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Photography Tips for Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking is a rare chance to take some of the best photos in the world. Below are some tips that will help you take amazing pictures during your gorilla trekking trip.

Preparing your Gear

  • Camera Body: A DSLR or mirrorless camera with good low-light performance is ideal, as the forest can be quite dim.
  • Lenses: A zoom lens (70-200mm or 100-400mm) is essential for capturing close-ups without getting too close. A wide-angle lens can also be useful for scenic shots.
  • Spare Batteries and Memory Cards: Bring extras as you’ll be shooting extensively.
  • Rain Cover: Sudden rain showers are common in the rainforest, so protect your gear with a rain cover or waterproof bag.

Camera Settings

  • ISO: Use a higher ISO setting to compensate for low light but be mindful of noise. Modern cameras handle ISO 800-1600 well.
  • Shutter Speed: Aim for a shutter speed of at least 1/250s to freeze movement. Increase this if gorillas are active.
  • Aperture: A wider aperture (f/2.8 - f/5.6) allows more light but be aware of depth of field. Adjust as needed for group shots.
  • Burst Mode: Enable continuous shooting to capture multiple frames of fast-moving gorillas.

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Techniques for Better Shots

  • Stabilisation: Use a monopod or image stabilisation feature to reduce blur from hand movement.
  • Focus on the Eyes: Eyes convey emotion and are the most compelling part of wildlife portraits.
  • Natural Light: Utilise the natural light filtering through the canopy. Position yourself to have the light behind you for well-lit subjects.
  • Patience and Silence: Stay quiet and patient. Observe gorillas’ behaviour and wait for the right moment to shoot.

Ethical Photography

  • Keep Your Distance: Keep at least 7 meters away to avoid disturbing the gorillas and reducing the risk of disease transmission.
  • No Flash: Flash can startle the gorillas and disrupt their natural behavior. Ensure your flash is turned off.
  • Respect the Guides: Follow the instructions of your guides regarding photography. They know the best practices for both your safety and the gorillas’ well-being.

For any photographer, gorilla trekking is an exhilarating experience with great rewards. Incredible animal stories can be told through stunning images captured using correct preparation, equipment and skills necessary for this kind of adventure. Be sure to always photograph responsibly and respect the natural environment.

Gorilla Trekking Safaris

CAR Isak Pretorias

Dzanga Sangha Gorilla Tracking Safari

Track endangered western lowland gorillas, observe forest elephants, bongos, and mangabey monkeys, and join the local Ba'Aka tribe on a net hunt in the dense rainforests of the Dzanga Sangha reserve. Journey to the rainforests of the remote Dzanga Sangha Reserve on this pioneering safari to the Central African Republic. Dzanga Sangha is one of the few places in the world where you can track habituated western lowland gorillas, and is also home to forest elephants and the elusive bongo antelope. Join the local Ba’Aka people as they hunt and gather medicinal herbs, and trek through pristine rainforest in search of colourful birdlife and mangabey monkeys. Staying in the comfortable yet basic Sangha Lodge, this safari is perfect for adventurous travellers hoping to get off the beaten track for incredible wildlife experiences.


From 10345 per person
St Uganda Mountain Gorilla Shutterstock Photocechcz

9 Day Western Lowland Gorilla & Bai Safari

Located in the north-west region of the Republic of the Congo, discover two unique camps inside the pristine Odzala-Kokoua National Park, and a third on a private concession bordering the national park. This is a lowland rainforest characterised by a network of bais, rivers, marshes and swamps. This vast and truly wild region, with its wide range of landscapes and habitat, is home to an incredible diversity of life. Forest elephant, leopard, bongo, forest buffalo, giant forest hog and hippo live alongside the greatest density of western lowland gorilla in Africa.

From 15205 per person
RWA Rwanda Gorilla Richard Denyer

Short Gorilla Tracking Safari

Nothing can prepare you for it. The moment you first encounter a mountain gorilla nestled in the midst of the verdant Rwandan thicket. As soon as you step foot in the legendary Virunga Mountains, there’s a palpable sense of interconnectedness, rippling from the land, to the wildlife, to the people.

From 11500 per person
RWA Cl Rwanda July Gorilla Sideview Credit Richard Denyer

Luxury Complete Rwanda Safari

The opportunity to visit Rwanda's three main wildlife hotspots whilst staying in the most luxurious accomodation and transferring vy helicopter, from tracking the world famouns mountain gorilla and meeting the doctors of the mountain gorilla vetinary project, to tracking the cheeky chimpanzee in Nyungwe and searching for a multitude of wildlfie on game drives in Akagera National Park.

From 39000 per person