MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING PHOTO SAFARI
A five-day Uganda photographic safari featuring two mountain gorilla treks, one in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and one in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, with expert photographic guidance throughout.
17 - 21 June 2027 | 5 Days | Two Mountain Gorilla Treks | Photographer-Led Safari
SAFARI AVAILABILITY
This mountain gorilla photo safari is designed for photographers who want a focused gorilla trekking experience in Uganda. Two treks, one in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and one in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, offer different forest settings, with expert local guides and practical photographic support throughout.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking Photo Safari Overview
This five-day Uganda photo safari includes two mountain gorilla treks: one in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and one in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These different forest settings offer opportunities to work with changing light, vegetation and backgrounds, creating a varied collection of gorilla images.
The photographic focus includes expressive portraits, family interactions, feeding behaviour and wider compositions that place the gorillas within their habitat. Your photography host will help you balance shutter speed, aperture and ISO in low light, select autofocus settings and manage exposure when photographing dark fur against brighter foliage.
Before each trek, you will receive practical guidance on camera setup and lens choice. In the field, support focuses on composition, anticipating behaviour and making the most of available sightlines while following your trekking guides’ directions. The second trek gives you an opportunity to build on the first encounter and refine your technique.
GROUP SIZE
6 GUESTS + 1 PHOTO HOSTS
Location
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
PRICE
2027: $11,945 USD PER PERSON SHARING
2028: $12,979 USD PER PERSON SHARING
DURATION
5 days / 4 nights
PHOTOGRAPHY SKILL LEVEL
All skill levels welcome
WHY JOIN THIS MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING PHOTO SAFARI?
A focused six-day itinerary combining two gorilla treks with practical photographic support, expert local knowledge and opportunities to develop your skills between encounters.
A DEDICATED GORILLA ITINERARY
Spend your safari focused on mountain gorillas, with one trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and one in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, within a compact six-day journey.
PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT
Travel with a dedicated photography host who can help with camera settings, exposure, autofocus and composition, adapting advice to your experience and the conditions during each encounter.
PREPARE BEFORE EACH TREK
Head into the forest with your equipment ready. Pre-trek briefings cover lens choice, camera setup and managing changing light, so you can spend more of your encounter concentrating on the gorillas.
BUILD ON YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE
Use the time between treks to discuss your images, identify challenges and refine your approach. Your second trek provides an opportunity to apply what you have learned in the field.
EXPERT LOCAL GUIDES & TRACKERS
Trek with specialist local guides and trackers whose knowledge of the terrain and gorilla behaviour helps you navigate the forest and understand the encounters as they unfold.
RESPONSIBLE GORILLA PHOTOGRAPHY
Follow park rules and your guides’ directions throughout each encounter. Respectful distances, quiet observation and careful movement underpin our approach to photographing mountain gorillas.
PHOTOGRAPHY HIGHLIGHTS
Two mountain gorilla treks, one in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and one in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, offer opportunities to build a varied collection of portraits, behavioural images and forest scenes.
Expressive Gorilla Portraits
Focus on facial expressions, eye contact and the textures of fur and skin. Work with available light, depth of field and backgrounds to create portraits with a strong sense of character.
Family Interactions & Beaviour
Look for grooming, feeding, play and quieter moments between family members. Anticipating gestures and watching relationships within the group can help you capture images that tell a story.
Gorillas Within Thier Habitat
Explore wider compositions that place gorillas among forest vegetation. Use foliage, branches and layers of greenery to frame your subject and convey a sense of place.
Low-light Forest Photography
Work with filtered light, shade and changing contrast beneath the canopy. Balance shutter speed, aperture and ISO to retain detail in dark fur while managing movement and brighter backgrounds.
Two Different Forest Settings
Photograph in the rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the montane and bamboo habitats of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Gorilla movements and conditions on each day will shape the backgrounds, light and sightlines available.
Itinerary at a Glance
A focused journey from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, with two mountain gorilla treks and photographic guidance throughout.
Arrival in ENTEBBE
Arrive in Entebbe and settle in before the safari begins.
Day 1
FLY TO KISORO
Fly to Kisoro and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Prepare for your first trek with a photography briefing.
