After breakfast, we head out to Nakiwogo for a boat transfer to Mabamba Swamp. The wetland hosts over 300 bird species but the Shoebill is the most sought after bird. Using expert local guides, we hope to maximize our chances of capturing a range of images of the Shoebill. There will also be the opportunity to see a wealth of other bird species that call this area home. Just 2km from Mabamba we will go on a forest walk in Nkima Forest where we will see a variety of forest bird species.

Accommodation: Mabamba Lodge

Meal Plan: B L D

Early morning, we head out and drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary located in Nakasongola District. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary proudly harbors Uganda’s wild endangered rhinos. We will have a good time as we watch the rhinos at a close range as we take up close portraits.  Apart from rhinos, Ziwa is also home to a number of bird species, reptiles, and 40 mammal species. After this exciting activity, we will proceed to Amuka Lodge, for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Amuka Lodge

Meal Plan: B L

Today we will set out in search of the Shoebill in the Lugogo swamp in Ziwa. Ziwa is one of the only places that we are almost guaranteed to see them. We set off on the shoebill trek at 6am. The canoe ride through the swamp at this time gives us the best opportunity to see the shoebill. But not only that, it is a fantastic way to see the beautiful Ugandan sunrise over the Lugogo Swamp. After this excursion we drive to Fortal with lunch on the way at Masindi. We will check in at Kluges Guest Farm for overnight stay.

Accommodation: Kluges Guest Farm

Meal Plan: B L D

Early morning, we head out into the forest in search of our closest relative – the chimpanzee. Unlike normal tracking of chimps, during chimpanzee habituation experience, we will spend the whole day following these amazing creatures. Chimpanzee Habituation Experience is more demanding and visitors are involved in all habituation related activities unlike the 4-hour trekking where visitors remain distant.

We will wake up early before the break of dawn to meet the guides and go looking for the chimpanzees before they leave nests. In this way, we will be able to watch them wake up and prepare for the day’s activities like feeding, resting, taking care of their young, protecting their territories and finally building their nests on top of trees. This will give us enough time to capture an array of intimate portraits and images of these beautiful mammals in their forest surroundings.

Accommodation: Ihamba Lodge

Meal Plan: D B

Today we head out to Queen Elizabeth Park, Uganda’s most popular savannah reserve with the widest variety of wildlife of any Ugandan park. The variety of habitats includes grassland savannah, forests, wetlands and lakes. This provides the setting for an extensive range of large mammals and primates. We have lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge then go for a boat cruise on Kazinga Channel which takes about 2hours. The water joins 2 lakes Edward and George and is filled with hippos, buffalos and elephants at the shores.  We will capture beautiful sceneries on this cruise and if we’re lucky, we may capture a beautiful sunset. After the cruise we drive back to Mweya Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: B L D

Today we start with an early morning game drive within the amazing QENP, look out for the big 5 and other mammals like the Giant Forest Hog, Kobs, Hyenas, Water bucks. We will have a chance to photograph the big cats, which are easy to find because of the high population of Uganda Kobs in the area which they prey on.  After lunch, we drive to the southern section of Queen Elizabeth National Park called Ishasha and check in at Ishasha Jungle Lodge.

Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle Lodge.

Meal Plan: B L D

We have two full days to enjoy this hidden corner of Uganda, as we focus our efforts on searching for and photographing the tree-climbing lions.  The open savannahs and the acacia and fig trees which the lions climb make this the perfect place to see them close to our vehicles offering a clear platform for landscape photography. We will be using open-top land cruisers to ensure we have the very best angles for photography.

Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle Lodge.

Meal Plan: B L D

We have an early breakfast then head into the jungle to search of wildlife including Elephants, herds of Buffaloes, antelopes, bushbucks and so many more. After lunch, we will drive to Buhoma and check in at Mahogany Springs Lodge.

Accommodation: Mahogany Springs Lodge

Meal Plan: B L D

Today we have a very exciting day of spending it with the endangered gorillas of Bwindi. We will have a habituation experience and not the standard trekking experience. Gorilla habituation experience is special because it allows 4 tourists a chance to spend four hours with the gorillas. The experience is managed by researchers and very experienced trackers. This is different from gorilla trekking where 8 people are assigned to each gorilla group and can only watch the primates for one hour.

We will have enough time to learn about their way of life, watch them interact, feed, build nests and groom themselves. This will provide numerous opportunities to capture intimate photos of these creatures during the time we spend with them, making it a memorable experience.

Accommodation: Mahogany Springs Lodge

Meal Plan: B L D

This morning we leave and drive to Lake Mburo arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, we set out on a sunset boat cruise on the lake. In addition to the charming scenery and simple pleasures of floating in a boat, the cruise provides good sightings of hippo, crocodile, buffalo, waterbuck, bushbuck, species of waterbirds, including the prehistoric shoebill. All these will provide beautiful sceneries for taking photos, especially with the sun setting on the horizon.

Accommodation: Kigambira Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: B L D

An early nature walk in the wild is deserved before we embark on the journey back to Entebbe. Lake Mburo National park is a special paradise in itself, less crowded and so rewarding to birders and nature lovers. Return to check out by 10am and drive with minimum stops to Entebbe. Enroute lunch at the Uganda Equator, then head to the Airport for an evening flight back to Nairobi.