Planning your Photographic Safari in the Pearl of Africa
Step-by-Step Advice as to How to Plan a Photographic Safari in Uganda
How to Plan a Photographic Safari in Uganda! Planning a photographic safari in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa is an exciting adventure, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way. With your input, we will create a private luxury or value-plus midrange photographic safari tailored just for you.
Uganda is renowned for its stunning landscapes, incredible great apes, and abundant wildlife—all experienced without crowds in other destinations. This unique combination makes Uganda a remarkable place for photographers.
We’ll design your photographic safari based on your wishes. Whether you want private treks, scenic hikes, boat rides, or challenging climbs, we’ll arrange everything to give you the best opportunities for capturing breathtaking photos.
As one of the most photogenic countries in Africa, Uganda is often described by Lonely Planet as “Africa condensed into one small country.” It’s the perfect destination for amateur and professional photographers, offering stunning scenery, vibrant wildlife, and authentic cultural encounters.
Our guide, “How to Plan a Photographic Safari in Uganda,” provides step-by-step advice to help you prepare for your adventure in this beautiful country. Uganda is a must-visit photographic destination, and we’re excited to help you capture its magic through your lens.
Let’s start planning your unforgettable photographic safari today!
How to Plan a Photographic Safari in Uganda – Step-by-Step Advice
Decide what time of the Year is best for your Photographic Safari in Uganda:
The Best Time to Visit Uganda for a Photographic Safari: If you’re planning a photographic safari in Uganda, understanding the best time to visit is crucial. Thanks to the majestic Rwenzori Mountains and the stunning Great Lakes, including Lake Albert and Lake Victoria, Uganda offers a temperate climate with pleasant weather year-round.
Uganda has two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. Each affects your safari experience in different ways.
During the dry season, rainfall is rare (except in the rainforests), and the air is dry. This is the best time for wildlife viewing. As water sources dwindle, animals gather around riverbeds, lakes, and watering holes, making it easier to spot them. With less foliage on the trees and bushes, your chances of capturing stunning photographs increase dramatically.
However, be prepared for hot temperatures, especially in savannah parks exceeding 30°C. Kidepo Valley Park tends to be particularly warm during its dry season. While the heat may sometimes be uncomfortable, seeing wildlife in action is worth it.
On the other hand, the rainy season transforms the landscape into a lush paradise. This is typically considered the off-peak season for safaris. While the scenery is stunning, spotting animals can be more challenging since they have plenty of water sources and don’t need to travel far to drink. Additionally, road conditions may deteriorate, making travel more difficult.
However, if you visit during the shoulder season (the transition between dry and rainy), you can enjoy fewer crowds and lower prices, as many luxury lodges reduce their rates. This can provide a unique opportunity to experience Uganda’s beauty without the hustle and bustle of high season.
In summary, if your goal is to capture breathtaking wildlife photos, the dry season is ideal. But don’t overlook the rainy season for its stunning scenery and potential cost savings. Whatever time you choose, Uganda promises an unforgettable photographic safari experience!
Planning your Photographic Safari in Uganda
The Best Months of the Year for a Photographic Safari:
The busiest seasons of the Year are from mid-June to September. October is the shoulder season’s transition month, moving toward the rainy season. September and October have fewer tourists.
The Other High-and Dry Season is from mid-December to March; March is the transition or shoulder season month.
Low Seasons – Rainy Seasons of the Year
April to mid-June is part of the rainy season. Luxury Lodges lower their rates during those times, but dates vary lodge by lodge. The benefits for some are fewer people, and the Savannah parks begin to bloom afresh.
November into mid-December is the other rainy season in Uganda. Rainy Season in Uganda does not mean Monsoon weather. Most rain falls at night, and the sun still comes out, but the trails are muddy.
Gorilla Trekking and Chimpanzee Trekking take place in Rainforests. There it can rain anytime. However, most rain falls at night or early pre-dawn morning hours.
Safaris occur all Year, and Safari-Goers always have an extraordinary time. Read more here about the best time to visit Uganda.
Read more about the Best Time of the Year for Gorilla Trekking Photographic Safaris. Best Time of the Year to Visit Kidepo Valley Park.
Decide the Number of Days and activities you want to include in your Photographic Safari.
The activities that you choose determine the length of your Safari. Uganda is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with many things to do and see. Read more about things to do and see here.
- Gorilla Trekking or the Longer Gorilla Habituation Experience: You can track Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla Park. The Gorilla Habituation Experience gives you more time to take pictures of the Gorillas.
- Chimpanzee Trekking or Chimpanzee Habituation Experience: Kibale Forest is your best location for Chimpanzee Trekking.
- Golden Monkey Trekking or Golden Monkey Habituation Experience: Golden Monkey Trekking takes place in Mgahinga Gorilla Park.
- Volcano Climbing – Rwenzori Mountains: Hit the Virunga Volcanoes’ peaks and the Rwenzori Mountains. You can explore the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains and get great scenic shots of them.
- Queen Elizabeth Park: Here, the highlights for photographers are the Tree Climbing Lions, the Wildlife Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel, the Explosion Crater Lakes, the Banded Mongoose Research, and the Kyambura Gorge.
- Murchison Falls Park: This is where the River Nile runs through it. It is home to Murchison Falls, Boat Cruises on the Nile, and the most Rothschild Giraffes in East Africa.
- Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary: Track Rhinos on Foot and get great photos of the Shoebill’s ancient appearance.
