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Photography Tours in Uganda
A wild Uganda photography journey will provide you with memories that last a lifetime, while also staying at the most comfortable eco-friendly lodges and safari camps.
Featuring some of Africa’s greatest physical features, Uganda offers amazing photography tours. From western Uganda’s rolling hills, the Great rift valley, mountains, and dense forests which harbor Africa’s great apes; as well as the remarkable sweeping savannahs teeming with abundant wildlife and birdlife to eastern Uganda which is the home and epicenter for Uganda adventure travel: expect to have a photography tour of your life while on a Uganda safari.
Moreover, photography tours in Uganda offer a variety of fascinating highlights including wildlife, culture, history, and physical features, to mention but a few. Uganda has a plethora of exciting, engaging, and appealing photography tours. With a good camera and the company of a professional guide, uncover the mysteries of capturing animals and birds in motion, breathtaking sunsets and sunrises, and incredible culture that will make your Uganda photo safari an unforgettable experience.
A wild Uganda photography journey will provide you with memories that last a lifetime, while also staying at the most comfortable eco-friendly lodges and safari camps. Enjoy the opportunity to capture the gorgeous mountain gorillas, mischievous chimps, lions, elephants, antelopes, flamboyant butterflies, and a variety of attractive bird species.
Top Destinations for Photography Tours in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Home to the largest population of mountain gorillas in Africa, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park offers ecstatic photography safaris. Besides mountain gorillas, the park is also home to a variety of colorful forest and Albertine rift birds, monkeys, baboons, forest elephants, and bush pigs, among others. Bwindi also boasts a range of gorgeous waterfalls, the famous Batwa pygmies, and breathtaking vegetation cover featuring primeval trees.
All the above is bound to make your photography tour in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park a trip to remember. However, you have to remember that to capture photos of the giant gorillas, you will require a gorilla permit; which ought to be booked in advance. You will be given time to photograph the gentle creatures in their natural habitat while following the guide’s instructions. Furthermore, take time to take in the diversity and beauty of the park’s surroundings.
Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most beautiful lakes in Uganda, located in the southwestern region of the Kabale district. Besides being the second deepest lake in Africa, Lake Bunyonyi is as beautiful as many would say: the lake is dotted with 29 stunning islands and is surrounded by lush terraced hills which give the lake magnificent scenery. Lake Bunyonyi is also home to a variety of birds (over 250 recorded species), and wild animals such as bushbucks and monkeys; and, it is surrounded by thriving local communities.
Besides, relaxing, swimming, ziplining, cycling, island hopping, birding, boat rides, and community tours, Lake Bunyonyi also provides amazing photography tours. Tourists have a chance to capture the colorful birds that soar above the lake, its attractive islands, and terraced rolling hills, as well as engage with the locals in the adjacent communities.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest National Park, at 33.9 square kilometers, located in the Virunga Mountain Ranges in southwestern Uganda. The park is located at an elevation of 2,227m to 4,127m and was established to safeguard the rare mountain gorillas that live in its deep woods. However, the park also serves as a natural home for the endangered golden monkeys and bird species. It is the only park in Uganda where tourists can visit golden monkeys.
However, Mgahinga offers more than just gorillas and golden monkeys; Mgahinga National Park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the conservation of the indigenous Batwa pygmies. This hunter-gatherer community was the forest’s first dwellers and their ancient understanding of its mysteries is unparalleled. Travelers on Uganda photography tours can also go on a Batwa cultural trail for a cultural photo excursion where they will explore the Batwa ancient homesteads, and their sacred Ngarama caves, among others.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is also home to three beautiful extinct volcanoes: Mount Sabyinyo (3,474m), Mount Gahinga (3,669m), and Mount Muhavura (4,127m). Besides offering adventurous hiking escapades, these volcanoes feature breathtaking views to capture on a Uganda photography tour.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is another destination in Uganda that shouldn’t be missed on a Uganda photo safari. Located in western Uganda in Kasese District, the park is the second largest national park in Uganda, covering an area of 1,978 square kilometers. The park offers incredible photography opportunities ranging from its diverse natural habitats to its enthralling wildlife. Queen Elizabeth is home to 95 mammal species and over 600 recorded bird species to photograph.
The most popular shots to capture in Queen Elizabeth are its tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha southern sector, which is a rare sight to catch in Africa. Tourists will also have an opportunity to photograph big animals like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, and leopards, as well as primates including chimpanzees, monkeys, bush babies, baboons, etc.
Moreover, the park encompasses a lovely landscape covered by savanna, woodland, forest gorges, attractive lakes, swamps, and rivers; all complementing the park’s scenery. More photography highlights in Queen Elizabeth include the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, Kazinga channel which is always teeming with wildlife, and several crater lakes. The park also provides various photography tours to meet locals and enjoy traditional tales, music, drama, etc.
