Photography Safaris in Uganda

Photography Safaris in Uganda – Best Uganda photography tours

Photography safaris in Uganda – Uganda’s spectacular wildlife, bird species and dramatic landscapes are a treat for any photography safari in Uganda. The best region to visit for a photographic holiday is Western Uganda, where the biggest highlight will be photographing Mountain Gorillas from just a few metres away in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

A camera that performs well in low light is ideal, as the forest environment can be quite dark and dense. A zoom lens (70 – 200mm is best) is great for getting close-up shots of the Mountain Gorillas. Ideally, it is best to have two camera bodies with different lenses on each one, as there often isn’t any time to change lenses when the Mountain Gorillas are on the move. Remember to turn off your flash; flash photography is not permitted on a Mountain Gorilla trekking expedition.

In terms of landscapes, Western Uganda’s crater lakes near Fort Portal and the jagged, dramatic Rwenzori Mountains will provide endless inspiration for photographers.

Make sure that you have all of the photographic gear that you need for your trip to Uganda, as outside of Kampala and Entebbe; it will be hard to buy something you may have forgotten. Spare memory cards are essential, and packing a spare battery is a good idea, especially if you are going on a multi-day trek.

A lightweight tripod is an essential gear item for wildlife and landscape photography, while another great item is a small beanbag that you can use for steadying your camera lens when you’re shooting wildlife out of the car window on game drives. Great Adventure Safaris specialize in organizing photography Safaris in Uganda and here are some of the best places you can visit for your photography safari in Uganda.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

This is a World UNESCO heritage site located in South Western Uganda. From a distance, the trees of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest look broccoli heads. The main activity here is Gorilla tracking and Gorilla habituation which has been introduced in the southern part of the forest. If you are interesting in photographing Mountain Gorillas, butterflies, waterfalls and bird species of Uganda, then this is perfect place and should be included on your itinerary,

Lake Mburo National Park

This National Park is 370kilometres squared making it Uganda’s smallest savannah national park but its size should not be under estimated as far as photography safaris in Uganda are concerned. It is only 4 hours driving from Kampala and 5 hours from Entebbe to this park which is easily accessible and packed with so much for your photography.

It is underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back more than 500 million years. It is home to 350 bird species, zebra, eland, buffalo, oribi, Defassa waterbuck, leopard, hippo, reedbuck, giraffe and Topi. The National park can be explored by boat on a boat safari, by a horse back safari, by a 4×4 safari vehicle and or on foot on a guided waking safari, offering great opportunities to enthusiastic photographers on one of our safaris in the country.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

With 33.7kilommetres squared, making it Uganda’s smallest National Park. The National park takes its name from “Gahinga” the local word for the piles of volcanic stones cleared from farmland at the foot of the volcanoes. This National park has got an altitude of between 2,227metres and 4,127metres.

It was created to protect the rare Mountain Gorillas that inhabit its dense forests, and it is also an important habitat for the endangered Golden monkeys and bird species.  Mgahinga Gorilla National Park does not only protect wildlife but also has a huge cultural significance for the indigenous Batwa pygmies.

This tribe of hunter-gatherers was the forest’s “first people”, and their ancient knowledge of its secrets remains unrivalled. For a cultural photo session, travellers can go for a Batwa cultural visit to their secret Ngarama cave. The extinct volcanoes are one of the few striking features of this national park that can be photographed.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is 3,840kilometres squared making it the biggest conservation area in Uganda. It was gazetted as a national park in 1952 and it offers great wildlife photography photos of elephants, giraffes, leopard, African Cape buffalo, Nile crocodile, hippo, warthog, lions, different types of antelopes and numerous bird species. One can go on a photography game drives, boat safari to the bottom of the falls, a hike to the top of the falls, hot air balloon safari and take a boat to the delta to see the shoebill stork, an ancient bizarre looking bird. It is also one of the few national parks in Uganda that offer night game viewing.

The Murchison Falls are the world’s most powerful water fall. Watch the Nile squeezing through an 8metre wide gorge and plunges with a thunderous roar into the “Devil’s Cauldron”, creating a trademark rainbow. The northern section of the park contains savannah and borassus palms, acacia trees and riverine woodland. The south is dominated by woodland and forest patches

The 1951 film “The African Queen” starring Humphrey Bogart was filmed on Lake Albert and the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park. Notable visitors to the park include Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway and several British royals.

Kibale Forest National Park

This primate capital of the world is located in Western Uganda, and it is perfect for photographers interested in taking great shots of Chimpanzees since it has a huge population of them. The park is characterised by grassland, rain forest and swamp. It is home to about 70 mammal species and 13 primate species that include the Chimpanzees. It is also a bird watching paradise because it is a home to 375 bird species. Kibale Forest National Park is also surrounded by beautiful crater lakes which can be explored on foot. These are really photogenic.

Kibale National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is another best place for a photographic safari in Uganda. The National park was founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park and after two years, it was named after the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth. This National park is with no doubt of Uganda’s most popular destinations for tourists.

This National park offers great photographic opportunities due to its diverse ecosystems that include savannah, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, making it a great habitat for big animals like the elephants, lions, hippo, buffalos, leopard, 10 primate species that include Chimpanzees which can be found in Kyambura gorge and over 620 bird species.

This park is also set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalos and elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kobs.

The park also offers many photographic opportunities for visitors to meet local people for enjoy storytelling, dance, music and more. The gazetting of the park has ensured the conservation of its ecosystems, which in turn benefits the surrounding communities.

What to pack on your Photography Safari in Uganda

Gorilla Tracking Requirements:

Sturdy hiking boots

Water proof trousers

Long sleeved Shirt/blouse

Water proof raincoat/jacket

Sun Cream

Gloves

Insect repellent

Backpack for carrying water and packed lunch

Camera

General Safari requirements:

Light safari clothing’s i.e. shorts/sleeveless for the day

Warm clothing/sweater for the evening

Anti-Malarial/Yellow fever vaccination

Getting around in Uganda on a photography safari

Getting around by Road Transport

The national parks are easily accessible and Great Adventure Safaris provides 4 x 4 WD vehicles customized for safaris. The land cruisers and vans all have enough space to carry your photography equipment.

Getting around by air transport

For photographers who want to cut down on the distance between the different destinations in Uganda, they can choose to fly between these places through our partners Aerolink Uganda. Let us know what mode of transportation you prefer.

If interested in photography safaris in Uganda, Kindly contact Great Adventure Safaris now and our safari consultants will customize one according to your safari needs, with a price quotation.