Uganda Gorilla & Primate Photo Safari – 8 Nights | Kibale, Ishasha & Bwindi

Expedition Photo Safari series

An immersive eight-night Uganda photo safari focused on chimpanzees, gorillas, and the richly varied photographic landscapes of western Uganda.

Register Your Interest
19 – 26 November 2027

Overview of This Uganda Photo Safari

8 Nights
Kibale, Ishasha & Bwindi
Uganda
From $12,760
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6 Guests
1 Photo Host

This eight-night Uganda photo safari is hosted by award-winning wildlife photographer PJ Hicks and is designed as a small-group expedition through some of the country’s most compelling primate and wildlife regions.

Beginning in Entebbe, the safari follows a carefully paced route through Kibale Forest National Park, the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Along the way, the experience combines chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking, classic safari moments, forest atmosphere, and a more immersive style of photographic travel than many traditional game-drive itineraries. The routing in the working itinerary includes a scheduled flight to Kasese, time in Kibale, a move through Ishasha, then onward to Bwindi, before a return flight from Kihihi to Entebbe.

Rather than focusing on one lodge or one park alone, this safari is about variety, depth, and photographic contrast. From the fast, reactive energy of chimpanzee encounters to the quieter emotional intensity of time spent with mountain gorillas, Uganda offers a very different kind of African photo safari. This is a journey for travellers who want more than a checklist. It is designed for those who value wildlife, habitat, and the sense of being properly immersed in a place.

The Photo Safari Experience in Uganda

Uganda offers one of the most distinctive photographic safari experiences in Africa. This is not an open-plains safari built around long hours in a vehicle chasing density alone. It is a more layered and varied journey, where forest, wetlands, savannah, and mountain habitat all shape the experience.

In Kibale, the focus turns to chimpanzees and other forest primates, where photography becomes more dynamic, reactive, and fast-paced. In Ishasha, the safari broadens to include game drives, wider landscapes, and classic East African wildlife atmosphere. In Bwindi, the tempo changes again, becoming more intimate and emotional as the focus shifts to gorilla trekking and the experience of photographing one of Africa’s most powerful wildlife encounters. The current itinerary also includes a Bigodi wetlands walk in Kibale and a private boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel en route to Ishasha, which adds even more depth and variety to the photographic journey.

Each stage of the safari brings a different photographic challenge and reward. There is movement, mood, portraiture, habitat, and storytelling throughout. With a small group and PJ Hicks hosting in the field, the aim is not simply to move guests between sightings, but to help them get more from each encounter and return home with a stronger, more varied body of work.

This safari is limited to just six guests and is designed as a hosted small-group expedition.
If Uganda is on your list, we recommend registering your interest early while dates and permits remain available.

Register Your Interest
Some of our future photo safari concepts are released first as early access opportunities before being scheduled as confirmed departures.
Register your interest using the button below and fill out the form.

Please note, by filling out the “Register Your Interest form”, this does not commit you to travel.

Register Your Interest

Who This Safari Is Designed For

Photography Experience

All skill levels.
Beginner to advanced photographers welcome

Pace & Activity Level

Balanced photo safari.
Walking, trekking,drives and
downtime

Travel Style

Small group experience.
Shared wildlife encounters with expert hosting

Comfort Level

High-quality safari lodges.
Well-positioned accommodation across the route

PJ Hicks, professional photographer, on an African photo safari with camera and telephoto lens.
Meet Your Photography Expert

Your Photo Host On This Safari

PJ Hicks is a world-renowned wildlife photographer and safari host based in Tanzania, with over three decades of experience working across East Africa. Known for his creative storytelling and deep connection to the natural world, PJ has built an international reputation not only through his imagery, but as the founder of the globally recognised Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.

As your photo host, PJ brings an infectious passion for wildlife and a highly intuitive approach to photography in the field. His guidance blends technical insight with a strong creative focus, helping guests anticipate behaviour, embrace spontaneity, and capture images that are both distinctive and memorable in some of Africa’s most iconic landscapes.

More about PJ
Chimpanzee sitting in forest, African safari photo by PJ Hicks.

About the Expedition Photo Safari Series

Expedition Series safaris are limited, specialist departures designed for photographers seeking remote locations, uncommon wildlife encounters, or uniquely challenging environments. These journeys operate in places where access is restricted, logistics are more complex, or photographic opportunities are highly specific.

