Today, we rise early to explore the famed Mbamba Swamp and search for the myriad of birdlife which calls this remarkable area, home.

Located close to Entebbe, on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, this prime wetland birding site is synonymous for Uganda's most sought after bird, the Shoebill stork.

Birding in Mabamba swamp is done from a motorised wooden boat by riding through a maze of trails which cut through the thick marshes of papyrus, water lilies and mangrove trees. Have your binoculars ready!

The swamp is not only home to the almost prehistoric looking Shoebill, it is host to over 300 bird species such as; African Fish Eagle, Purple Swamphen, African Green Pigeon, African Jacana, African Marsh Harrier, African Pigmy Goose, Black Crake, Black Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-headed Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Blue Swallow, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Malachite Kingfisher, Shining blue kingfisher... to name just a few... And from October to March, the wetland also hosts huge flocks of migrants.

After the morning's excursion, we'll return to the Boma Guest House, pick up any last minute necessities we might need for the coming adventure and then head to one of Alex's favourite spots for dinner, Two Friends Beach Restaurant and Bar, located on the shores of Lake Victoria. Their tilapia wrapped and steamed in banana leaves is simply wonderful!

Accommodation: Boma Guest Lodge, Entebbe. Bed & breakfast.

Today, we rise early to catch our internal flight from Entebbe northwards to Kibale National Park - a stunning stronghold for chimpanzees in this corner of East Africa.

We'll arrive in time for lunch at our home for the next two nights, Turaco Treetops located in lush forest on the boundaries of Kibale National Park. However, the rest of the day is not about relaxation - it's time to lace up your walking shoes as we head to the ranger station and take a walk on the wild side with our first primate trekking experience.

Under the expert guidance of local rangers and trackers, we'll explore the jungle rainforest in search of chimpanzees, our closest living relative (along with bonobos). Once we locate a troop of chimpanzees, we'll have one hour (or slightly more) to spend in their company as they go about their daily lives, being mesmerised by their behaviour and getting your first images of wild chimpanzees in their natural environment!

Once we return to Turaco Treetops and have cleaned up, we'll have time to sift, talk through our images as a group - think of it as an informal editing and critique session. 

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops, Kibale. Full board.

Day four sees us rising early again for our second chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest. This time, we're going further off the beaten track and joining a team of researchers as we track a troop of chimpanzees who are being habituated to human presence and are the subject of ongoing behavioural research.

It will be a much longer experience than the previous day's trek, we'll take a packed lunch with us as we will more than likely be spending most of the day in the forest. We will be afforded the opportunity to spend up to four to five hours with the chimpanzees that we come across. This extended time will be invaluable in helping us capture many images with the aim of encapsulating their behaviours, mannerisms and characters.

After our time with the chimpanzees is over, we'll leave the jungle forest, returning to Turaco Treetops for more photography conversations and dinner.

In between chimpanzee trekking activities, there will be decent time to explore the gardens and paths around our lodge to look for the brightly coloured birds of the Kibale region.

Accommodation: Turaco Treetops, Kibale. Full board.

Today sees a day of travel by road (around five to six hours) - I have chosen to travel by road rather than air so that you can see the beautiful Ugandan countryside as we pass by volcanic crater lakes, tea, coffee and banana plantations and through vibrant communities.

We'll even pass over the Equator, giving you an opportunity for a lovely photo of you with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern!

Our destination is Buhoma, a lively little community which sits on the fringes of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - home of the magnificent mountain gorillas.

Your home for the next four nights is at one of my favourite lodges in East Africa - Buhoma Lodge. Once you settle in to your chalet and look from your private balcony, you'll soon see why as the impressive Bwindi Forest stretches out in front of you as far as the eye can see. This lodge is all about location, location, location!

Your comfortable treehouse chalet is built into the hillside and the rest of the sustainably built lodge is cosy with good food, an open lounge area with open fires. And with one complimentary spa treatment included in your stay - what a perfect place for unwinding after a day's gorilla trekking. 

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma - Bwindi. Full board.

This morning, we rise early again for the first of our scheduled mountain gorilla treks. 

As you step out of your chalet with the views of Bwindi stretching before you, monkeys calling and cacophony of birdsong from deep within the jungle and perhaps a low mist rising from the tree canopy, I'm certain you will have a wonderful sense of excitement for your upcoming trek into the home of the gorillas.

Accompanied by expert trackers and local guards/rangers - we'll trek through the impenetrable jungle forest, searching for the gorillas. Once located, we'll be allowed to spend up to one hour in their company (sometimes this does run  over). 

Gorilla treks vary in length and difficulty, depending on which family group we have been allocated. Some treks can take up to six hours, some may only take three. But don't let the potential of a longer hike deter you. First, the entire trekking group moves at a pace that everyone is comfortable with. No one is left behind. Secondly, there are porters available to help you if the going gets difficult. 

Thirdly, the reward. whether it’s their similarities to us as humans, or the barrier-less interactions with such powerful and intelligent creatures, this is a wildlife encounter that will stay with you for a very long time. Perhaps it's trekking through pristine jungle forest, the post-hike endorphins, or a combination of all the above? This a wildlife experience that I could not speak more highly of.

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge, Buhome - Bwindi. Full board.

Today gives us the opportunity to join an expert local birding guide in the morning as we head into forest to look for some of the mesmerising birds of Bwindi Forest.

The Buhoma region of Bwindi Forest is famously known for harbouring endangered mountain gorillas but it is a top birding destination in its own right with over 360 recoded species. 

Accompanied by a local expert birding guide, we'll follow paths through the forest to go in search of species such as; double-toothed barbet, pink footed puffback, dusky flycatcher, ross's turaco, pygmy kingfisher, black beet eater, olive pigeon, cassins flycatcher, paradise fly catcher... to name just a few.

After our birding experience, we'll return back to our lodge and take a steady stroll to Ride4 A Woman in the heart of the Buhoma community. Here you'll learn all about this fantastic project which helps support local women struggling at home with issues associated with HIV, domestic violence and poverty. The project empowers them, teaching new skills, enabling them to make a living, making it possible for their children to gain an education. For more information, click here

An optional afternoon birding trek is also available should you wish to explore further.

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge, Buhoma - Bwindi. Full board.

I believe that time in the field is crucial when capturing engaging wildlife images and that is why there is a second gorilla trek crafted into the itinerary. And today sees us heading back in to the jungle rainforest to spend more valuable time with these fuzzy black titans.

We will more than likely be tracking a different group of gorillas from the first so you will have the opportunity to craft a more diverse portfolio of individuals as well as refining the style of images you are looking to capture. 

After all the primate experiences, we'll have time to sit together as a group, look through our images and talk through editing techniques - all in aid of helping you craft a thoughtful portfolio of images captured whilst spending time with the wildlife of Uganda.

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge - Buhoma, Bwindi. Full board

Day nine sees us not having to get up too early to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge before heading by road to Kihili airstrip. From here we will take the scenic flight back to Entebbe International Airport and your journey home, or onwards to another destination.

No doubt you'll leave Uganda with a huge sense of appreciation for all the wildlife you have encountered, people you've met, new friends made and a longing to return to Africa and explore more of the majesty she holds in abundance.

To help plan your international flights home, we'll arrive in Entebbe between 11h30 - 12h00. Should your international flight not leave until later in the day and you want to freshen up, I can organise a day room for you at a comfortable hotel or guesthouse close to the airport.