Ultimate Uganda: Gorillas, Chimps & Wildlife Photography Safari

Limited to 4 photographers, March 2027

From locking eyes with a silverback in the misty depths of Bwindi to tracking prehistoric Shoebills across Mabamba Swamp and big game along the Victoria Nile. Master wildlife portraiture on an intimate, bespoke expedition designed strictly around light, angles, and unhurried field time.

Standard Safaris Are Built for Sightseeing. This One Is Built for the Shot.

Uganda is one of the most biodiverse—and photographically demanding—environments on Earth. Within a single week, you transition from shooting fast action from a boat on the Victoria Nile to pulling clean, noise-free portraits under the dense, high-contrast canopy of ancient rainforests.On a standard tour, vehicles move on just as the light gets good, or you’re left fighting for a window angle. This expedition eliminates the compromises. With dedicated pre-shoot camera preparation, ethical wildlife positioning, and iconic lodges like Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge and Nile Safari Lodge right on the edge of the action, every day is structured to help you come home with portfolio-defining work.

At a glance

DURATION: 13 Days / 12 nights
LOCATIONS: Mabamba • Bwindi • Murchison Falls • Ziwa
FOCUS: Primates, big game & rare avian life
TUITION: 1-on-1 field guidance & camera prep

13 days through the Pearl of Africa: your day-by-day photographic roadmap

Day 1–2: Arrival & expedition briefingSettle into Uganda before gathering on the evening of Day 2 for a relaxed welcome meeting to get to know your fellow photographers and meet your photography guide. We cover the full itinerary, camera preparation, field photography tips, health and safety, and practical logistics so your gear is dialled in and you feel completely ready for the adventure ahead.Day 3: Mabamba Swamp — In search of the prehistoric shoebill
Glide through narrow papyrus channels in search of Uganda’s most iconic avian subject.Possible photographic opportunities: The elusive shoebill, vibrant malachite kingfishers, eastern-grey plantain-eaters, and African fish eagles, alongside herons, egrets, African jacanas, blue-breasted bee-eaters, pied and pygmy kingfishers, and dozens of colourful wetland birds.

Days 4–6

Day 4: Kigezi Highlands, Lake Mutanda & The Bwindi Forest Edge
Journey through some of East Africa’s most dramatic topography toward our base at the renowned Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge.
Possible photographic opportunities: Sweeping landscape frames of the Kigezi Highlands en route, backed by the towering Virunga Volcanoes and Lake Mutanda. Around Lake Mutanda, look for grey crowned cranes, waterbirds, sunbirds, raptors, fish eagles, and kingfishers. Right from the grounds of Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge and the nearby forest edge, capture colourful forest and garden birds including turacos, hornbills, sunbirds, and flycatchers.Day 5: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — The Mountain Gorilla Trek
The centrepiece of the expedition: stepping into the mist-wrapped rainforest to spend unforgettable time at close quarters with a habituated gorilla family.
Possible photographic opportunities: Intimate portraits and environmental frames of endangered mountain gorillas—from the raw power of impressive silverback males to tender family group interactions, juveniles, and playful youngsters.Day 6: Bamboo Zone — The Golden Monkey Trek
Venture back into the highland forests to photograph one of Africa’s fastest and most striking endemic primates.
Possible photographic opportunities: expressive golden monkeys foraging in the canopy, complemented by macro and telephoto opportunities with native birds and butterflies—including sunbirds, stonechats, waxbills, and mousebirds.