Day 2
Day 3
FIRST GORILLA TREK
Trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, then transfer to your lodge near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
DaY 4
SECOND GORILLA TREK
Trek in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, building on your first encounter with further photographic guidance.
Day 5
Return to Entebbe
Fly from Kisoro to Entebbe, where the safari ends.
Price & Booking Details
PRICE INCLUDES
Airport meet-and-greet, pick-up and drop-off at Entebbe International Airport One night accommodation in Entebbe before flying to Kisoro All accommodation throughout the safari in handpicked luxury lodges All ground transfers between airports, airstrips, lodges and trekking locations Return domestic flights between Entebbe and Kisoro All meals throughout the safari Purified drinking water, coffee, tea, juice and selected non-alcoholic beverages House wines, local beers and selected spirits, where included by property All national park, conservation and activity fees Two mountain gorilla trekking permits: one for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and one for Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Porters for both gorilla trekking activities Professional photographic guidance from your Untamed Photo Safaris photo host throughout the safari Expert local driver-guides and specialist gorilla trekking guides Optional image review and photographic support where time allows Pre-safari planning information and preparation guidance AMREF Flying Doctors emergency medical evacuation cover On-the-ground logistical support throughout the safari
PRICE EXCLUDES
International flights to and from Uganda Personal travel insurance, which is required for all guests Uganda visa, passport, vaccination or travel documentation costs Premium alcoholic beverages unless specifically included by the property Personal expenses, including souvenirs, laundry, spa treatments, extra drinks and incidentals Optional activities or experiences not listed in the confirmed itinerary Additional hotel nights, meals, transfers or services required due to early arrival, late departure, flight changes, delays or missed connections Gratuities and tips for photo hosts, local guides, lodge staff, trekking guides, porters and support staff Excess baggage fees or private luggage arrangements outside the confirmed domestic flight allowance Any increase in government taxes, national park fees, permit fees, conservation fees, fuel levies, airport taxes, tourism fees or other compulsory charges after confirmation Costs arising from circumstances beyond our control, including weather disruptions, flight delays, national park regulation changes, medical issues or force majeure
Detailed Safari Itinerary
This five-day Mountain Gorilla Trekking Photo Safari travels from Entebbe to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, with one gorilla trek in each park. Domestic flights between Entebbe and Kisoro connect you with Uganda’s southwest, where the focus is on gorilla portraits, behaviour and forest photography. Your photography host provides practical guidance throughout, from camera preparation before each trek to working with low light, exposure and composition during your encounters.
DAY 1
Arrival in ENTEBBE
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Settle in, rest after your journey and prepare for the safari ahead.
Meet your photography host for a safari briefing covering the itinerary, trekking preparations, luggage arrangements and equipment. There will be time to discuss your photographic goals and check your camera setup before travelling the following morning.
Guests must arrive at Entebbe International Airport no later than 3:00pm on arrival day.
Overnight: Entebbe Forest Lodge
DAY 2
FLY TO KISORO
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kisoro, followed by a road transfer to your lodge near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Settle in and prepare for your first mountain gorilla trek the following day.
Your photography host will lead a pre-trek briefing covering lens choice, autofocus settings, shutter speed and ISO for forest conditions. Discuss how to expose for dark fur against bright foliage, manage distracting vegetation and prepare for portraits and behavioural images within the time available.
Photography Focus: Gorilla photography preparation, low-light camera settings, exposure and lens selection.
Overnight: Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
DAY 3
BWINDI impenetrable Forest TREKKING (gorilla trek 1)
After a briefing at park headquarters, trek into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with expert local guides and trackers to locate a mountain gorilla family. Your photography host will provide practical support during the encounter, helping you work with forest light, exposure, autofocus and composition as opportunities unfold.
Photographic opportunities will be shaped by the gorillas’ behaviour, their position in the forest and the conditions on the day. Your photography host will help you respond to these changing situations, working with available light, vegetation and sightlines while following your guides’ directions.
After the trek, return to the lodge to freshen up before transferring to your next lodge near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Once settled in, join your photography host for image review, editing guidance and constructive critique, with attention to exposure, sharpness, composition and processing gorilla images. Use these discussions to refine your approach for the following day’s trek.
