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GORILLAS, CHIMPS & MORE - UGANDA PHOTO SAFARI
SAFARI OVERVIEW
This 10-day photographic safari takes you deep into Uganda’s most diverse and iconic primate and wildlife habitats—designed specifically for photographers seeking variety, intimacy, and once-in-a-lifetime encounters.
Begin your journey in Murchison Falls National Park, where dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife set the stage for big game photography. Spend three nights exploring the savannah, tracking lions, and photographing the powerful falls themselves. Enjoy a private river boat experience bellow the falls where hippos, crocodiles, and river birds are thriving.
Next, head south to Kibale Forest for a full-day chimpanzee habituation experience, allowing rare, extended access to observe and photograph our closest relatives in a raw, natural setting.
Then continue to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where you’ll embark on two unforgettable mountain gorilla treks. Unlike denser jungle environments, Mgahinga’s open montane forest offers exceptional visibility — giving you clear, unobstructed views and the perfect natural light to capture powerful, frame-worthy moments with these endangered giants in their misty, volcanic habitat.
With charter flights, expert logistics, trusted guides, and luxury lodges throughout, this safari offers the perfect blend of big game, primates, and rainforest—crafted for passionate photographers who want to travel with confidence, knowing their safety and comfort are our top priority every step of the way.
GROUP SIZE
6 guests + 1 photo host per group
LOCATION
Murchison Falls + Kibale + Bwindi Forest
DURATION
10 days / 9 nights
PHOTOGRAPHY SKILL LEVEL
All skill levels welcome
BRIEF ITINERARY
DAY 1:
Arrival Day in Entebbe, Uganda
DAY 2:
Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park / afternoon safari
DAY 3:
Full day safari in Murchison Falls / Private River Boat Cruise / Photo Critique & post processing
DAY 4:
Full day safari in Murchison Falls / Photo Critique & post processing
DAY 5:
Transfer to Kibale National Forest / Photo critique & post processing
DAY 6:
Chimpanzee Habituation Photographic experience (up to four hours with chimps)
DAY 7:
Chartered flight to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park / Photo Critique & post processing
DAY 8:
Gorilla trekking experience (spend one hour with a gorilla family)
DAY 9:
Gorilla trekking experience (spend one hour with a gorilla family)
DAY 10:
Chartered flight to Entebbe / end of tour
(see detailed itinerary below)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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Big Game & Landscapes in Murchison Falls National Park
Spend three nights exploring Uganda’s largest national park, capturing dramatic river scenes, wide-open savannahs, and iconic wildlife like lions, elephants, giraffes, and hippos in golden light.
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Full-Day Chimpanzee Habituation Experience in Kibale
Enjoy extended photographic access to wild chimpanzees during a full-day habituation trek—perfect for capturing natural behaviors and interactions in a low-light rainforest environment.
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Two Unforgettable Gorilla Treks in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Join two guided treks into Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, where the open, high-altitude forest offers clear views and soft, natural light — perfect for capturing intimate, powerful images of endangered mountain gorillas in their mist-shrouded, volcanic habitat.
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Seamless Travel Across Diverse Ecosystems
With a charter flight, professional drivers, and smooth ground transfers, this itinerary is built for maximizing time in the field—not in transit—while ensuring comfort and reliability throughout.
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Designed for Photographers, With Safety in Mind
Every element of this safari—from pacing to permits to guiding—has been tailored to the needs of wildlife photographers, with trusted support on the ground and a strong focus on guest safety and care.
LOCATION
WESTERN UGANDA
MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK: Uganda’s largest national park offers a striking contrast of habitats, from open savannahs to riverbanks teeming with life. The powerful falls themselves are a dramatic photographic subject, while the surrounding area is rich with lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and birdlife. With its big skies and varied terrain, Murchison Falls is an ideal setting for classic African wildlife photography—minus the crowds.
KIBALE NATIONAL PARK: Kibale Forest is a biodiversity hotspot, home to the largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda and over 12 other primate species. The dense forest canopy and dappled light offer both technical challenges and rewards for photographers seeking dynamic compositions. It’s a fantastic location for capturing expressive primate behavior and vibrant forest birdlife.
BWINIDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK: Deep and ancient, Bwindi is a sanctuary for the endangered Mountain Gorilla and a masterpiece of rainforest scenery. With two days of gorilla tracking, you’ll have the chance to capture powerful, intimate portraits of these gentle giants in their lush, misty environment. The forest itself also offers rich opportunities for macro photography of the Jackson's Chameleon.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
CAMERA BODY:
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Guests are encouraged to bring a camera body with a minimum of 24-megapixels to guarantee the best results while on safari. This can be mirrorless or a DSLR, as your photo host is experienced with both and will be able to offer assistance whenever need be.
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A second camera body is always a great consideration, however, this is not mandatory. This can be used as a backup, or you can keep a second lens attached and switch back and forth between cameras.
LENSES:
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70–200mm lens: Ideal for gorilla trekking, where subjects are often just meters away. Also highly useful for chimpanzee tracking, offering flexibility for both close and mid-range shots.
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Longer zoom or prime lens (300–500mm): Recommended for chimpanzees, especially when they’re high in the canopy or on the move. Excellent for big game photography in Murchison Falls.
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If using a 500mm prime or longer: Be sure to also pack a zoom lens (like a 100–400mm or 70–200mm). This ensures you can handle closer subjects and avoid the hassle of changing lenses during fast-paced moments.
