Join Dr. Alexander Braczkowski, a renowned big cat biologist, wildlife filmmaker, and National Geographic Explorer, for an exclusive Volcanoes Safaris Big Cat Photography Expedition to Uganda in 2025 and 2026.
Dates:
May 9-16, 2025
Oct 23-30, 2025
2026 dates tba
Group size: 6-12
Price: $12,180
With over 15 years of experience studying and documenting large carnivores across Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, Alex brings unparalleled expertise in wildlife photography and guiding to this conservation and photography safari.
You will journey into the heart of two of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations: Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park, and enjoy unparalleled opportunities to photograph some of the world’s most charismatic predators including the remarkable tree-climbing lions. You will also spend an afternoon fishing on the River Nile and trek to a group of isolated chimpanzees living in Kyambura Gorge.
Learn specialist photographic skills during afternoon tutorials at the lodge and put them to practice during early morning and evening game drives in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Parks.
Itinerary: 7 nights (this itinerary can also be done independently - contact us for customized itinerary and adjusted rate.
Day 1
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, where you’ll be greeted by a Volcanoes Safaris representative. Transfer to Hotel No. 5 for check-in. Enjoy drinks and a welcome dinner with Dr. Braczkowski, who will provide an overview of the safari, sharing insights from his extensive research on big cats, including his work on leopards and African lions.
Day 2
After breakfast, transfer to Entebbe Airport for a domestic flight to Pakuba Airstrip in Murchison Falls National Park. On arrival at Nile Safari Lodge, relax and enjoy a light lunch with views over the river.
Nile Safari Lodge offers a magical escape in the most luxurious, tranquil, and eco-friendly setting in Uganda. Explore the breathtaking views of the River Nile every corner of our lodge. Experience the awe-inspiring spectacles on offer on the banks of the world’s longest river and Uganda’s largest national park.
Embark on an afternoon game drive in the Nile Delta, renowned for its high densities of leopards and other predators. Dr. Braczkowski will share findings from his research, which has documented leopard densities reaching 14 individuals per 100 km² in this area. Dinner at the lodge, followed by a presentation from Dr. Braczkowski on predator ecology and conservation strategies in Murchison Falls National Park. Overnight at Nile Safari Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 3
Set out on an early morning game drive focused on tracking big cats. Dr. Braczkowski will provide guidance on eye-level photography techniques, drawing from his experience as a wildlife cameraman and photographer with National Geographic Television and Magazine.
Return to the lodge for an afternoon siesta followed by a specialized photography tutorial session. Dr. Braczkowski will teach off-camera flash techniques to capture stunning images of predators at dusk as part of a Lightroom workshop going through their imagery, discussing composition, and showing critical editing techniques. In the early evening go for a game drive in the park. Overnight at Nile Safari Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 4
Enjoy a morning private boat cruise along the Nile, observing wildlife such as Nile crocodile, hippo elephant, and diverse bird species. Over lunch, join Dr. Braczkowski for a discussion on human-wildlife conflict and conservation strategies, referencing his publication on the unequal burden of such conflicts. Engage in evening an astrophotography session, capturing nocturnal landscapes and, if fortunate, nocturnal wildlife. Overnight at Nile Safari Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 5
Transfer from Nile Safari Lodge to Pakuba Airstrip for a short flight to Kasese. On route to the Kyambura Gorge Lodge, visit the Rwenzori Sculpture Foundation and learn about the cultural partnership with Volcanoes Safaris to support Ugandan Artists. Head out on an afternoon drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park searching for the tree-climbing lions, and maybe even spot a leopard in one of the Kasenyi plains’ unique candelabra trees (a giant cactus like tree where lions and leopards often rest).
Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails on the veranda overlooking the savannah plains with the magnificent Rwenzori Mountains in the distance. Dr Alex, Dr Ludwig Siefert from the Uganda Carnivore Project, and researchers from the Kyambura Lion Monitoring Project will join you to present some of their long term conservation science on lions in the region. Flying time between 1 to 1.5 hours, driving time 2 hours. Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge (lunch, dinner).
Day 6
Enjoy an early breakfast and set out for a morning game drive to find Queen Elizabeth’s legendary tree-climbing lions. The Kasenyi plains are excellent for sighting lions, leopard, elephant and buffalo and Dr Alex and his team will guide guests on specialized photography techniques to get eye-level shots of African lions in the trees. We will be joined by James Kalyewa from the Uganda Carnivore Program and we will track lions on VHF as part of their experiential tourism program. The Mweya peninsula is one of the best places to look for leopards, which live in the dense, scrubby thickets.
You will be joined by a member of the Kyambura Lion Team on your game drive who will teach you how to take lion identification photos and track your GPS, which will form part of an annual carnivore census as part of the Lion Monitoring Project.
On return to the lodge, participate in the Kyambura Gorge Eco-tourism Project. Try roasting coffee with the Kyambura Women’s Coffee Cooperative, go birding in the Kyambura reclaimed wetlands, and plant a tree seedling in the wildlife buffer zone. Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 7
After breakfast walk from the lodge directly down into Kyambura Gorge, to search for the ‘Lost Chimpanzees of Kyambura’. The gorge is an extraordinary natural environment and forms a stark contrast to the surrounding grasslands. Here you can track one of our closest animal relatives: the chimpanzee. This group of isolated chimps are quite mobile and viewing can be unpredictable but the walk itself is exciting and enchanting.
In the afternoon take a cruise on the Kazinga Channel, which flows between Lakes Edward and George. Kazinga is home to one of the greatest concentrations of hippo in Africa and herds of elephant, buffalo and other animals come to drink at the water’s edge. The channel is a magnet for waterbirds, with great flocks of pelicans and others birds on the shore, and a great spot to see African fish eagle. At the end of the cruise head for one final photography session with the tree climbing lions and Alex and his team.
After your boat cruise harvest honey with the Kyambura bee-keeping cooperative, see a performance from the Omumushaka Dance Group, and go on a gorge walk to see birds, monkeys and other wildlife around Kyambura Gorge Lodge. Overnight at Kyambura Gorge Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 8
Transfer from Kyambura Gorge Lodge to Kasese airstrip for your flight to Entebbe and connect to your international flight. Approximate Travel Times: Flying 1 to 2 hours; Driving 1 hour (Breakfast at the lodge)