Trogon Photo Tours

UGANDA BIRDS, GORILLAS, CHIMPS AND MORE

February 6-21, 2023

Murchison Falls Extension

February 20-27, 2023

Photo Tour:  This photo tour includes gorilla and chimpanzee photography treks, bird photography of Shoebills, Turacos, Rollers, Gonoleks and many other spectacular species and photography of many other mammals including Lions, Buffalo, Elephant and many Antelope and Monkey species.  Uganda is widely considered to have the best birding in all of Africa.  We spend 4 days in the mountains of Bwindi, home of the Mountain Gorillas and tremendous forest birding, 3 days in Queen Elizabeth National Park which has tree climbing Lions and the longest bird list of any park in Africa, 2 days in Kibale National Park, home to habituated Chimpanzees and we also visit Lake Mburo and Semuliki National Parks.  Photography will be done on foot, from vans with pop up tops and we will do several boat trips. 

Cost and Logistics: Arrival and departure city is Entebbe, Uganda. Cost is $8,450, single supplement $700.  Cost for a nonphotographer spouse/companion is $7,750.  The deposit is $2,100.  Cost includes all lodging, meals, in country transportation, guiding, instruction, entrance fees, drinking water, one day gorilla trekking and one day chimpanzee trekking permits.  An additional day of gorilla trekking can be added at the cost of the permit which is $700.  Cost does not include flights, tips, drinks besides water and items of a personal nature.  



Tour Leader: Nate Chappell.  Nate is the founder of Trogon Photo Tours and an award winning photographer. 

Maximum Participants: 6 photographers plus any nonphotographer spouses or companions. 

Itinerary:

February 6th - Arrival to Entebbe, Uganda.  Transfer to a hotel on the shores of Lake Victoria.  For those who arrive early enough we will have an afternoon trip to the botanical gardens which is a great place to photograph a variety of birds including African Grey Parrot, Ross's Turaco and Black-headed Gonolek.  The bottle brush bushes here attract a wide variety of beautiful sunbirds.  Accommodation: Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel

February 7th - We will check out early and drive down to the west side of Lake Victoria to the Mabamba Wetlands.  Here we will take a boat trip where we have a good chance to photograph the iconic Shoebill Stork.  We will also photograph a wide variety of waterbirds as well as some kingfishers and bee-eaters on the boat trip.  After that we have a six hour transfer to our next location near Lake Mburo National Park.  Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge.

February 8th -In the morning we will have a boat trip on Lake Mburo which has numerous African Fish Eagles, we will be on the lookout for African Finfoots and White-backed Night Herons among the many water birds.  In the afternoon we will have a game drive to photograph Zebra, Eland and other mammals as well as raptors, francolin and other birds.  Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge.

February 9th - Morning photography in the park then we have about a five hour transfer to the mountainous Bwindi region of Uganda.  On the way we will stop at some papyrus swamps for specialty species there such as Papyrus Canary, Gonolek and Yellow Warbler.  We will arrive at our lodge in the late afternoon.  Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

February 10th - Today we have the option of doing some bird and monkey photography around the lodge grounds or heading out with the guides to do some forest bird photography.  Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp 

February 11th - Today is our Mountain Gorilla trekking day.  Many people have described photographing and being amongst these gentle giants as a highlight in their lives.  We have requested to photograph a troop which is usually reasonably close to the headquarters but there will be some walking involved to get to them.  Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

February 12th - Today you have the option of going on another Gorilla trek or doing forest bird photography looking for Albertine Rife endemics including Regal Sunbird, Banded Prinia, Doherty's and Lagden's Bush Shrikes and many more.  Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

February 13th - Morning bird photography around the lodge, then we will check out and head to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is about 2 hours away.  On the way to our accommodation in the afternoon we will drive through the Ishasha section of the park which is famous for its tree climbing Lions.  This is also a good area to photograph Elephant and often Leopard along with many raptors.  Accommodation: Bush Lodge Tented Chalets

February 14th and 15th - We will have two full days of bird and mammal photography in Queen Elizabeth National Park.  This park has the longest bird list in all of Africa and is also excellent for mammal photography with large numbers of Lion and Antelope.  There is also a chimpanzee troop which can often be photographed.  We will have afternoon boat trips each day with great water bird photography, many Hippos and chances for the rare Giant Forest Hog.   Accommodation: Bush Lodge Tented Chalets

February 16th - Morning photography at Queen Elizabeth followed by check out and two hour transfer to Kibale National Park.  This afternoon we will have a walk at the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.  Here we should photograph Red Colobus and a variety of monkeys and birds such as Superb Sunbird and Shining Blue Kingfisher.   Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp (luxury tents).

February 17th - Today is our chimpanzee trekking day.  We will photograph a troop of habituated Chimpanzees which allow us to be very close.  Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp

February 18th - Morning bird photography in Kibale, the endemic Green-breasted Pitta is possible then we check out and head to the beautiful Semliki Safari Lodge in the Semuliki Wildlife Reserve.  This area of Uganda is the easternmost part of the Congo forest and therefore the only place in East Africa where many Western African birds can be found.  Accommodation: Semliki Safari Lodge

February 19th - We spend the full day photographing in Semuliki Reserve.  Up to 5 species of Hornbills are possible here and a great variety of other exciting birds such as  African Dwarf Kingfisher, Hartlaub's Duck and Grant's Bluebill are possible.  Accommodation: Semliki Safari Lodge

February 20th - We will have a morning boat trip on Lake Albert where we have another chance for Shoebill, Red Bishops and other birds then we will check out and drive back to Entebbe, stopping on the way for birds, it's about a five hour trip.  Accommodation: K Hotel

February 21st - Depending on your departure time we will spend the morning at the botanical gardens.  Then transfer to the airport for your trip home.    

Murchison Falls Extension, February 20th  to February 27th - From Kibale we will travel north to Murchison Falls, first exploring the Budongo Forest and then spending 3 nights at Pakuba Lodge.  While there we will do game drives and boat trips and of course view the falls.  Murchison Falls National Park has the best game viewing of large hooved mammals and big cats in all of Uganda as well as an excellent selection of birds many of which are not present on our regular tour.  On the way back to Entebbe we will spend one night near the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and then one night back in Entebbe before your return flight home.  Cost: 3,250, single supplement $400.