TOUR INCLUDES
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Airport pick-up and drop-off at Entebbe International Airport (EBB)
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All accommodation in handpicked 4- and 5-star luxury lodges
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All ground transportation between lodges in private, comfortable vehicles
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Two domestic flights w/ 30kg baggage allowance per flight
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All meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
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Purified drinking water, coffee, tea, juice, and all non-alcoholic beverages
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All alcoholic beverages (house wines, beers, spirits)
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Gorilla trekking permits for two days
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Chimpanzee tracking permit for one day
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Porters provided for all Gorilla and Chimpanzee treks
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All national park entry and conservation fees
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Daily photographic support and guidance from your photo host
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Optional one-on-one photo critiques during the trip
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Pre-tour planning session with your photography guide
TOUR EXCLUDES
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International flights (arrival and departure to Uganda)
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Personal Travel Insurance (required for all guests)
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Premium alcoholic beverages
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Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra activities, etc.)
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Activities not listed in itinerary
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Gratuities/tips for guides/porters/staff
ITINERARY
DAY 1:
ARRIVAL DAY
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Guests arrive in Entebbe (Entebbe International Airport)
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Transfer to Entebbe accommodation
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Meet and Greet with photo host at 6:00pm
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Overnight in Entebbe
(Guests must arrive at Entebbe International Airport no later than 3:00pm on arrival day)
DAY 2:
TRANSFER TO MURCHISON FALLS / AFTERNOON SAFARI
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Road Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
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Game Drive in Murchison Falls en-route to lodge
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Afternoon game drive in Murchison Falls
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Introduction to post processing and image selection with photo host
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Overnight in Murchison Falls
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: Predators of the region - specifically the incredible lion population of the region
DAY 3:
FULL DAY SAFARI / EVENING RIVER BOAT CRUISE
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Full day game drive in Murchison Falls National Park
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Visit the falls with evening private river boat cruise below the falls
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Return to lodge for post processing and image selection with photo host
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Overnight in Murchison Falls
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: Big game of Uganda including lion, elephants, hippos, giraffe, and more of your favourite African wildlife
DAY 4:
FULL DAY SAFARI OUTINGS IN MURCHISON FALLS
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Full day game drives in Murchison Falls National Park
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Return to lodge for post processing and image selection with photo host
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Overnight in Murchison Falls
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: Predators of the region - specifically the incredible lion population of the region
DAY 5:
TRANSFER TO KIBALE
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Road transfer to Kibale National Forest with final safari en-route
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Upon arrival at the lodge, guests will be given a pre-Chimpanzee photographic lecture to prepare for the day ahead
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Overnight in Kibale
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: The group will learn what to expect during their Chimpanzee photography trekking the following day. This evening is also a great time to ask your photo host for a one-on-one photo critique.
DAY 6:
CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION EXPERIENCE
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Transfer to Kibale National Forest entry for Chimpanzee trekking safety briefing
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Chimpanzee Habituation Experience - trek the forest to spend up to 4 hours photographing wild chimpanzees with the guidance and help of your photo host
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Return to the lodge for image selection and post processing
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Overnight in Kibale
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: Chimpanzees and up to 12 other primate species in the Kibale Forest
DAY 7:
TRANSFER TO BWINDI
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Chartered Flight to Mgahinga Gorilla Naitonal Park
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Upon arrival at the lodge, guests will be given a pre-Gorilla photographic lecture to prepare for the day ahead
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Overnight in Mgahinga
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: The group will learn what to expect during their Mountain Gorilla photography trekking the following day. This evening is also a great time to ask your photo host for a one-on-one photo critique.
DAYS 8 - 9:
GORILLA TREKKING
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Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park entry for Gorilla trekking safety briefing
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Gorilla trekking Experience - trek the forest to spend 1 hour photographing Mountain Gorillas with the guidance and help of your photo host
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Return to the lodge for image selection and post processing
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Overnight in Mgahinga
PHOTOGRAPHY FOCUS: Spend 1 hour each day photographing a family of Mountain Gorillas in an incredibly open environment allowing for uninterrupted views and photographs of wild Mountain Gorillas
DAY 10:
FLY TO ENTEBBE / END OF TOUR
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Transfer to local airstrip (Approx. 45 hours drive)
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Chartered flight to Entebbe
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Join your photo host for one last night in Entebbe to do one last photo editing session
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Overnight in Entebbe
(guests can depart on this day after 4:00pm or choose to stay overnight in Entebbe and depart the following morning)
ACCOMMODATION
Throughout the safari, guests will stay in a handpicked selection of intimate, eco-conscious lodges that prioritize comfort, safety, and proximity to key wildlife experiences. Each lodge is strategically located for quick access to your daily activities—whether it's a sunrise game drive, a chimp trek, or a gorilla encounter—while ensuring a secure and professionally managed environment.
In Murchison Falls, your lodge offers expansive views of the savannah and convenient access to the river’s edge. In Kibale, you’ll be based in a forest lodge surrounded by nature, just minutes from the chimpanzee trailhead. In Mgahinga, your stay is nestled right at the edge of the forest, providing peaceful seclusion and direct access to the gorilla trekking point.
Each property provides en-suite rooms, warm hospitality, hearty meals, and a quiet connection to nature, allowing you to unwind safely and comfortably after full days in the field. Whether you're reviewing your images, resting, or taking in the sounds of the wild, you can trust that your well-being is always a priority.
