Gorilla & Chimpanzee photography safaris in Rwanda-Uganda

Gorilla & Chimpanzee photography safaris in Rwanda-Uganda – Tips on photographing Gorillas and Chimpanzees in the wild

If you are a serious photographer looking for some amazing moments with mountain gorillas and chimps in the wild, Uganda and Rwanda are two of the greatest destinations to go on photography safaris to capture mountain gorillas, chimps, and a variety of other African wildlife. Fantastic photography tours are available through Monumental Expeditions and Safaris.

Enjoy a mountain gorilla and chimpanzee photography safari in Uganda-Rwanda and have the opportunity to see these wonderful animals in their natural habitat, spend time watching them, and shoot them up close for a unique and thrilling experience. Not only that, but you will get many additional possibilities for wildlife photography in Uganda’s many environments.

You will shoot our closest relatives, the chimpanzees, as well as a range of other primates and a plethora of bird species, in the verdant Kibale Forest National Park. You will also shoot the endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park for a genuine African safari experience.

A certain level of fitness is required due to the nature of the gorilla treks, which can range from an easy walk on flat ground to a few hours of rather tough activity across rugged terrain. Learn more about how difficult gorilla trekking is.

Photography

Our Gorillas and Chimpanzees photography tour is entirely focused on wildlife photography, providing you with the finest possibilities to experience a diverse range of intriguing Ugandan wildlife. Photographing the endangered mountain gorillas will undoubtedly be a highlight, a very exhilarating experience, and an extraordinary honour. However, you will have to work for it: we will be hiking through the steep forests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which might take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. The photography opportunities make the effort worthwhile once we spot a gorilla family. While we must maintain a respectful distance and cannot use flash photography, the gorillas’ curious nature may lead them to approach you, providing an excellent photographic opportunity. We will be trekking entirely with our group, and Monumental Expeditions and Safaris will be on hand to assist you in making the most of your adventure.

In Kibale Forest National Park, you can also expect to capture a lot of animals up close. The park is a deep tropical rainforest with an extraordinarily diverse environment that is home to a large variety of primates. Prepare to see Chimpanzees as well as uncommon red colobus monkeys and beautiful L’Hoest’s monkeys. Kibale Forest National Park also boasts approximately 340 bird species and several small animals. You will walk along a network of shaded woodland trails with plenty of picture possibilities.

Destinations

Uganda boasts an astonishing range of fauna and environments, ranging from deep rainforests to vast savannahs. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Kibale Forest Park are our primary destinations.

Bwindi’s gorgeous, misty tropical rainforest is one of Africa’s most ancient woods, located on the border of the African Western Rift Valley. It has created amazing biodiversity, with over 350 bird species and 120 animal species. Most notably, Bwindi Forest is one of just three areas in the world where the endangered Mountain Gorilla may be found. Bwindi Forest is home to about half of the surviving inhabitants. Kibale Forest National Park is another lovely forest you will explore. This 795-square-kilometer national park is covered in lush tropical rainforest and is home to a wide range of monkey and bird species.

Equipment Suggestions

Monumental Expeditions and Safaris suggests the following gear:

DSLR / mirrorless camera with creative control over settings (not simply point-and-shoot)

Range of lenses (remembering that you will likely go extremely near certain creatures, such as gorillas, but that you may be photography from a distance throughout the trek)

A bean bag or tripod?

Durable camera bag (ideally waterproof or with detachable rain cover)

There are plenty of extra, cleaned memory cards and camera batteries.

Charger for camera batteries

Please keep in mind that flash photography is not authorised anywhere near the gorillas. The flash must be turned off completely.

Tripods and monopods can be handy for some expeditions; however, they are prohibited on Gorilla treks since some of the Gorillas have memories of poachers with spears, sticks, and other armament and can’t tell the difference between tripods and these.

A camera and lens cover that is waterproof

If you want to develop your post-production abilities and/or examine your photographs, bring a laptop with a memory card reader. A laptop may also be used to back up your images. You may now book a gorilla and chimpanzee photography safari with Monumental Expeditions and Safaris in either Uganda or Rwanda.