Gorilla Photography Tours in Uganda
Journeying to Uganda’s untamed, lush foliage and dense canopies for exclusive gorilla photography tours in Uganda is truly an exceptional experience. Capturing the world’s most endangered primate species in their natural environments with a backdrop of nature is a once-in-a-million shot. Photography tours are one of the most adventurous experiences on the rise in Uganda.
Gorilla photography tours in Uganda involve trekking through the lush foliage for a clear shot of these incredible primates. Although gorilla photography tours in Uganda focus on the primates, their habitats also offer perfect photos.
Gorilla Photography tours in Uganda offer visitors a memorable time with the endangered mountain gorillas. Encountering mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and spending an hour in their presence is known as gorilla trekking. Uganda is one of the very few remaining natural destinations for mountain gorillas in the world. Facts have put Uganda on the pedestal of all other gorilla destinations, given its incredible numbers and unmatched experience.
The southwestern region of the country falls in the Virunga conservation area. This conservation area is the remaining natural habitat of mountain gorillas. This is the same reason these incredible primate species are considered endangered.
As the name suggests, mountain gorillas dwell in the mountainous regions only. This is why the Virunga conservation area is their fitting habitat because of its terrain and topography. Considered one of the most intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom, mountain gorillas have over 98% of human DNA. This explains their social lifestyle of staying in groups called gorilla families and headed by dominant males called silverbacks.
Where in Uganda can one have a gorilla photography tour?
As earlier mentioned, Gorilla Photography tours are only available at the gorilla destinations that fall under the Virunga conservation area. Uganda happens to be one of the few countries that fall under this conservation area and the only country with two destinations in this area. Below are places where one can have a gorilla photography tour in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
For any gorilla-related activity, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is your place. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is arguably the best destination in the Virunga conservation area. The park offers an incredible time with the endangered mountain gorillas and also epic scenes of the natural, impenetrable forest that is fit for the best photography.
The different gorilla sectors of Bwindi give visitors on a gorilla photography tour a chance to capture incredible views of the scenery surrounding the sectors, adding to the photography adventure. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwestern region of Uganda. It was gazetted as a national park in 1991 from a forest reserve in 1942 after gorillas were sighted. The park became a UNESCO site four years after its establishment in 1994, not only because of its presence of mountain gorillas but also the park’s ecological system that hosts tree species that date back over 25,000 years.
The park harbors over 459 mountain gorillas, which account for close to half of the world’s population. Bwindi is also at the apex in terms of the gorilla families, as it houses over 50 families, and among these, 24 are habituated and can be encountered and captured on a gorilla photography tour.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Also part of the Virunga conservation area, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is an incredible destination for gorilla photography tours in Uganda. Bordering Rwanda in the south, Mgahinga is situated in the southern region of the country. With over 100 mountain gorillas, the park is more than ready to offer an epic photography experience where visitors can capture the most exceptional photos. In addition to the primates, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park hosts three of the eight volcanic mountains of the Virunga massif. These mountains include Sabyinyo, Muhabura, and Gahinga. These combined add the icing to the cake on this gorilla photography tour.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park hosts one gorilla family of Nyakagezi, thus reducing the time spent trekking to photograph since this family’s whereabouts are easily known. This ensures that there is much time is spent on photography than trekking.
How much does a gorilla photography tour in Uganda cost?
There is no particular cost for a gorilla photography tour in Uganda other than purchasing a gorilla trekking permit. This permit allows visitors access to the gorilla destination for an exclusive encounter with the primates for an hour and to take as many pictures as they wish. The trekking gorilla permit can only be purchased from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a local tour operator like Native Africa Tours. Each cost for the permits varied depending on the nationality and region of the visitor. A foreign non-resident permit costs USD 800, a foreign resident 700, and UGX 300,000 for an East African, including a Ugandan gorilla trekking permit.
When to do a gorilla photography tour in Uganda?
Gorilla photography tours in Uganda are best done in the dry months. This is because of the easy visibility of the primates and navigation. This is all due to the little or no rainfall received during this season. This results to sparse vegetation that eases visibility and aids a perfect shot of the primates. The dry season in Uganda runs from June to September and December to mid-February.