Kibale Forest National Park
Nicknamed the primate capital of the world, Kibale Forest National Park is well-known for its Chimpanzees. The park lies in western Uganda and is the best spot for photography tourists who want to take shots of the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Furthermore, Kibale is the most attractive national park in Uganda because of its varied tracts of tropical rainforests. The park is characterized by mainly rainforest, wetland, and grassland which contribute to its spectacular scenery.
Kibale is home to 13 primate species, including 1500 chimpanzees, 69 mammal species, and over 370 bird species. The park also hosts a variety of butterflies, amphibians, and reptiles. While on a photography tour in Kibale, expect to capture the best shots of chimpanzees and their unique lifestyle, crater lakes, birds, mangabeys, olive baboons, and wild animals, among others
Murchison Falls National Park
Located in North-western Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park at 3,893 square kilometers. the park derives its name from the mighty Murchison Falls, located on the Victoria arm of the river Nile which flows through the park. From capturing the thunderous falls and their magnificent spectacle to marveling at the spectacular scenery of the park, photography tours in Murchison Falls National Park are impressively fulfilling.
Murchison Falls National Park is characterized by a diversity of natural habitats such as savannah grassland, woodland, riverine vegetation, forest, wetland, and rivers. The park is home to 76 mammal species and 451 recorded bird species. On a game drive through the park, capture photos of lions, leopards, hyenas hunting, and elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, elands, warthogs, bushbucks, etc., grazing in the grassland. On a boat ride along the Victoria Nile, Nile crocodiles, hippos, and monitor lizards can be captured as well as a variety of cormorants, fish eagles, the shoebill, and so many other water birds.
The Source of the Nile
River Nile is the world’s longest river and its source is located at the mouth of Lake Victoria – the world’s third-largest lake. The source of the Nile is located in Jinja city, just a few east of the Kampala capital. As a result, Jinja is the adventure capital of East Africa, featuring a variety of adventure tour activities.
Jinja is home to a pack of adrenaline-pumping activities that make for exciting Uganda photography tours. Besides visiting the source of the Nile, photographers can go white-water rafting, bungee jumping, quad biking, kayaking, waterboarding, nature walks, water tubing, water sliding, sport fishing, and partying to mention but a few.
The Equator
The equator line, which divides the globe into two halves: The northern and southern hemispheres, passes through Uganda. Uganda’s most renowned Equator point lies in Kayabwe – Mpigi, about 72 kilometers from Kampala. The fascination of crossing the equator in Uganda is documenting the experience with photographs. The Equator point is the most popular spot for photography tours in Uganda. While there, don’t forget to try the water experiment and learn about being lighter near the equator as part of your Equator fun.
There are also various gift and craft stores, as well as coffee cafes, and restaurants on both sides of the equator. Moreover, photography tours at the Equator are more fun if you have a bunch of friends with whom you can participate in the photos.
Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park is East Africa’s sole lowland tropical forest, with 441 documented bird species and over 53 mammals. Located in western Uganda, in the Great Rift Valley, the sprawls across the Semliki Valley floor on the isolated western side of the Rwenzori Mountains. The park also encompasses the easternmost stretch of the Congo Basin’s enormous Ituri Forest. This forest is one of Africa’s most ancient and bio-diverse forests.
Semuliki National Park also features the Semuliki river which is a scale model of the Congo River. Nonetheless, the park Semuliki is well-known for its ‘Male’ and ‘Female’ Sempaya hot springs. According to local tradition, there are fantastic ancient legends regarding how these hot springs were formed and what they symbolize.
Apart from the hot springs, Semuliki National Park is excellent for birding since it is home to both East African and Central African species and it is also home to a Batwa pygmy group that descended from the Ituri.
What you Need to Know when Planning a Photography Tour to Uganda!
Before embarking on your Uganda photo safari, be sure you have all of the photography equipment you need for your trip, since it may be difficult to obtain something, you may have forgotten once you’re in the countryside. Also, because the woodland environment may be fairly dark and thick, especially in the gorilla national parks, you will require a camera that works well in low light. In this case, a zoom lens of 70-200 mm is ideal for photographing the mountain gorillas up close.
Nevertheless, it’s preferable to have two camera bodies, each with a different lens, because there’s rarely an opportunity to switch lenses when the gorillas are on the move. When photographing mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, remember to turn off your flash, since flash photography is not allowed when trekking gorillas and chimpanzees. While on cultural and community tours, it is always safe to ask individuals for permission before photographing them.
Packing List for a Uganda Photography Tour
- Extra memory cards and batteries
- A pair of binoculars to help you sight creatures at a distance
- A lightweight tripod especially for wildlife and nature photography
- A tiny beanbag to steady your camera lens.
- A small backpack to carry your cameras and other equipment.
- A pair of warm clothing and good quality boots for the unpredictable weather and rough terrain especially in the gorilla parks.