Days 7–9

Day 7–8: Murchison Falls & the Victoria Nile (Nile Safari Lodge)
Transition from montane rainforest to classic East African savannah and riverine wilderness, staying at the stunning Nile Safari Lodge. Over two days, we combine private savannah game drives with golden-hour boat trips along the Victoria Nile.
Possible photographic opportunities:
Savannah game drives: African lions, elusive leopards, elephants, Nubian giraffes, Cape buffalo, warthogs, Defassa waterbuck, bushbuck, and spotted hyena. Victoria Nile boat trips & falls: dramatic landscape and scenery shots of Murchison Falls and the Victoria Nile, massive Nile crocodiles, pods of hippos, riverside elephants, African fish eagles, herons, kingfishers, and dazzling colonies of red-throated bee-eaters. Around Nile Safari Lodge: unhurried shots of hippos, monkeys, river birds, and riverside wildlife right from camp.Day 9: Kaniyo Pabidi — forest chimpanzee tracking
Step beneath the towering mahogany canopy of Kaniyo Pabidi in Budongo Forest to track our closest living relatives.
Possible Photographic Opportunities:
High-impact chimpanzee portraiture, expressive family dynamics, and natural behaviour in dappled forest light, alongside other primate species and elusive forest birds.

Days 10–13

Day 10–11: Deep into Murchison Falls — Predators & golden light
Two further dedicated days in Murchison Falls give us the luxury every wildlife photographer craves: time to revisit key territories, wait for peak behaviour, and work the best morning and evening light.
Possible photographic opportunities: Second and third chances to capture pride dynamics with African lions, leopards in the figs, hyena, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hippos, warthogs, Defassa waterbuck, bushbuck, fish eagles, red-throated bee-eaters, and kingfishers.Day 12: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary — eye-level on FootTrack endangered rhinos on foot with expert rangers for low-angle, ground-level perspectives impossible to achieve from a safari vehicle.
Possible photographic opportunities: Southern white rhinos in golden grass, plus Reedbuck, duiker, bushbuck, and a wide variety of savannah bird species.Day 13: Lake Victoria shore & departure
Enjoy a final relaxed morning of shooting before onward flights home.
Possible photographic opportunities:
Right around the Protea Hotel grounds and the shores of Lake Victoria, capture final frames of marabou storks, spur-winged lapwings, African thrushes, pied kingfishers, egrets, herons, vibrant Agama lizards, butterflies, and dragonflies.

Meet your expedition leader: Donna Samuels

Donna Samuels is an accomplished British wildlife photographer whose work has been featured by the BBC, The Times, national newspapers, and leading photography magazines. A four-time consecutive finalist in the British Wildlife Photography Awards—with work published in the official awards book, Wildlife Trust publications, and calendars—Donna is widely recognised for her ability to capture authentic animal character, natural behaviour, and storytelling moments.Her commitment to ethical wildlife photography has taken her across the globe, from the cloud forests of Costa Rica and the high-altitude terrain of India and Nepal to Kenya, Spain, and her deep-rooted experience photographing throughout the UK. Beyond the natural world, Donna’s professional versatility extends to the international press and music stage, where she has photographed legendary artists including Sting, Simple Minds, Nile Rodgers, and The Jacksons.Why Uganda with Donna?
Of all the extraordinary regions Donna has documented worldwide, Uganda holds a distinct place. Its breathtaking landscapes, exceptional primate density, and diverse birdlife offer unmatched opportunities for serious photographers.As your photography lead, Donna brings her extensive international experience, calm guidance, and hands-on teaching style directly into the field. Whether you are dialling in your settings for a fast-moving golden monkey or navigating the high-contrast canopy of Bwindi, she ensures your technical approach matches the moment—helping you return home with gallery-quality work of your own.

Why travel with us?

Dialled-in before you shoot
From our Day 2 welcome briefing to daily field briefings, we ensure your autofocus tracking, custom buttons, and exposure strategies are configured for everything from dark jungle canopies to bright savannah pans.World-class wilderness lodges
Stay inside the ecosystems you're photographing—including Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge and Nile Safari Lodge—giving you exceptional wildlife and birding opportunities right on the lodge grounds between drives.Complete species diversity
Very few itineraries in Africa let you photograph mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, white rhinos, big cats, and the shoebill on a single seamless route.