- Kidepo Valley Park: This remote and unvisited Park is in Africa as it used to be fifty years ago. It is not to be missed by photographers. Read more here.
The above is just a sample of what you can do and see in the Pearl of Africa, and there is much more to the Pearl of Africa.
Our Private photographic Safaris in Photogenic Uganda offer you more:
- Privacy: It is just you and whoever is with you. Since you are the only occupant, there is no jostling for a place with others on Safari.
- Time: There is no need to move around the next bend. There is not just the emphasis on the “Big Five” of Africa, but whatever animal or scene you want to photograph. If you need to sit for an hour, there is no problem. Patience is one of the keys to getting the best photos of any animal you have spotted. Unlike a typical safari, it is not about how many animals one places on a game drive but to get the best photos of an animal, such as a lion stalking an antelope.
- You have complete Independence: If you do not get it right in one day, we can adjust to meet your needs. Usually, it is not essential, but we aim to ensure you get the accurate shots you have in mind.
- Your Choice of Wildlife – Birds – Scenery – People: The choice is yours and no one else. You are in charge.
- Chimpanzee, Gorilla, Golden Monkey Habituation Experience Treks: During a Habituation Experience, you have more time to take photos of Chimpanzees and Gorillas. You spend all day with the chimpanzees and four hours with a gorilla family.
What is included in our private Photographic Safaris:
- Experienced Ugandan Driver-Guide: A Safari becomes more enjoyable with a knowledgeable and professional Local Driver-Guide.
- Greet and Meet at the Airport upon Arrival: We provide meet-and-greet services, including a welcome gift and Safari Informational Packet.
- Full-Board Lodging: All meals are included except alcoholic drinks, sodas, and snacks that you might order apart from meals. Some luxury Lodges have non-premium alcoholic beverages and sodas.
- Private 4×4 Safari Vehicle with Pop-Up Roof: The vehicle has a car fridge, WiFi, bottled Water, Local Fruit, and Nut Snacks, and car seats for children are available. Beer, Wine be cooled in Car Fridge upon special request.
- Gorilla Trekking: Permits are included in your Safari. We also provide porter services, a walking stick for support, and bottled water. Read our Practical Gorilla Trekking Advice:
- WiFi Internet Access: Most Lodges only provide a WiFi Internet Connection in the main lodge. We offer you a MiFi Router that gives you and your party access to the internet in your cottage or room, depending on nearby transmission towers. Read Staying in Touch with Home
- Your Dietary Needs can be met: Notify us if you are a vegan, vegetarian, or need a gluten-free diet. Halal dietary requirements can be met in most instances. Strictly kosher nutritional requirements cannot be completed on Safari. The Abhyudaya—Ugandan Jews by choice Synagogues can be consulted for strict kosher meals in Kampala and at their Guesthouse near Mbale in Eastern Uganda.
- AMREF-Flying Doctors Air-Medivac Insurance coverage: Our clients have covered the case with us with an infrequent need for medical evacuation to a hospital that meets international standards.
Our Flexible Booking Policy and our Price Guarantee are additional ways to give our Clients peace of mind when booking a Safari with us. We suggest you take out travel insurance with a cancellation policy that Protects you.
The right things to wear for a HikeClimb:
Hiking and climbing in Uganda, wear the right clothes to protect you and keep you comfortable on your one-day hike or climb. The link above will also show you what to wear on forest and savanna hikes.
The best insect repellent for Mosquitoes and Tsetse Flies is the Australian product “RID.”
When going on a Nature Walk, Hike, Gorilla Trek, or Volcano Climb, the terrain matters, and a walking stick that can often be purchased locally will come in handy. These sticks are usually taller than a person and give good support on slippery slopes, such as in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla Park, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest, and the Rwenzori Mountains Foothills. We supply our clients with porter services, walking sticks, and bottled water.
You should have a daypack in which you put on a light rain jacket, pack lunch or snacks, and drink water. Most often, you will need at least 2 to 3 liters. Read more here.
Photographic Safaris in Uganda with Kabiza Wilderness Safaris:
How to Plan a Photographic Safari in Uganda! Using an accredited, licensed, local Tour Operator such as Kabiza Wilderness Safaris is best. We are an AUTO- The Association of Uganda Tour Operators member, accredited and licensed by UTB, the Uganda Tourism Board. And our license number is UTB/TT/82445).
There are hundreds of websites where you can find safari offerings for Uganda, both by Ugandan companies and foreign companies.
For a worry-free photographic safari, you want to go with someone who knows Uganda and meets the higher standards set forth by the Association of Uganda Tour Operators and the Uganda Tourism Board.
If your photographic Safari includes Gorilla and or Chimpanzee Trekking, it should be noted that only licensed UTB tour operators have access to Uganda Wildlife Authority Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permits. Licensed Tour operators act as promotional and sales agents of Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permits.
Since 2008, Kabiza Wilderness Safaris has provided safe and secure Photographic Safaris in the Pearl of Africa. We provide and plan with you safe, secure hakuna matata – no-worries midrange and luxury Safaris in the Pearl of Africa. For Peace of mind, choose Kabbiza Wilderness Safaris for your photographic safari.
Booking a Photographic Safari with Us:
Contact us
Contact us and tell us what you would like to include in your Gorilla-Chimpanzee-Wildlife Safari. Let us know whether you would like a midrange or luxury Safari
Planning your Safari
With your input we create the private, luxury or midrange Safari Itinerary that fits you. Permits are bought, Lodges are booked.
Your Safari
On the date of your choice - your African Dream Safari in Uganda begins
