UGANDA

The main goal of this photo workshop is to photograph mountain gorillas and chimpanzees at close range in the wild. Moreover, we'll have a good chance to photograph lions, leopards, hippos, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, as well as hundreds of exotic birds, and other African wildlife.

Uganda, a landlocked country in East Africa, offers an amazing opportunity to meet face to face with wildlife in their natural habitat.

The country's distinct and scenic landscape encircles the whole perimeter of the snow-covered Rwenzori Mountains and (what seems like) boundless Lake Victoria. While Uganda offers plenty of photogenic locations, there are a few places that interest us in particular: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a mountain gorilla sanctuary, Murchison Falls National Park with its huge and magnificent waterfall and hippos, and Queen Elizabeth National Park with big game animals like lions and elephants.

Day 1. (December 10)

Arrival, meeting, rhinos, Murchison Falls.

We'll meet at 10 a.m. in the Lake Victoria Hotel near the airport of Kampala Entebbe and leave for the famous Murchison Falls National Park.

On the way, we'll drop by Ziwa Rhino & Wildlife Ranch to photograph rhinos. We'll observe these beautiful stately animals from a very close distance and capture beautiful close-up portraits.

The travel takes around six hours (excluding the time on the ranch). By the evening, we'll arrive at a comfortable hotel alongside the Nile, where we'll stay.


Day 2. (December 11)

Morning safari, boat safari, and hike to the top of the waterfall.

The Nile, passing through a wide plain, divides the national park into two parts, which attracts to its shores a wide variety of wildlife looking for water.

Early in the morning, we'll venture out for our first safari. Before the sun reaches the tip of the red giant phase and it's not that scorchingly hot yet, wildlife tends to be more active, and the light is perfect for shooting.

Hopefully and if everything goes to plan, we'll see plenty of wildlife: elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards, different types of antelopes and tropical birds.

After lunch, we'll go on a boat safari up the Nile to Murchison Falls. You'll be followed by crocodiles, hippos, birds, monkeys, and other peculiar wildlife that venture out of the jungle in search of water. We'll get to the base of the 43-meter (~141 ft) waterfall, which can be heard from many kilometers (miles) away.

We'll go to the top of the waterfall that has an amazing view. You'll be able to shoot beautiful sceneries from there as well.


Day 3. (December 12)

Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.

Today, we'll drive to Kibale Forest National Park. On our way, we'll pass through a stunningly beautiful green valley, which is very typical of Uganda. (The transfer will take us about 8 hours).
The park is located in a mountainous area covered in dense evergreen forests.

By dinner time, we'll arrive at our hotel, which is located in the middle of the tropical forest, with gorgeous views on the local landscape.

Day 4. (December 13)

Trekking and photographing chimpanzees.

Early in the morning, we'll walk through the marshland, where we'll observe picturesque landscapes that are typical of equatorial Africa. Hopefully, we'll capture images of several types of primates and the great blue turaco, which blue and yellow tail feathers are prized for making good luck talismans.

After breakfast, we'll drive to the most famous national park in Uganda - Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is located at the foot of the picturesque Rwenzori Mountain Range, between the lakes of Eduard and George.

This is the perfect place to discover and watch over many species, including lions that climb trees, elephants, hippos, warthogs, leopards, buffaloes, more than six hundred species of birds.

By the evening, we'll arrive at a magnificent lodge with a pool and spa, located in the heart of the park on the shores of Lake Eduardo.


Day 5. (December 14)

Photography session in the morning and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Early in the morning, we'll walk through the marshland, where we'll observe picturesque landscapes that are typical of equatorial Africa. Hopefully, we'll capture images of several types of primates and the great blue turaco, which blue and yellow tail feathers are prized for making good luck talismans.

After breakfast, we'll drive to the most famous national park in Uganda - Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is located at the foot of the picturesque Rwenzori Mountain Range, between the lakes of Eduard and George.

This is the perfect place to discover and watch over many species, including lions that climb trees, elephants, hippos, warthogs, leopards, buffaloes, more than six hundred species of birds.

By the evening, we'll arrive at a magnificent lodge with a pool and spa, located in the heart of the park on the shores of Lake Eduardo.


Day 6. (December 15)

Jeep and boat safari along the Kazinga Channel.

Early in the morning on this day, we'll head on another safari, where, if you're lucky, we'll see elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, Ugandan cobs, and warthogs.

After lunch, we'll go on a boat expedition along the Kazinga Channel, which connects two lakes. There's a great chance we'll see hippos and other animals venturing out of the wild for their water procedures. This safari will definitely be one of the highlights of the tour.

Day 7. (December 16)

Transfer to Bwindi.

After breakfast, we'll move to the southwestern part of Uganda, Bwindi National Park on Lake Mutanda on the border with Rwanda and Congo. We'll drive through one of the most beautiful places in Africa, Ugandan Switzerland, where we'll see the bamboo forests and the most beautiful landscapes of the Virunga Mountains.

In the evening, we'll check-in a cozy lodge on the shores of Lake Mutanda, which offers a stunning view of the surrounding mountains.


Days 8-9. (December 17-18)

Gorilla trekking, Bwindi forest.

This is the climax of our adventure. We'll drive to photograph the rarest mountain gorillas that live in the forests of Bwindi.

This is the unique forest, even for the central and eastern parts of Africa. Beside gorillas and chimpanzees, there are more than 113 species of mammals, 200 species of butterflies, and hundreds of species of birds.

Coming face to face with gorillas is an incredible adventure that you'll remember for the rest of your life. For the whole hour, under the supervision of an experienced tour guide, you'll have an opportunity to come close to the animals to capture their wildlife beauty -- the pictures that will speak for themselves in your photographer portfolio.


Day 10. (December 19)

Return to Entebbe.

This is the day when our tour ends. We're expected to reach Entebbe by the evening. The trip takes about 10 hours. Please, plan your outbound flights no earlier than 22:00 or the morning after.

Along the way, we'll cross the equator, where you can buy souvenirs and take pictures.