They are offered selectively and only when the conditions, timing, and partnerships allow for a truly exceptional experience.

Learn aBOUT Expedition series

Why Travel With Photo Safari Company

Travel with confidence on professionally hosted safaris designed for small groups and exceptional wildlife experiences. As members of ATTA, we partner with carefully selected camps and lodges, provide expert photographic support in the field, and offer transparent pricing with clear booking protection, so you can focus entirely on the experience.

  • ATTA membership
  • Small group guarantee
  • Professional hosts
  • Curated camps & lodges
  • Price protection
Explore all Scheduled photo Safaris

Register Your Interest
Some of our future photo safari concepts are released first as early access opportunities before being scheduled as confirmed departures.
Register your interest using the button below and fill out the form.

Please note, by filling out the “Register Your Interest form”, this does not commit you to travel.

Register Your Interest

The Photo Safari Experience

Twice Daily Safari Activities

Guided Nature Experiences

Small Group Experience

Hand Picked Safari Camps

Photographic
Support

Time To Unwind

Balanced Safari Pace

Transparent Pricing

Photographic Opportunities

This Uganda photo safari offers exceptional photographic variety across forest, wetland, savannah, and mountain environments, giving guests the chance to work with very different subjects, light, and shooting conditions throughout the journey.

  • Chimpanzee photography in Kibale Forest
  • Mountain gorilla encounters in Bwindi
  • Forest atmosphere, habitat, and storytelling frames
  • Wetland birdlife and primates around Bigodi
  • Boat-based photography on the Kazinga Channel
  • A wider Uganda portfolio beyond a single species focus
  • Portrait, behaviour, and environmental wildlife images
Powerful gorilla portrait, African safari photo by PJ Hicks.

Photo Safari Information

Photo Safari Information Summary

8 Night Photo Safari

safari Cost

From US$12,760
pps

Destination/s Visited

Kibale, Ishasha & Bwindi
Uganda

6 Guests

US$3,500 Deposit

Safari Starts In:

Entebbe (EBB)

Safari Ends In:

Entebbe (EBB)

Safari Plan & Details

Uganda Photo Safari Overview

Uganda offers a very different kind of African photo safari. Instead of one continuous open-country experience, this journey moves through distinct habitats and moods, from the rainforest setting of Kibale, to the wider wildlife landscapes of Ishasha, and finally into the mountain gorilla country of Bwindi.

That progression gives the safari a stronger sense of depth and variety, both photographically and experientially.

  • Chimpanzee photography in Kibale Forest
  • Forest atmosphere and habitat storytelling
  • Wetland birdlife and primates around Bigodi
  • Game-drive wildlife moments in Ishasha
  • Mountain gorilla encounters in Bwindi

In Kibale, the emphasis is on chimpanzees, forest primates, and the atmosphere of the region, with the working itinerary also including a Bigodi wetlands walk and a traditional lunch at Tinkas. In Ishasha, the safari broadens with game drives, sundowners, and a private boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. In Bwindi, the focus shifts to mountain gorillas and the more intimate, emotionally powerful experience of forest trekking and close wildlife encounters.

Rather than feeling like a gorilla trek with a few add-ons, this safari reads as a complete Uganda photographic safari. It is suited to guests who want chimpanzees and gorillas at the core, but who also value variety, habitat, and the sense of being on a real journey through one of Africa’s most compelling wildlife destinations.

Photo Safari Cost

Occupancy

sharing

SOLO

Price

*US$ 12,760

*US$ 15,122

Small Group Pricing

*This safari is priced on six guests sharing a room.
**Minimum of 4 guests required.
***If fewer than 6 guests travel, a small group adjustment of $1,550 per person applies to cover vehicle, guiding, photographic hosting, and logistical costs being shared across fewer guests.

Important Information

Safari booking Terms

What’s Included & What’s Not

Included

  • Accommodation
  • All meals (except at Protea Hotel – BB basis)
  • All camp transfers
  • 25 kg luggage for internal flights
  • Twice daily activities
  • Professional photo host
  • Drinks (house wines, local brand spirits, beers and soft drinks)
  • Refreshments on game drives
  • Wifi
  • Laundry
  • Conservation levies & Parks fees
  • Tax

Excluded

  • International flights
  • Visa’s
  • Travel insurance
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Staff and Guide gratuities
  • Single supplement
  • Aircraft landing and departure fees, if applicable
  • Passenger Taxes, if applicable
  • Anything not mentioned in the Included section

Register Your Interest
Some of our future photo safari concepts are released first as early access opportunities before being scheduled as confirmed departures.
Register your interest using the button below and fill out the form.