Photography Focus: Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, adapting to forest conditions, image review and editing.
Overnight: Mount Gahinga Lodge
DAY 4
Mgainga Goirlla National Park trekking (gorilla trek 2)
After a briefing at park headquarters, trek into Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with expert local guides and trackers for your second mountain gorilla encounter.
Photographic opportunities will depend on the gorillas’ behaviour, their location and the forest conditions on the day. Your photography host will help you adapt your camera settings and composition to the available light and sightlines, building on techniques discussed during the previous evening’s image review.
After the trek, return to the lodge to rest before an image review and editing session. Discuss your photographs with your host, receive constructive feedback and explore processing techniques, including white balance, tonal adjustments, noise reduction and sharpening.
Photography Focus: Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, adapting to changing conditions, image critique and editing.
Overnight: Mount Gahinga Lodge
DAY 5
Fly to Entebbe & Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Kisoro Airstrip for your return flight to Entebbe. On arrival, continue with your onward travel arrangements or choose to spend an additional night in Entebbe before your international departure.
Your Mountain Gorilla Trekking Photo Safari ends in Entebbe, with images from two gorilla encounters and practical photographic skills to carry into your next wildlife adventure.
End Point: Entebbe International Airport, Uganda
Guests may book international flights departing after 4:00pm on this day.
Designed by Photographers, for Photographers
This Mountain Gorilla Trekking Photo Safari is built around photographing wild gorillas on foot in changing forest conditions. With preparation before each trek, guidance in the field and image review afterwards, your photography host will help you develop your approach across both encounters.
SPECIALIST GORILLA PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE
Mark and Jaren Fernley bring extensive experience photographing mountain gorillas in forest environments.
Their experience informs the safari’s photographic approach, helping guests prepare for challenging light, vegetation and unpredictable wildlife encounters.
Recommended Camera Gear
We recommend a mirrorless camera with strong low-light performance and reliable autofocus. A 70–200mm lens paired with a wide-angle lens offers a versatile setup for photographing mountain gorillas and their forest surroundings.
The 70–200mm provides flexibility for changing subject distances, while a wide-angle lens allows broader compositions when conditions permit. Your photography host will help you prepare your equipment and camera settings before each trek.
Professional Field Guidance
Your photography host will provide practical support with camera settings, exposure, autofocus and composition throughout the safari.
Advice responds to the conditions and opportunities on the day, helping you adapt while following the directions of your local trekking guides.
FOREST PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE
Work with low light, bright foliage and dark fur while balancing shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Your host will help you adapt to movement, vegetation and changing backgrounds.
Image review and editing sessions provide opportunities to assess your results and refine your approach between treks.
Safari Locations
This Uganda Gorillas & Chimps Photo Safari moves through four distinct wildlife regions, each offering a different photographic experience. From savannah and river landscapes in Murchison Falls to chimpanzee forests in Kibale and two separate mountain gorilla environments in Bwindi and Mgahinga, the itinerary is designed to show the range of Uganda’s wildlife and rainforest photography.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi is one of Africa’s most iconic mountain gorilla destinations, known for its ancient rainforest, misty slopes and layered vegetation. Gorilla photography here can feel intimate and atmospheric, with opportunities for portraits, family behaviour, forest frames and low-light rainforest images.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga offers a different style of gorilla photography, with montane forest, bamboo habitat and volcanic mountain scenery. Compared with Bwindi, the environment can feel more open, giving photographers a second gorilla trekking experience with different light, vegetation and compositional possibilities.
Luxury Safari Accommodation
This Mountain Gorilla Trekking Photo Safari combines stays at Entebbe Forest Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge and Mount Gahinga Lodge. These luxury properties provide a comfortable base throughout the journey, with space to unwind, prepare equipment and enjoy photographic discussions between treks.
Begin with one night at Entebbe Forest Lodge before flying to Kisoro. Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is your base for trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, followed by two nights at Mount Gahinga Lodge for your visit to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
The accommodation supports the rhythm of the safari, balancing early starts and time on foot with opportunities to rest, review images and work on editing with your photography host.
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