UGANDA: Gorillas, Chimps and Shoebills

UGANDA: GORILLAS, CHIMPS AND SHOEBILLS PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS WITH WILD IMAGES

Winston Churchill once described Uganda as a fairy tale land, calling it the ‘Pearl of East Africa’. Here the ancient kingdoms of Buganda, Bunyoro and Ankole flourished long before the first European explorers came in search of the source of the Nile. In colonial times it was regarded as the most beautiful and potentially the richest country in East Africa. Now, after many years of civil turbulence under Idi Amin and Milton Obote, Uganda has settled down once more under the rule of President Museveni and has rebuilt its important wildlife tourism industry.

Uganda is indeed a beautiful country: a green and fertile land of high plateaus, luxuriant forests, papyrus-fringed lakes and great swamps. It is also a land of contrasts. Here one can see the vast inland sea known as Lake Victoria, the source of the White Nile, and papyrus swamps where the bizarre and endangered Shoebill can still be found. In the west there are great forests which cover huge areas and are home to many Gorilas, Chimpanzees and Golden Monkeys. Uganda is undoubtedly the friendliest country in East Africa and offers visitors the opportunity to experience unspoilt African wilderness at its finest.

This wonderful Uganda wildlife photography tour will take us first to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Established in 2005 to re-introduce threatened Southern White Rhinoceros in the wild, the sanctuary is the only place in the country where one can observe these endangered creatures, thrillingly, up close and on foot. Accompanied by the park rangers for safety, we’ll have two opportunities, one in the afternoon until sunset and the following morning, under special permit, to return at sunrise to take advantage of the soft warm light of dawn.

There’s nothing in the world like spending time on the ground with Gorillas and Chimpanzees in the wild.  They are, after all, our closest living relatives who share over 98% of their genetics with humans.  Communining with these creatures watching their gentle expressions, the way in which they engage with each other in communities, nurse and play with their young, feed and groom is enough to move many guests to tears.

After three chimpanzee and two mountain gorilla treks, we’ll head for another close encounter with the Golden Monkeys. These endangered primates live in a very different ecosystem, primarily dominated by bamboo. They are habituated to human’s presence, so don’t get surprised if one runs under your legs! There’s a huge conservation effort in place to preserve their survival and habitat.

Last, but not least, we’ll head to Mabamba swamps, looking for perhaps one the most charismatic and prehistoric-looking birdsin the world, the Shoebill. We’ll head out very early in the morning in wooden boats in search of these charismatic birds who feed on the fish from the moving water in the swamp. Some other birds of interest in the swamp include both African and Lesser Jacanas, Blue-breasted Bee-eaters, Pied, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers.  With luck we may find dainty Black Herons engaging in their quirky act of ‘umbrella fishing’.

We’ll have the time to freshen up and enjoy a final celebratory lunch before we return to Entebbe to catch the evening flight back home.

What makes the Uganda Wildlife Photography tour with Wild Images special

Firstly, our tour is the most comprehensive Uganda primate and great ape photography tour available. While we focus on excursions to photograph Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees, we will also visit a sanctuary for the endangered Golden Monkey who have made a stunning stretch of bamboo forest their charismatic home.  While we are travelling we may encounter Grey-cheeked Mangabey, L’Hoest’s Monkey and Red Colobus.

Secondly, our tours are limited to just five participants, which is smaller than many Uganda wildlife photography tours, allowing guests to enjoy a more intimate experience and the guidance of our highly experienced leader.

We will spend an afternoon and morning tracking Southern White Rhinos on foot with rangers. Staying out until dusk and then beginning under special permit, at sunrise the following morning, you will be able to get to eye level with these iconic African creatures at a reserve that is preparing them for an eventual reintroduction to the wild.

Our tour leader Renato has spent several months with chimpanzees in different countries in Africa, and is well placed to tell stories and share his passion about our closest relatives. In 2022, he was made an official ambassador for the chimpanzees by Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone, and regularly gives lectures about his experiences with both rehabilitated and wild chimps. Humans share 98.5% of genes with chimps, and their dexterity for using tools is remarkably human. Several groups in Uganda have been habituated, with the highest concentration in Kibale National Park, which is where we will track them.

Renato also considers the encounter with mountain gorillas an un-matched wildlife experience. Closely watch the dynamics of a gorilla family, how they get on with their daily life. Seeing them at close range is an experience that will stick with you for rest of your life. Nothing can prepare you for the surge of emotion that takes over when you see a mountain gorilla for the first time.

Accommodation

Our Uganda Chimps, Gorillas, walking with Rhinos and wildlife photography tour uses comfortable hotels/lodges throughout.

Transport

Road transport will be by 4×4 minivan. Main roads are mostly good, but can occasionally be rough.

Climate

Uganda’s climate is largely tropical with two rainy seasons per year, March to May and September to December. May is a very good time to avoid crowds. We’ll move from the arid habitat in Ziwa to a more humid environment for chimps, gorillas and golden monkey, to then return to a swampy area for the shoebill.

Photographic Equipment

The most useful telephoto is normally a 100-400mm lens for a full-frame DSLR or mirrorless. If you use a prime lens, 200mm, 300mm or even 400mm might be very handy.

Also, highly recommended a wide-angle lens, often gorillas, chimps and golden monkey can come close. Something like 24-70mm or 24-120 would be ideal. Although all lodges have recharging capabilities we recommend extra batteries, and a rain-proof cover for the camera/lens in case of rain.

All the focal lengths mentioned above relate to full-frame cameras. Please adjust as appropriate for crop sensor and micro four-thirds cameras.

A tripod can be a heavy burden on this particular tour, owing to the amount of walking, but a monopod can be helpful if you use a heavy telephoto.

If you have questions about what equipment you ought to bring, please contact us.