Top 6 Photography Spots in Uganda for Nature Enthusiasts: Uganda also known as the Switzerland of Africa is the perfect country for people who love nature and taking photos. This is the country that boasts of having the Savannah, forests, mountains, lakes, and even waterfalls; it provides an excellent setup that can help in taking wildlife and Natural scenery pictures. Uganda is a heaven for photographers whether you are a beginner or a professional since there is a lot to capture in terms of animals and beautiful scenery. Below is a list of the top 6 Photography Spots in Uganda for Nature Enthusiasts should visit when in Uganda.
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the most visited areas in Uganda that offers tourists dense jungle and beautiful sceneries. It is estimated that half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas is found within this park thus making it a photographer’s paradise for wildlife.
Photography Highlights:
Mountain Gorillas: The main attraction of the park is mountain gorillas which will offer a close and personal photography experience of wildlife. It is one of the most enriching experiences and exquisite photographs to be able to photograph these huge animals in the wild.
Flora and Fauna: The park has a lot of plants and other animals that one can take photographs of including the chimpanzees, forest elephants, and different species of birds.
Scenic Landscapes: The forest, hills, and waterfalls that cascade down the mountains give the place a rather dramatic and otherworldly look that is great for landscapes.
Best Time to Visit: The dry seasons which are June to September and December to February are the best time to carry out gorilla trekking and taking of photographs because the trails are not slippery and the weather is more favorable.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is among the most famous and versatile Uganda’s national parks with many things to see and capture on camera. A variety of habitats such as grasslands, forests, wetlands, and lakes are present in the park and support animal life.
Photography Highlights:
Tree-Climbing Lions: The Ishasha sector of the park is particularly well known for the tree-climbing lions, which it is quite rare for lions to do and makes for some excellent photos.
Kazinga Channel: This natural waterway is always a paradise for bird lovers as well as wildlife photographers. One can see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and different types of birds on the beaches.
Scenic Vistas: It has a wonderful view of the Rwenzori Mountains, Virunga Volcanoes, and the Great Rift Valley thus it is an ideal place for taking photographs.
Best Time to Visit: Wildlife and photo safaris can be done during the dry seasons of June to September and December to February since the animals are concentrated around water sources.
- Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is named after the thundering Murchison Falls where the world’s largest river the Nile River squeezes through a narrow gorge. This includes rich wildlife and beautiful sceneries that are present in the park.
Photography Highlights:
Murchison Falls: It is a ‘must-see’ and gives wonderful chances to take the power and the greatness of nature. It enhanced the beauty of the photographs because the falls create mist and rainbows that are visible.
Wildlife Safaris: It also hosts elephants, giraffes, lions, buffaloes, and many types of antelopes as well as other animals. Although there are boats that take tourists along the Nile for cruel on sighting Hippos and crocodiles.
Sunsets and Sunrises: The park has open plains and river edges which are ideal for taking pictures of the beautiful sunrise and sunset.
Best Time to Visit: The dry seasons that are December to February and June to September are the best time to do wildlife watching and take photos as animals will be around water sources.
- Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The Rwenzori Mountains also famously referred to as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’ are one of the most scenic attractions in Uganda. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a photographer’s heaven for landscape and nature photography.
Photography Highlights:
Mountain Peaks: The snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains especially Mount Stanley make a good subject in photographs. The difficult trails to hike provide a perfect spot to take good pictures of these great mountains.
Glaciers and Lakes: Among the features of the park is the presence of glaciers and alpine lakes; including Lake Bujuku and Lake Kitandara which are beautiful and quiet.
Unique Flora and Fauna: The Rwenzori Mountains are also famous for their vegetation cover with giants such as lobelias and groundsels which make the environment look like from another planet.
Best Time to Visit: It is better to travel in the dry seasons which are from December to February and June to August because there is no much rainfall, therefore the climate is better, and the trails are not slippery anymore.
- Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is one of Uganda’s scenic tourist attractions known as “the place of little birds”. The lake is enclosed by sloppy steep hills and is endowed with 29 islands each having its own beauty.
Photography Highlights:
Islands: Different islands in the lake for example Punishment Island and Bushara Island are good photography subjects. The water in the lake is usually very still and this makes the islands and the surrounding hills to be well reflected in the water giving it a mirror-like appearance.
Birdlife: Lake Bunyonyi is an ideal place for bird watching and for the photographers, there are over two hundred bird species that can be seen.
Traditional Canoes: Other traditional crafts such as the dugout canoe which the locals use are also easily seen on the lake and are good for cultural and lifestyle shots.
Best Time to Visit: It is; however, advisable to visit Lake Bunyonyi at any time of the year, although the dry seasons that are June-August and December-February provide clearer skies and better photo opportunities.
- Kibale National Park
The chimpanzees are the main attractions of Kibale National Park and this is one of the reasons why tourists flock the park. The park boasts of very greens which are perfect for taking photos of wildlife and the natural environment.
Photography Highlights:
Chimpanzee Tracking: This forest is considered to be one of the most beautiful places that is home to chimpanzees where one can take great photos of them. It also has other primates like the red colobus monkey and the L’Hoest’s monkey.
Birdwatching: Over 370 different types of birds live in the park, among them great blue turaco and African grey parrot; thus, the park is a heaven for bird photographers.
Forest Scenery: The thick, fog-filled woods of Kibale are elligying and can only be described as the rainforest of Uganda.
Best Time to Visit: The best time for chimpanzee tracking and photography is in the dry seasons of the year which are; December to February and June to September due to easy movement since the trails are not wet or muddy.
Top 6 Photography Spots in Uganda for Nature Enthusiasts: Conclusion
There is so much to capture with a camera in Uganda, be it the wildlife and the sceneries, or the cultured people. Uganda is home to some of the most beautiful natural wonders of the world including the mountain gorillas in Bwindi, the powerful Murchison Falls, and the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi. Please ensure that you conserve the environment and the wildlife and ensure that you take time to appreciate the beauty of the country and its culture.
