Photography Safaris in Uganda on Self Drive

Photography Safaris in Uganda on Self Drive offer you remarkable encounters with wildlife, Primates. The Photography Safaris in Uganda on Self Drive are ideal for travelers looking to explore the stunning terrains, encounter wildlife as well as trek and watch the primates in their jungles.

Filming and Photography safaris in Uganda are exciting to do and these depend on the project locations like Mountains, waterfalls, Hospitals, Cities and Town around Uganda.

In order to enjoy your filming and photographic safaris in Uganda, you MUST follow the guidelines to shooting in Uganda. You must also have valid Uganda filming permits and requirements.

Photography Safaris in Uganda on Self Drive (Locations)

Uganda with undulating landscapes, wildlife, primates, biodiversity, Rivers, Lakes Savannah, Mountains and Waterfalls etc is exceptional to adventure for photography. Film Locations

There are various Filming/ Photographic Locations in Uganda and these include;

1. Bwindi forest national park

Bwindi forest National Park is a perfect destination for all travelers interested in filming and photography safaris as the park offers remarkable Gorilla Trekking Safaris. Hence all travelers looking to have remarkable clear photos of the primates should not miss out on visiting the park.

Bwindi Forest National Park is located in the South Western Part of Uganda covering an area of 32,000 ha with biodiversity inclusive of more than 160 species of trees and 100 species of ferns.

The Park is situated close to the border with Rwanda as well as along the Eastern Boundary of the Albertine Rift Valley. The forest is thick and impenetrable inhabiting the rare species of Mountain Gorillas hence travelers from all over the globe visit the Park to enjoy trekking and watching the Gorillas.

Trekking and watching the Gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park costs US $800 per person interested in watching the rare species of Mountain Gorillas.

How do in obtain the Trekking Permit to Bwindi

To trek the Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Forest National Park, you will need a valid Gorilla Trekking Permit which is a document that is provided by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

This Gorilla Trekking Permit is obtained through contacting the Uganda Wildlife Authority direct or an authentic Toru Operator Agency to book these on your behalf before the date of arrival to trek the Gorillas.

After Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest National Park, you shall proceed back to the park headquarters where you pick your Gorilla Trekking Certificate to take back with you back home.

The Gorilla Trekking Certificate includes your name as well as the Gorilla trekking Group you have trekked in Uganda’s Bwindi Forest National Park.

What is Gorilla Trekking like in Bwindi Forest National Park

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest is unforgettable as it gives you amazing encounters with the Gorillas in their natural vegetation habitat. The Gorilla Trekking Adventure starts at the Park headquarters where you are shortly briefed on conduct around the mountain Gorillas as this is provided by the park ranger guides in the park.

During the briefing, you are informed about the Gorillas, their habitat and way of life. You are later assigned to a Gorilla trekking Family with a lead ranger guide then later he/she will lead you to the starting point. After reaching here, you enter the green forest vegetation to trek the Mountain Gorillas.

Follow the varying trails in the green forest while the lead ranger guide is informing you about the park and fauna species then with in a period of 3 to 5 hours depending on where the Gorillas are, you shall meet them and stay in their presence for an hour taking photos to keep.

After being in the presence of the Gorillas, you shall return to the park headquarters. With your walking sticks supporting you, you shall reach the headquarters and be welcomed then after you are offered your Gorilla Trekking Certificate which you keep with you. Later you transfer back to your 4×4 vehicle.

When is the Best Time to do Gorilla Photography in Bwindi Forest

You can visit Bwindi Forest national Park anytime in the year however the Best time to visit the Park for photography is during the dry season in the months of June to August and December to February since during this time the trails are navigable and taking photos are clear.

Other than Gorilla Trekking in the park, travelers can also do Gorilla Habituation experience where they get to stay in the presence of the Mountain Gorillas for longer hours as they see them live their life. The habituation experience is done at Rushaga sector of Bwindi and takes a period of 4 hours in company of researchers in groups of 4 people. The Gorilla Habituation experience costs US $1500 per person interested.

2. Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is a perfect spot to do photographic safaris as the park is known to have various wildlife animals wandering around their natural vegetation habitat.

Murchison Falls National Park is located in the North Western Part of Uganda before Pakwach District and known to inhabit the BIG FIVE animal species (Leopard, Lions, Buffalo, Elephants and Rhinos which are seen at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary) as well as others like giraffes, Uganda kobs, Bushbucks, Hartebeests, Oribs, waterbucks, warthogs, hyenas, Bushbuck, duiker, topis, etc.

Photographic safaris in the park are perfect on Game Drives which are scheduled morning, afternoon, night drives. So you should carry your Best Camera to take clear photos. Other than Game Drives, you can view the wildlife animals on Boat Cruise as you sail to the bottom of the falls and on your cruise, view the hippos and crocodiles beneath the waters as well as the descending rainbow.

3. Mgahinga National Park

Mgahinga National Park is perfect for Photographic safaris since it gives you a feel with the Mountain Gorillas just like Volcanoes national Park in Rwanda. The Park offers Mountain Gorilla Trekking Adventures where you watch the Gorillas in their natural vegetation habitat.

Mgahinga National Park consists of bamboo vegetation as well as Mountain Volcanoes like Mount Gahinga Volcano, Mount Muhavura Volcano and Mount Sabinyo Volcano which are hiked and climbed by all travelers from all over the globe interested in Mountain climbing.

