours gives you an opportunity to see the rarely seen Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. A population of about 480 mountain gorillas is known to inhabit the park lush habitats.
The size and altitudinal range of montane and lowland forests at Bwindi forest support more species of trees, ferns, birds and butterflies than any other forest in East Africa. It is also one of the forests that contain chimpanzees and gorillas.
A visit to this park will reveal a unique fascinating African adventure with one of the most thrilling primates in the world. Uganda highlights the elegant beauty of the country with excellent viewing photo opportunities.
Cruise on the world’s famous Rive Nile at Murchison Falls, walk on foot to trek chimpanzees in Kibale Forest, join game drives to search for wildlife in Queen Elizabeth and end with the ultimate trek of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
No matter where you go on a wildlife photo safari, what will surprise you about Africa is the variety of animal life to photograph. A typical safari is done in 4×4 wheel vehicle Land Cruiser and Land Rover.
I requested for roof top Land cruiser because I was a photographer, all I wanted was space for taking my wildlife pictures and nice videos. Shooting from vehicles is an art in itself. You need a wide range of focal length to maximize your possible shots.
The amazing and unforgettable gorilla photo safari in Uganda started with a pick up from Entebbe International Airport in the morning, meet and greet by my safari guide with a short briefing about my wildlife and gorilla photo safari.
From there I was transferred to Murchison Falls National Park, the largest national park in Uganda. En-route visit was to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to track the rhinos on foot.
I was then guided on a nature walk to track the Rhinos with thrilling photo shoots. After the experience with rhinos, we proceeded to Masindi town were we had lunch after we continued to enter the park.
The first activity i did when I entered into the park was visit the top of the falls. At the top of the waterfalls I observed the River Nile Squeezing itself in a 7metre gorge before tumbling 40 metres down in a thunderous explosion and then it flows down into a very peaceful river whose water banks are swarmed with a profusion of water and land animals as well as birds. After the visit, I checked at Paraa Safari Lodge for my dinner and overnight.
Early in the morning I took breakfast, then we proceeded for a photography game drive safari in the park’s Northern area to see the big 4 including the elephants, buffaloes, and lions and if lucky you can spot the leopard.
Other animals that I saw during the game drive where giraffes, Bush bucks, warthogs, water buck, antelopes among others. Bean bags work well for support on all but the open vehicles but I got the best support by splaying the legs of a small tripod flat across the rood opening.
These morning games drive enables you take exciting wildlife photography with fascinating animals. After the game drive I went back to the lodge to take lunch.
In the afternoon I went for a thrilling boat safari down the Nile as being highlight of the trip in the park since it allows you to get up-close and personal with the animals.
Together with other members we sailed close to the bottom of the falls and on this cruise we saw various bird species, numerous hippos and giant crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes that come to drink some water.
We were also lucky to spot the rare shoe bill gazing close to the shores of the Nile. After the great experience of spotting wildlife, I returned back to my lodge for dinner and overnight.
The next morning after breakfast we set off to Kibale Forest National Park via Lake Albert escarpment with scenic views of the lake.
I hard en-route lunch at Kolping Hotel in Hoima, we continued the journey through rolling hills which provided good photo opportunities as we approached Fort Portal in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains.
We continued towards Kibale Forest National Park, one of the great Africa’s rain forest research reserves. Kibale Forest is famous for the wide variety of primates found here and it is terrifying species of birds. I reached the park and checked for my dinner and overnight at Kibale Forest Camp.
Early in the morning after breakfast, we assembled at Kanyankyu River Camp for chimpanzee briefing, the most popular activity in the park which is chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzees are man’s closest cousins though they are one of the most threatened primate species.
Each community has a complicated social structure. The big adult males dominate the group and defend the community territory against incursions by male outsiders.
We located the chimps by listening at the pant hooting calls, then hustle to the area from which they are calling. Ready with our cameras we observed them as they were feeding in fruiting trees, lounge, and socializing with each other.
In the afternoon after lunch we visited a near-by forest swamp that is excellent for viewing primates and other forest animals. At the eastern edge of Kibale Forest is the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which is maintained by the local community.
During the walk we saw birds like the great Blue Turaco, blue monkeys, otters, baboons, mongoose, bush bucks, bush pigs among others. I returned back to my lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
The next day we took our breakfast as usual and checked out of the hotel ready to transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda’s most famous reserve.
Here you will find plenty of photography especially in the afternoon as we took a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel photographing the school of hippos, crocodiles along the shores of the lake, plus elephants and buffaloes that come drink water after the sun. We stayed at Bush Lodge for our dinner and overnight.
Early in the morning we explored more of Queen Elizabeth on a game drive seeing some unique species like the Uganda Kob as well as amazing bird species before we continued our journey towards the southern section of the park in Ishasha, home to the famous tree climbing lions.
In Ishasha it is very different as the lions tend to spend the day sleeping in the trees and this factor we were able to take good photos of them resting in on tree branches. We stayed at Njojo Safari Lodge for our dinner and overnight.
The drive to Buhoma the next morning took between 2 to3 hours along some stunning mountainous roads before arriving at the entrance to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park at Buhoma Lodge, a top quality and intimate property, commands spectacular and uninterrupted views of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, home to the rare and elusive mountain gorillas.
The lodge is a short walking distance from the meet point for gorilla tracking and other activities in the area. We have time in the after to relax at the lodge and to prepare for gorilla trekking the next day.
In the evening we decided to visit the local communities and we met people who live close the forest and we experienced their way of life and culture.
The next day we woke up for the biggest highlight of our gorilla photo safari trip with the opportunity to spend a magical hour with the magnificent gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
We began with heavy breakfast before heading off to the UWA park headquarters for allocation of a gorilla family. It is a for idea to employ the services of the local porter to take your camera bag for you as it not only makes the trek easier but also contributes to the livelihoods of the local people.
We then walked to the starting point of the of our allocated gorilla family trails. We hiked strenuous hills and terrains for about 5 hours, the walk has quiet tiresome but well worthy after finding the gentle creatures.
I was so happy because I did not believe what I was seeing, being in a family of 8 members with a silver back male, a mother, juveniles and infants, this was one of the magical experiences of I could never forget on this trip in Africa.
We spent only 1 hour watching and observing them while this gave me the opportunity to take photos during the hour.
After the 1 hour is up, we walked back to the starting point to get our gorilla trekking certificate, I returned back to the lodge to review and edit my images.
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