7 Day Mountain Gorilla, Chimpanzee & Shoebill Photo Safari - Uganda

We journey into the heart of Kibale Forest, Uganda – one of Africa’s most enchanting rainforests and home to the highest density of primates on the continent, including chimpanzees. Kibale offers a unique and rare opportunity to intimately observe and photograph our closest relatives in their natural habitat. Towering fig trees, dappled forest light, and the calls of chimpanzees echoing through the canopy set the scene for an unforgettable experience.
We then venture deep into the misty montane forests of southwestern Uganda for one of the most profound wildlife photography experiences on Earth — coming face to face with the endangered mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

This immersive expedition is crafted specifically for photographers, offering rare access to spend intimate moments with habituated gorilla families in their natural environment. Led by experienced guides and trackers, and with special permits, we will follow these gentle giants, documenting everything from playful juveniles to silverbacks resting in regal silence. With extended time in the forest and support tailored to photographers, you’ll have the best chance to frame powerful and authentic images.

Perfect for photographers and non-photographers, this journey combines immersive primate encounters with the magic of one of East Africa’s most biodiverse ecosystems.

We set out before sunrise to meet our forest trackers and local guide. We will spend all day in the forest walking with the Kanyantale chimpanzee community.

The Kanyantale chimpanzee community is the most well-known and habituated group of wild chimpanzees in Kibale and has been the focus of chimpanzee tracking and research for several decades.

They are a large community of around 120 individuals (numbers fluctuate) with a well- established social hierarchy and dynamic social interactions. Encounters typically involve following the chimpanzees as they move, feed, groom, vocalise, and sometimes display dramatic interactions. It’s common to observe intimate family moments, dominance displays, tool use, and other complex behaviours. The forest itself is alive with other primates, birds, and a rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Accommodation - Guereza Canopy Lodge

We set out before sunrise to meet our forest trackers and local guide. We will spend all day in the forest walking with the Mukiza gorilla family group. The Mukiza famliy is one of the habituated mountain gorilla groups located in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi. The group is named after its dominant silverback, Mukiza, whose name means “saviour” in the local language. The Mukiza typically consists of 10–15 members, including females, juveniles, and infants. The family offers rich photographic opportunities of family interactions, mother-infant bonding, and playful behaviour among young gorillas.

Ruhija is one of the quieter tracking areas, making encounters more intimate and less crowded. The diverse age groups in the family provide a range of natural behaviours to photograph—from feeding and grooming to playing and resting.

Accommodation – Gorilla Mist Lodge

We fly back to Entebbe in the morning and take a late lunch at our hotel. We venture out to remote wetlands of Mabamba Swamp near Lake Victoria in the late afternoon to look for the elusive shoebill. Towering at over four feet tall with its prehistoric appearance and massive shoe-shaped bill, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for wildlife enthusiasts and bird photographers alike.

Driving / Flight – 2 hours 30 mins drive to Kisoro. 1 hour 30 mins flight to Entebbe.

Accommodation – Hotel Horizon Entebbe

We leave early morning on a guided canoe tour to again look for the shoebill in the soft morning light, surrounded by a misty landscape teeming with other waterbirds. Patience is rewarded with breathtaking close-up shots as the shoebill remains remarkably still while hunting, providing ample opportunities for dramatic portraits. Uganda’s pristine wetlands not only offer intimate access to this rare species but also a serene, unforgettable adventure into one of Africa’s richest birding habitats.

We return to the hotel for lunch and to pack, before departing on our international flight in the afternoon / evening.

To secure your booking, we require a 25 percent non-refundable deposit. The balance is due 120 days before the safari start date. TRAVEL INSURANCE NECESSARY FOR THIS SAFARI

CANCELLATION POLICY

The deposit is non-refundable. Cancellation up to 120 days before departure - 50% of total workshop price forfeited. Cancellation less than 90 days before departure or during tour - 100% of the workshop will be forfeited.

To ask any questions you may have regarding this unique photographic safari, or to book one of the limited places, please contact Michael Snedic from WildNature Photo Expeditions via email or call 0408 941 965