The Park has one Gorilla trekking Family i.e Nyakagezi Gorilla Group which is trekked and watched and Golden Monkeys too which can be watched on habituation adventure.

What is the Best Time to visit Mgahinga for Photographic Safaris

Mgahinga National Park can be visited anytime around the year for Gorilla trekking although the Best time to visit Mgahinga National Park for photography is during the dry season in the months of June to August and December to February. During this time the vegetation is navigable and the flora is not overgrown hence taking and having clear photos is paramount.

4. Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is located in the Western Part of Uganda after the busy town of Fort Portal and a very stunning destination for all travelers looking for amazing photographic safaris in Uganda.

Kibale Forest National Park is known to offer unforgettable Chimpanzee Tracking Adventures to all travelers due to the various communities of the Chimpanzees that inhabit the gigantic green forest vegetation habitat and are watched on Photography Safaris in Uganda on Self Drive.

Just like the gorillas, the chimpanzees are also trekked in groups of 8 with a lead park ranger guide. you are briefed on the conduct around the Chimpanzees at the park headquarters then later in allocated groups of 8 with our lead ranger, proceed to the starting point at the kanyachu visitor’s center where you leave from to enter the forest to track the chimpanzees for a period of 2 to 4 hours depending on current location of the chimpanzees.

After a while you meet the chimpanzees then stay in their presence taking photos to keep with you about the chimpanzee tracking adventure. The chimpanzee tracking permit costs US $220 per person and the habituation experience costs US $250 per person.

At the park you can also do chimpanzee habituation experience where you stay in the presence of the Chimpanzees for a long period of time i.e a full Day as you follow them and learning about their daily lives in the green forest.

5. Mountain Rwenzori National Park

Mountain Rwenzori is a perfect destination for all travelers looking for remarkable Photography Safaris in Uganda on Self Drive. Mountain Rwenzori is located in the South West of Uganda close to the border of Congo and known to offer amazing hiking and trekking adventure o all hikers from around the world.

Mountain Rwenzori can be hiked following two different routes which include the central circuit Route and Kilembe route which are chosen by the traveler. The Central circuit is more rewarding to the communities that stay around the mountain as the money gained from the hike is extended to support he local communities by enhancing a positive standard of living through offering education.

When you choose the kilembe route, you are just hiking the majestic mountain Rwenzori. At the mountain you expect to watch the white snow covering the peaks, four horned chameleon. You shall also view beautiful sceneries of the vegetation terrain, fauna as well as peaks at a distance. You shall also view lake mahooma while on your hike to the highest point at margherita.

Hiking the Mountain Rwenzori starts at Nyakalengija where you are distributed in groups with lead guides and porters to help you carry luggage to the top of the mountain. The hiking Adventure to the top of the mountain takes you 7 to 8 days with overnights along the slopes of the mountain hen when you reach the top, you take many photos to keep.

6. Kidepo National Park

Kidepo National Park is located in the remote North Eastern part of Uganda and a perfect destination for photographic safaris in Uganda due to the many wildlife animals that inhabit the Savannah vegetation habitat around the park.

Kidepo National Park is vast enough with extended wilderness consisting of Savannah vegetation and plains at a distance. There are also wildlife animals that can be watched in the park as well as unique cultural adventures as you explore the local Karamojong people, IK people. They introduce you to their unique cultures.

Kidepo National Park can be accessed by use of Road and Air as you board a domestic flight from the Entebbe Airport. At the park you shall view the BIG FIVE wildlife animals (Elephants, Lions, Leopard/ Cheetah, Buffalo) and other wildlife animals like Giraffes, zebras, Uganda kobs, Bushbucks, Hartebeests, Oribis, waterbucks, warthogs, hyenas.

Kiepo National Park is perfect spot for all photographers due to the beautiful plains, Mountains and Savannah grasslands with wildlife animals.

Best time to visit Kidepo National Park for Photographic safari

Kidepo National Park can be visited anytime around the year although the Best time to visit the park is during the dry season months of July and August when animals are concentrated near water points.

7. Sipi Falls and Mountain Elgon

Sipi Falls/ Mountain Elgon is perfect for photographic safari as the Sipi Falls offer remarkable memories as you view them flow in three different waterfalls onto rocks.

Sipi Falls and Mountain Elgon are located in the Eastern part of Uganda and a great destination to visit when on photographic tour as this offers you amazing hiking safaris and views at the beautiful scenery comprising of green terrain, birds, plains at a distance as well as wildlife animals.

Getting to the Sipi Falls requires you transfer from Kampala or Entebbe Airport towards the East of Uganda via Jinja Town then later you reach the Park and hike Mountain Elgon as well as to the third waterfall of Sipi. Take clear photographs for Wagagai peak as well as green terrain vegetation round the Park/ Mountain.

8. Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is located in the Western part of Uganda and also a prominent safari destination for all travelers interested in photographic safaris in Uganda.

Lake Mburo National Park is known to offer Wildlife Safaris to all travelers from all over the lobe as you get to watch the Wildlife animals wander around their natural vegetation habitat. These include; Giraffes, Buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Bushbucks, Elephants, Hartebeests, Oribs, waterbucks, warthogs, hyenas etc.

Visit the Park to enjoy amazing wildlife safaris in Uganda hence if you have a good camera, it is awesome to visit the park on photographic safari.

Uganda Visas and Work Permits

Uganda is accessible as you use Visas and Work Permits to enable you explore and visit the various safari destinations. Processing these takes you 2 to 3 Days and they are valid for 30 days.