Uganda Wildlife Photography Safari

Accommodation: Boma Hotel, Entebbe
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner

Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, a Nomad Touring Company Ltd representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. If your flight arrives early, you’ll have the option of visiting the lush Entebbe Botanical Gardens, home to bird species like Black-headed Gonolek, Double-toothed Barbet, and perhaps even a Bat Hawk. Enjoy your first photography opportunities with Lake Victoria as your backdrop. That evening, we hold a detailed photography workshop briefing at the lodge. This session includes guidelines, technical prep, and field tips tailored to Uganda's varied terrain and light conditions. Dinner and overnight at the tranquil Boma Hotel.

Accommodation: Paraa Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart early and head north via the Kampala-Gulu Highway. The first highlight of the day is Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you'll photograph White Rhinos in their natural setting. Accompanied by expert rangers, you'll get close (on foot) to these majestic creatures for unforgettable shots. After lunch, continue to Murchison Falls National Park, arriving late afternoon. Check in and relax at Paraa Lodge with views over the Nile. Later, enjoy a photo briefing on shooting under changing light and dynamic river scenes.

Accommodation: Paraa Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start the day with a sunrise game drive through the northern sector of the park. Capture dramatic landscapes and classic African mammals: lions, elephants, hartebeest, giraffes, hyenas, and potentially even leopards. Break for lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, embark on a boat safari along the Nile to the base of Murchison Falls. This journey is perfect for photographing Nile Crocodiles, pods of Hippos, and waterbirds like African Fish Eagles and possibly the elusive Shoebill. The golden hour descent of the sun offers magnificent lighting for wide-angle river shots.

Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a long travel day as we transfer south to Kibale Forest National Park. Stopovers en route allow for landscape photography across the Rift Valley escarpment, lush farmland, and local villages. After lunch in Hoima, continue into the tropical highland forests of Kibale. Upon arrival, you’ll notice the orchestra of bird calls and monkey chatter around the lodge. Black-and-white colobus monkeys and Blue monkeys often appear in the trees. Evening is at leisure.

Accommodation: Ihamba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin your morning with a once-in-a-lifetime chimpanzee trek. Kibale Forest is home to 13 primate species and offers some of the best photography conditions for these intelligent animals. With your guide, follow chimpanzee troops through the forest and capture behaviors like grooming, nest-building, and tool use. After lunch, continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park. En route, stop for scenic photography of the crater lakes and dramatic views over the savannah. Arrive in time for dinner.

Accommodation: Ihamba Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy an early morning game drive through Kasenyi Plains. Capture big game including herds of Uganda Kob, elephants, lions, and buffaloes in soft morning light. After lunch, enjoy a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel. The water teems with Nile Crocodiles, yawning Hippos, and hundreds of bird species such as Pied Kingfishers and African Skimmers. This calm water safari allows slow shutter speeds and rich detail shots. Golden-hour reflections are perfect for creative compositions. Return to your lodge for dinner and photo reviews.

Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer south through rolling hills and vibrant village scenes to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This park holds nearly half the world’s remaining population of endangered Mountain Gorillas and a host of endemic birds. Arrive in the afternoon and check in to your lodge on the edge of the forest. Later, embark on a community walk to capture portraits of the Batwa people and rural Ugandan life. Prepare your gear for tomorrow’s gorilla trek.

Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The highlight of your safari: gorilla trekking. After a briefing from rangers, head into the forest for a challenging but rewarding hike. Once your assigned gorilla family is located, you have up to one hour to photograph them. Watch them interact, feed, and lounge just meters away. This unique moment requires quiet respect, careful framing, and patience. Upon return, rest at the lodge or take a relaxed village walk for more local photography.

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart Bwindi and drive east to Lake Mburo National Park. Known for its zebra populations and acacia woodlands, this park offers rich contrast after the forest photography. Along the way, capture scenic shots of traditional cattle farms and rolling hills. Upon arrival, take a late afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo to photograph hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds like African Finfoots and Kingfishers. As the sun sets, you’ll have a prime vantage point for golden hour silhouettes.

Accommodation: None included (available on request)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

On your final morning, enjoy one last game drive through Lake Mburo. Zebras, Elands, Impalas, and Topis will be among the species to photograph in warm morning light. Afterward, journey back toward Entebbe with lunch at Igongo Cultural Centre and a brief stop at the Equator for photos. Arrive in Entebbe in the evening and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.