This exclusive 8-day photographic tour is designed for professional and passionate photographers seeking close-up moments with Uganda’s most fascinating primates; Chimps, Monkeys, Gorillas & the Shoebill bird. You’ll explore lush forests, misty highlands, and primate-rich forests—all while enjoying luxury lodges, expert local guides, and personalized photographic support. Double Gorilla trek and double chimpanzee tracking!
8 days – the ultimate Uganda primate photography tour
Tour Overview
Itinerary Details
Day 1
Arrival in Entebbe – Welcome to Uganda
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to your hotel.
Optional: golden-hour shoot on a shoebill excursion by boat in Mabamba Swamp on Lake Victoria, or at Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
Day 2
Mabamba Swamp – Lake Victoria
Early breakfast, take a boat ride on Mabamba swamp fascinating Shoebill photography excursion. We will explore by boat, paddled by our local site guides. We are here this morning when the shoebills are most active and hunting.
Laterin the afternoon, we will head out to see if we can find more Shoebills. Basically, we try shoebill one more time to maximize different lights and positions.
After this shoebill excursion, we head back for a photo review session at the hotel
Day 3
Kibale forest National Park
Today we transfer 6 hours to Kibale Forest National Park. Optional domestic scheduled flight (1 hour), Entebbe to Kasese airstrip available.
This afternoon, we will be photographing monkeys around Lake Nkuruba Nature Reserve.
Day 4
Kibale Forest National Park: Chimpanzee Habituation & Tracking
This morning after an early breakfast, we headout to Kibale forest gate, from where rangers will give a briefing talk on chimpanzee habituation experience.
Morning chimpanzee trek in Kibale – as we take active primate portraits.
Upon finding them, you will be allowed only 4 hours of viewing these amazing animals. Kibale forest has one of the highest diversity of primates in Africa.
TIP: Good hiking shoes, rainwear, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and insect repellent can be helpful. Later today, we go for a second chimpanzee tracking photo experience starting at 2 pm. Upon find them we’ll stay for an hour. We head back to the lodge. It is possible to visit Bigodi swamp this afternoon to continue taking photos of different monkeys (optional extra).
Day 5
Kibale forest – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Today, we transfer to the mountains of Bwindi Forest – home of mountain gorillas. We continue viewing spectacular scenery of mountains in the southwest part of Uganda.
An optional internal scheduled flight (1 hour), Kasese to Bwindi, is available. With this option, you transfer to Kasese airstrip and fly to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip.
– Have a scenic drive to your luxury lodge in Bwindi.
– Afternoon at leisure or cultural photography walk.
This evening, we have pre gorilla trek photo briefing as we prepare for trekking the next day.
Day 6
Gorilla Trekking Experience – One Hour of Intimate Photography- 1st Day
Morning briefing and guided trek into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Spend up to 1 hour photographing mountain gorillas.
Afternoon rest or image review/editing session.
Day 7
Gorilla Trekking Experience – One Hour of Intimate Photography- 2nd Day
Morning briefing and guided trek into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Spend up to 1 hour photographing mountain gorillas. Afternoon rest.
Day 8
Bwindi to Entebbe – Departure
Morning transfer to Kihihi/Kisoro and fly back to Entebbe.
An optional day room or shopping before the international flight.
