Are you interested in creating better photography prints? Gorilla Photo opportunities are abundant in 3 African countries including Uganda Rwanda and Congo.
Today the mountain gorillas are confined to the Virunga volcanic mountains that straddle the borders of Uganda Rwanda and D.R.C Congo.
Mountain gorilla photo tours in Africa is only remaining 900 mountain gorillas left in the world is one of the magical lifetime experiences one can ever do on a trip in Africa.
In Uganda mountain gorilla are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks. In Rwanda they are found in Volcanoes National Park while in Democratic Republic of Congo they are found in Virunga National Park.
You can combine your Uganda, Rwanda and Congo gorilla photography safari with climbing Mount Nyiragongo.
Gorilla trekking permit in each country; Uganda $600, Rwanda $1500, D.R.C Congo $400 per person, but make sure you purchase your gorilla permit in Advance because it is first come first serve.
In 1963, Dian Fossey began her study research and conservation of mountain gorillas. In 1983, she published a book entitled Gorillas in the Mist. In 1986, a movie based on her book brought gorilla conservation to worldwide attention.
Gorilla trekking is a wonderful experience allowing you the opportunity to have a close encounter with these gentle giants of the jungle in their natural habitat. So coming face to face with wild mountain gorillas is really an experience of a life time.
Looking into the eyes of a large silver back gorilla and he’ll look back with thinking, intelligent gaze, mindful that you’re another individual is quite unforgettable experience in Uganda Rwanda and Congo.
Visiting Uganda Rwanda and Congo for gorilla photography trekking safari will most probably be expensive event with travel and accommodation costs.
You don’t want to find yourself thousand miles from home with wrong nature photo gear or to find you are missing a critical accessory. But gorilla photography safari can be rewarding if you buy the right nature photo gear.
Photography equipment for wildlife photography is virtually the same as what is needed for wildlife photography.
Your gorilla photo trekking safari will commence from Entebbe International Airport where you will be welcomed by our professional safari guide who will transfer you to Kampala for a comfortable overnight stay and dinner at the Cassia Lodge, Sheraton Hotel or you can have a choice of your own on the lodges if any.
Both hotels have a rustic elegance, which makes them the perfect place to relax in understated luxury, mid-range and budget range.
You enjoy a good swim, chill out and enjoy a view of Kampala complete with natural and local sounds from your room or terrace. Meal plan; dinner and breakfast
Depart early morning for Bwindi for your gorilla photo trek located in the south western Uganda enabling you to have the first glimpse at the shy mountain gorillas.
We drive along Masaka road with a stopover at Kayabwe at Uganda Equator for amazing photo shoots and water experiment. En-route lunch can be taken at Agip motel. Arrive at your accommodation late in the evening.
Dinner and overnight at Mahogany Lodge (luxury), Buhoma Haven Lodge (mid-range), Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget).
Upon your arrival at the Entebbe International Airport, meet our guide and transfer to Bwindi Forest National Park with your overnight stay at Mahogany Springs. After breakfast proceed for the morning briefing of your gorilla photography experience.
A ranger will brief you on how to behave while with the gorillas. We trek through the rain forest accompanied by armed guides and trackers in search of your located gorilla family.
The walk to see mountain gorilla can take anything between 2 to 8 hours depending on the location and movement of your gorilla family.
Gorillas are unpredictable; it is difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions and sometimes with rain overhead before you encounter any gorillas.
Once you sight the mountain gorillas, a 7 metre rule should be observed while you get ready with your camera gears ready to take the best gorilla photo shots for 1 hour as you watch and observe them living their daily activities.
After your gorilla photo safari, retire back to the starting point and get ready to receive your gorilla trekking certificate. Proceed to Lake Bunyonyi Resort for dinner and overnight stay.
Take breakfast and depart for Rwanda, you will cross the border via Kisoro then clear at the border with all the necessary paper formalities.
Located in the far North West of Rwanda, Volcanoes Nationals Park is home to last remaining critically endangered mountain gorillas and rich mosaic of montane ecosystems which includes evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath.
Accommodations available at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, La Palme Hotel, and Muhavura Lodge for dinner and overnight stay
Rise up with morning breakfast and embark to the Volcanoes National park headquarters at Kinigi for your amazing gorilla photography experience. A fascinating walk through the refined foothills of the Virunga provides inspiring views in all directions of the park.
Just like gorilla trekking in Uganda, even in Rwanda gorilla trekking is quite strenuous but a worthwhile to encounter these gentle creatures.
The trek to see the gorillas cannot be determined according to how many hours to see them. But still the hike can take anything from 2 to 8 hours depending of their location.
Once sighted, get ready with your camera ready to take photo shots of these amazing gentle creatures as you spend time watching adults feeding their young ones, brushing and resting as the youngster’s jump of tree branches.
The 1 hour you spend with these mountain gorillas is a once in a lifetime experience in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. Retire back to you lodge for your dinner and overnight and relax for yet another activity tomorrow.
An early morning with breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for briefing after enter into the forest for golden monkey tracking giving you only 1 hour for your amazing photo shoots.
The golden monkey is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Golden monkeys are on the top of the list found at lower slopes of Volcanic Mountains making it easier to access these creatures.
In the afternoon, drive to Gisenyi to the border of Rwanda and D.R.C and check at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. Lake Kivu Serena Hotel is in an ideal location just outside the small town of Gisenyi, on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Gisenyi is a town on the north shore of Lake Kivu, in north-western Rwanda’s Rubavu district. Beach resorts line the lake’s sandy waterfront, and kayaks ply its clear waters.
Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes. It lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift.
Wake up very early in the morning ready with your D.R.C Visa, passport, Yellow Fever Card and other paper formalities and cross over in D.R.C Congo.
The Virunga safari guide will be ready to you from the border after crossing and transfer to Bukima ranger station for briefing about the do’s and don’ts of gorillas and the forest.
After the gorilla formalities, we embark on a once in a life time experience of tracking mountain gorillas. These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 900 living today.
You will get within 7 metres of this family and be privileged to spend 1 hour amongst them while taking photos shoots of them in their natural habitat.
After the gorilla trekking activity in Virunga National Park, descend back and cross back to Rwanda. We then drive to Kigali Airport for your flight back home.
Gear for wildlife photography include; long lenses, good support in terms of tripods, bean bags, gimbal heads, long-lens camera bag, lightweight, sturdy tripod, photo blind, Binoculars, gear camo, camera hoister, vehicle support and head lamp. We look at the priorities for building a wildlife outfit that will give you the best bang for your buck.
