A Guide to Birding Photography Safaris in Uganda
A Guide to Birding Photography Safaris in Uganda: Are you a traveller who needs an insight about birding photography safaris with professional guiding in Uganda? Well, for any safari, and not just a birding safari, capturing and keeping safari memories is very crucial. For birdwatchers, photography is a must to any safari and with out it, it ceases to a be a birding safari.
During bird watching, there is need to keep pictures and memories of special sightings, lifers, and rare birds. Therefore, photography is not a mere hobby but also a job that needs planning and preparation before its execution.
There fore, many people out there go for safaris and are willing to take pictures for sale. However, there are many things you need to understand about birding photography safaris in Uganda, as discussed below:
After paying your entrance fees, it’s always free and open for travellers to take pictures of birds in the national parks and other protected areas such as game reserves, and sanctuaries and others.
Since birdwatching may also take place outside the protected areas such as farmlands, road sides and others, once you are on the road, it is always advisable to consult your guide whether it is okay to take photos at a given area. This is because some areas will require you to get permission first, as they may be private property.
Being a friendly country, Uganda’s hospitality allows travellers to freely associate with the locals, and it’s always possible to speak with the community members if you want to capture pictures of bird species from their gardens, farms or compounds. Always speak to your guide about this to get you sorted.
During birding photography safaris in Uganda, it is unlawful to take photos in sensitive areas such as gas stations, army bases, on most bridges of Uganda, banks, police stations, and others.
In case you really have to do birding around such areas and take pictures, you will need to seek special permission and also clearance from the authorities. However, this may take a while but of course, a bird will not wait, so we advise that you stick majorly to taking pictures in the gazetted areas, which are convenient and safe.
A Guide to Birding Photography Safaris in Uganda: Birdwatchers planning to engage in birding photography safaris in Uganda, show be aware that the permission granted for photography strictly allows cameras for still photography. For filming or use of drones in the National Park, you need special clearance from the concerned authorities.
What to Carry During Your Birding Photography Safaris in Uganda
Make sure you carry a waterproof bag to protect your photography gear regardless of where you may be birding, as it is possible that it can rain any time while you are in the forest.
Endeavour to carry as many memory cards and batteries as possible such that you can capture as many shots as possible and are not limited by space. Others include camera accessories, cleaning tools among others.
Other gear include camera, pair of binoculars, field clothing, telescope, bottled drinking water, brimmed hat, hiking shoes, energy giving snacks, optics among others.
What is the Average Cost of a Uganda Birding Safari
Birdwatchers always ask this question: What is the cost of a Uganda birding safari cost on average? Well, prices keep varying depending on several factors such as inflation, logistics and market among others, but a typical Uganda birding safari goes for over $250 to $500 per day for an individual, particularly for mid-range safari packages.
This amount includes transportation, accommodation, park entrance, meals and professional birding guides. For travellers who may opt for luxury packages, the price may range from $600 to $1000 per person including private transport, luxury lodges and exclusive birdwatching experiences.
Best Time for Birding Photography Safaris in Uganda
Choosing the best time for birding photography safaris in Uganda is one of the decisive factors birdwatchers have to put in mind when exploring the diverse avian landscapes of Uganda. Birding photography safaris in Uganda can be carried out throughout the year since majority of the birds are resident species.
Apparently, climate is an essential factor to consider when planning for birding photography safaris in Uganda. The country experiences two dry seasons and two wet seasons.
A Guide to Birding Photography Safaris in Uganda: During the wet season; there is too much rainfall and the roads connecting to different birding destinations and hiking forest trails tend to be slick, slippery and muddy which may at times affects movements of travelers hence causing delays or interfering the birding time.
However, the best time for birding photography safaris in Uganda is during the late May through September. This is because this period the country experiences fewer rains, and this is the ripening period when food is always in plenty.
Considering Uganda’s top birding destinations of Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks which are famous for hosting the Albertine Rift endemics, their main nesting season is May and June.
Torrential rains are received from mid-April to mid-May, and in most cases, various safari activities are affected due to some roads being in poor conditions. And sometimes you may miss out on activities for your safety.
Toro-Semliki which is located in south western Uganda is relatively dry during February and early March; however, it is uncomfortably hot in Murchison Falls National Park.
December and January are also good months for running birding photography safaris in Uganda including birdwatching and wildlife tours. During this period, the country experiences less rain, with clear skies, good roads among others.
During the dry season which runs from June to August and December to February is good for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale National Park respectively.
With clear skies of the dry season, wildlife viewing is also excellent in all the country’s savannah national parks of Uganda such as Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park.
