Chimpanzee Photo Tour

We journey into the heart of Kibale Forest, Uganda – one of Africa’s most enchanting rainforests and home to the highest density of primates on the continent. Kibale offers a unique and rare opportunity to intimately observe and photograph our closest relatives in their natural habitat. Towering fig trees, dappled forest light, and the calls of chimpanzees echoing through the canopy set the scene for an unforgettable experience.

Perfect for wildlife photographers of all levels, this journey combines immersive primate encounters with the magic of one of East Africa’s most biodiverse ecosystems.

Itinerary

Day ONE

We fly from Nairobi to Entebbe on the afternoon, and arrive to our lodge for the first night.

Day TWO

The following morning we depart early for Kibale Forest. We stop in Fortal Portal in time for lunch en route and arrive in the afternoon to our forest lodge. We take a bird watching and primates photography walk in the early evening at the community reserve.

Day THREE

We set out before sunrise to meet our forest trackers and local guide. We will spend all day in the forest walking with the Kanyantale chimpazee community.

The Kanyantale chimpanzee community is the most well-known and habituated group of wild chimpanzees in Kibale and has been the focus of chimpanzee tracking and research for several decades.

They are a large community of around 120 individuals (numbers fluctuate) with a well-established social hierarchy and dynamic social interactions.The group has been habituated since the early 1990s, meaning they are accustomed to the presence of humans and can be observed at relatively close distances without disrupting their natural behaviour

Encounters typically involve following the chimpanzees as they move, feed, groom, vocalise, and sometimes display dramatic interactions. It’s common to observe intimate family moments, dominance displays, tool use, and other complex behaviours. The forest itself is alive with other primates, birds, and a rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Day Four

We head back to Entebbe in the early morning to connect with our international flight.

PRICE

We usually add this tour to the beginning or end of a Kenya Maasai Mara tour. Please contact us for more information and to talk through options.
  
What is included in the tour cost:

• call prior to your departure, with John Haskew, to run through preparations, kit and ensure you are ready to start photographing before arriving
• Meeting on arrival at Nairobi and transfer to hotel on the first night
• Bed and breakfast at the hotel on the first night 
• All road transfers and internal flights in Kenya
• Full board accommodation for the duration of the stay in Kenya
• House wines, beers, local spirits and soft drinks
• Park fees
• Community fees
• Experienced, qualified local guide

Not included in the tour cost:

• International flights to Nairobi  (BA  flights  recommended if flying from the  UK)
• eTA (electronic travel authorisation) for Uganda
• Personal travel and health insurance

GALLERY

A selection of images and moments captured on this tour. Please click to enlarge the image.