Please note, by filling out the “Register Your Interest form”, this does not commit you to travel.

Register Your Interest

This Photo Safari Itinerary

Please note: This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, logistics, or wildlife conditions. Your guides will adapt daily plans to maximise photographic opportunities and guest comfort.

This Uganda photographic safari has been designed as an eight-night journey through some of the country’s most rewarding primate and wildlife regions. The route blends internal flights, scenic overland travel, forest-based photography, and classic safari moments to create a more varied and immersive Uganda photo safari experience.

The current working structure starts in Entebbe, continues to Kasese, then through Kibale, Ishasha, and Bwindi, before returning from Kihihi to Entebbe.

Fixed wing air transfer from Lusaka to Mfuwe airport.

Short road transfer/game drive from airstrip to lodge.

Arrive into Entebbe, where you will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. This first day is designed to be smooth and uncomplicated, giving guests time to settle in after international travel and prepare for the safari ahead. The current working itinerary uses Protea Hotel Entebbe for the first night.

Fixed wing air transfer from Entebbe to Kasese airstrip.

Road transfer from airstrip to lodge.

Transfer back to the airport for your scheduled internal flight to Kasese airstrip. On arrival, meet your private safari guide and continue by road to Kibale Forest National Park, with a drive time of approximately one to two hours. The afternoon currently includes a Bigodi wetlands walk, offering an atmospheric introduction to Uganda’s forest-edge habitats, birdlife, and photographic rhythm.

Today is dedicated to chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, one of Uganda’s most exciting primate experiences. Chimpanzee photography is fast-moving, instinctive, and full of energy, creating a very different dynamic from the slower pace of gorilla encounters later in the safari. The working itinerary also includes a traditional lunch at Tinkas, adding local texture and a stronger sense of place to the day.

Depart Kibale and travel toward Queen Elizabeth National Park, where the current itinerary includes a private boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. From there, continue south into the Ishasha area. The day ends with a game drive and sundowners, broadening the safari beyond forest primates and adding classic wildlife and landscape opportunities to the journey.

Spend a full day exploring the Ishasha sector, enjoying game drives and the wider photographic opportunities that come with this part of western Uganda. This day adds breathing room to the itinerary and helps balance the forest-based primate focus with more open-country safari moments and wildlife variety.

Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, with the working itinerary noting a drive time of approximately three hours. The afternoon is left at leisure, with optional activities available depending on the final lodge setup and guest interest. This is a natural pause point in the safari before the next two days of gorilla trekking.

Today brings one of the great highlights of the safari: gorilla trekking in Bwindi. For photographers, it is one of Africa’s most powerful wildlife experiences, combining the anticipation of the forest walk with the emotion and intensity of spending time close to a habituated gorilla family.

A second gorilla trekking day adds real depth to the expedition. It takes pressure off a single encounter and gives guests another opportunity to work more intentionally with what they learned on the first trek. Often, the second session is where photographers settle in, slow down, and create even stronger images.

After breakfast, transfer to Kihihi airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Entebbe, where the safari concludes. This fly-out finish keeps the journey cleaner and more comfortable than a long overland return and suits the premium expedition feel of the itinerary well.

Road transfer from lodge to airstrip.

Fixed wing air transfer from Kihihi airstrip to Entebbe airport.

“South Luangwa was everything we’d hoped for as photographers. The sightings were great, we spent proper time with a leopard one afternoon and had wild dogs on another drive. What really made the difference was having the time and space to shoot properly. No rushing off after a quick look. The guide understood what we were trying to get from each scene, whether it was positioning for light or waiting for behaviour. It felt like the whole experience was built around photography, not just ticking off sightings.”

Daniel & Sofia, Vancouver Canada

A Glimpse Into This Photo Safari

This gallery offers a window into the extraordinary, from once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters to the elegant camps and lodges that redefine safari luxury.
 
While specific properties may vary by itinerary, each has been handpicked for its exceptional service, comfort, and immersive connection to the wild.

This Uganda photo safari brings together some of East Africa’s most memorable wildlife and habitat contrasts, from forest primates and wetlands to classic safari country and the mountain gorilla strongholds of Bwindi. It is a journey shaped not only by what you photograph, but by the feeling of moving through very different landscapes over the course of one carefully paced expedition.

