Great Apes & African Oddities

For many years now I have had a real problem – an addiction to the African continent and its wildlife. Having travelled widely in Africa, Uganda was always a little bit of an enigma. Why go there when there are so many other places to visit? Well, it all fell into place when I experienced the ‘Pearl of Africa’ for myself, and I had a wildlife experience like no other.

I was on a mountain road, skirting my way around the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, escorted by our ranger. As we arrived in a small village, surrounded by tea plantations and banana trees, I alighted the vehicle to be met by my porter (a key part of any successful gorilla trek).

The path meandered through the planted rows of tea and before long, I entered the national park. This forest is unlike anywhere I have ever been before, a unique type of rainforest, a little more like a cloud forest, but with a unique African twist to it. I can’t put my finger on it, but it certainly has an ethereal quality. Just as I soak up this new world, our armed ranger receives a radio message from the guards who protect the gorilla family – they’re somewhere above us.

It’s now that we start to climb up a narrow trail leading through the thick forest. My porter is carrying my camera bag and I’m using a walking stick for support. Wearing gardening gloves, a solid pair of walking boots and lightweight cotton clothing, I feel like some sort of adventurous Monty Don. After an hour of walking up the slope, climbing higher into this ‘other worldly’ forest we suddenly stop. The ranger turns off the path and into the forest, beckoning me to follow. I take this new path, avoiding the spikeladen branches and break through to a small stream. On the other side of this stream is a small rise and it’s here that I’m told the gorillas are close and I must now only take what I need. My porter and my bag must stay behind. I grab my camera and proceed through the thick scrub that lays before me.

That’s the moment my world changes forever – I’m only metres away from a female mountain gorilla nursing her young. I don’t take any photos. I simply stand and stare. It’s only as my guide points to my side I realise I’m accompanied by a young male, and just beyond him is the silverback. I finally remember to take a few photos here and there, but for the most part I’m too emotional to move. A toddler approaches me, working its way along a tree trunk and reaches out. I’m not allowed to touch it and I keep moving away until we’re only a couple of metres from one another. I feel tears running down my cheek. I know I will never be able to explain this moment and there’s no need to. You just have to experience it for yourself.

Of course, there’s so much more to Uganda. The chimpanzees of Kibale Forest, tree-climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the shoebills of Mabamba Swamp are all notable highlights. In fact, we have combined all these incredible wildlife encounters on our new dedicated photography trip. You can join me for a unique wildlife photography tour that will allow you to make the most of these remarkable opportunities.

Join Bret on our Uganda Wildlife Photo Safari. To find out more or to book, contact our expert team.