The current working itinerary uses Protea Hotel Entebbe, Primate Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp, and Mahogany Springs as the lodge flow, giving this draft page a strong temporary framework while final accommodation is confirmed. Each property supports a different stage of the journey, from convenient overnight access in Entebbe to forest immersion in Kibale, safari atmosphere in Ishasha, and comfortable access to gorilla trekking in Bwindi.

Protea Hotel Entebbe
Comfortable overnight stay for a smooth arrival into Uganda.

Primate Lodge, Kibale
Forest-edge accommodation ideally placed for chimpanzee tracking and the Kibale experience.

Ishasha Wilderness Tented Camp
A classic safari setting that adds space, wildlife variety, and atmosphere to the journey.

Mahogany Springs, Bwindi
A strong base for the gorilla trekking portion of the safari and the final nights of the expedition.

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Photo Safari Map

Photo Safari Booking & Travel FAQs

Your place is confirmed once your deposit has been received. After completing your registration, you will be guided to our secure payment page to pay the required deposit and finalise your booking.

A deposit of US$3,500 is required to confirm your place. The remaining balance is payable prior to departure, with full payment details provided after booking confirmation.

Yes. Permits are required to enter the national parks and protected areas for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, and these are included in the price of this photo safari.

Our safaris are designed to suit a wide range of photography experience levels, from enthusiastic beginners to experienced photographers. Guidance and support are provided throughout the safari.

Our photo safaris are kept small and personal, with a maximum of six guests per departure. This allows for a more comfortable experience in the field and more meaningful time with your professional photographer host.

This photo safari starts and ends in Entebbe, Uganda. Full arrival and departure details will be provided as part of your booking confirmation and pre-departure information.

Internal flights in Uganda usually operate with a fairly strict luggage allowance of 15 kgs per person, so we recommend packing as lightly and practically as possible in soft-sided bags. For this photo safari, we have also secured an additional 10 kgs of luggage per person, which allows more flexibility for camera gear and safari essentials. Final luggage guidance will be provided before departure, including practical advice for travelling comfortably with your photography equipment and personal items.

This safari includes an active element, particularly during the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking portions. Guests should be comfortable walking on uneven terrain and managing moderate physical activity in forest environments.

Yes. Most camps and lodges can accommodate dietary requirements and reasonable special requests when advised in advance. Please provide details during registration.

International flights to and from Africa are not included unless specifically stated in the itinerary. Internal safari flights and transfers may be included depending on the safari, full details are provided for each departure.

If a safari is full, you may be able to join a waitlist in case of cancellations. We can also recommend similar departures or alternative travel dates.

Accommodation varies by safari and series, but all properties are carefully selected for comfort, location, and access to exceptional wildlife areas. Full details are provided within each safari itinerary.

Because group sizes are small and departures are limited, many safaris fill well in advance. Booking early is strongly recommended to secure your preferred travel dates.

Yes. Solo travellers are very welcome on this photo safari, and our small-group format works well for guests travelling on their own. Single supplement cost applies for solo travellers wanting their own room.

Once your deposit is received, your place is secured. You will receive booking confirmation, detailed travel information, and preparation guidance to help you get ready for your safari.

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is required for all guests. In most cases, it is a mandatory condition of the camps and lodges we partner with, and must be in place prior to travel.

Recommended equipment varies depending on destination and wildlife, but guidance is provided after booking to help you prepare the most suitable gear for your safari.

Book Your Uganda Gorilla & Primate Photo Safari

This eight-night Uganda expedition is designed for travellers who want more than a standard wildlife holiday. With PJ Hicks hosting, a small-group format, and a safari flow that combines Kibale, Ishasha, and Bwindi, this is a photographic safari built around primates, atmosphere, and genuine depth in the field.

From chimpanzees in the forests of Kibale to mountain gorillas in Bwindi, this is one of Africa’s most distinctive wildlife photography journeys. If Uganda has been on your list, now is the time to register your interest while dates, permits, and safari space remain open.

Availability is limited.
Register your interest early to be first in line when the final itinerary is confirmed.

Register Your Interest
Some of our future photo safari concepts are released first as early access opportunities before being scheduled as confirmed departures.
Register your interest using the button below and fill out the form.

Please note, by filling out the “Register Your Interest form”, this does not commit you to travel.

Register Your Interest