Uganda, known as the "Pearl of Africa," boasts rich and diverse wildlife thanks to its unique combination of tropical rainforests, vast savannas and large lakes. It is particularly famous for being home to half of the world's mountain gorilla population, as well as chimpanzees, elephants, hippos, an abundance of bird species and a wide variety of other wildlife.
The Habinyanja gorilla family crosses the stream and drinks from it
(Credit: Amir Hakakian)
While the travelers hoped to experience as much of this natural wealth as possible, the MW Photo Tours expedition, led by Israeli nature photographer Matan Sharon, was built around one clear central goal: encountering mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in one of the world's wildest and most fascinating regions — Bwindi Forest, a spectacular high-altitude mountainous area surrounded by green tea plantations and eucalyptus trees.
The word "Bwindi" in the local language means a place of darkness, a name that aptly describes the dense forest canopy, which prevents sunlight from penetrating. After a morning briefing, the group set out on a challenging, steep trek up the mountain, accompanied by a 13-member local team that included armed rangers, Uganda Wildlife Authority officials, trackers and porters.
Mountain gorilla in Bwindi Forest
(Photo: Amit Meir)
Uganda's Bwindi rainforest
(Photo: Matan Sharon)
After about four and a half hours of hiking through dense tropical vegetation, the group finally made contact with the Habinyanja gorilla family, led by a silverback named Kabuyo. But alongside the thrilling encounter, something fascinating and relatively rare occurred. The family members descended together to a flowing stream, crossed the water and stopped to drink directly from it.
"Mountain gorillas are known to get all the moisture their bodies need from a diet rich in leaves, succulent grasses and moist stems, so they do not routinely drink from open water sources," Sharon explained.
Dr. Dian Fossey, the American primatologist who devoted many years to studying mountain gorillas in the rainforests, documented in her books and research that gorillas are reluctant to come into direct contact with running water and almost never drink from streams. Watching Kabuyo and his family drink from the stream was therefore a rare and exciting observation of highly unusual behavior.
The team included Nofar Mei-Ron, Amir Hakakian, Nati Diamant, Gil Bachar, Max Bikhovsky and Amit Meir. They arrived full of anticipation and prepared for the physical challenges posed by the mountainous, densely vegetated terrain — characteristic of expeditions led by Sharon, which focus on wilderness photography, wildlife and exploring some of the planet's most extreme landscapes.
The journey in search of Uganda's mountain gorillas
(Credit: Matan Sharon)
Mountain gorilla climbing a tree in Bwindi Forest
(Photo: Nofar Mei-Ron)
Members of the Israeli team, led by nature photographer Matan Sharon, with the local team that accompanied them in Uganda
(Photo: Matan Sharon)
The encounter with the gorillas was the highlight of the expedition, which was held in cooperation with Magma Journeys Worldwide. The team's first stop was the Mabamba Swamp, near the city of Entebbe. A quiet ride in local canoes through dense papyrus vegetation brought them face to face with the shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), a unique waterbird and ancient-looking creature whose appearance evokes a dinosaur from another world.
"Its enormous bill allows it to hunt large lungfish in shallow water," Sharon explained. "The shoebill stood completely motionless for hours, waiting patiently and intently for the precise moment to strike. Seeing it in its natural habitat was how our journey began."
From the Mabamba Swamp, the group took a domestic flight to the Kazinga Channel. A boat ride along the channel, which connects Lake George and Lake Edward, brought them into contact with an abundance of wildlife along the water's edge.
"Dozens of hippos crowded together in the cool water, elephants came down to the water's edge to cool off, large Nile crocodiles rested in the heat of the day on the sandy banks and an enormous variety of waterbirds and birds of prey filled the skies and treetops around the channel," Sharon said.
Shoebill
(Photo: Matan Sharon)
Hippo spotted during the Uganda expedition
(Photo: Gil Bachar)
African forest elephants spotted during the Uganda expedition
(Photo: Nati Diamant)
After documenting the gorillas drinking in the dense Bwindi Forest, the expedition continued to Kibale Forest, the natural habitat of chimpanzee populations. As the group ventured deeper into the forest, they witnessed an interesting behavioral scene. An adult male chimpanzee sat alone on the ground, serving as a guard, while the rest of the group remained high in the treetops, eating fruit and resting.
"The role of a sentinel is well known among primate researchers, with an adult remaining on the ground to monitor activity, scan the surroundings and warn of danger while the rest of the group is occupied high in the forest canopy," Sharon said.
The next stop was Murchison Falls National Park, characterized by vast open savannas rich in local wildlife, with the falls themselves as the main attraction. At this unique spot, the mighty Nile River is forced with tremendous power through a narrow rocky gorge before plunging into the churning pool below.
Chimpanzee looking toward the forest canopy in Uganda
(Photo: Amit Meir)
Murchison Falls National Park
(Photo: Max Bikhovsky)
At Murchison Falls, the mighty Nile River is forced through a rocky gorge just 7 meters (23 feet) wide before plunging powerfully into the turbulent pool below.
Alongside the encounters with wildlife, the most emotional moment of the entire expedition took place on the banks of the Nile River.
Amir Hakakian and Nofar Mei-Ron after the marriage proposalPhoto: Matan Sharon"As sunset approached, with the water flowing before them and surrounded by the tranquility of nature, Amir surprised Nofar with an emotional marriage proposal," Sharon said. "The complete surprise quickly turned into a celebration for the entire group, with a joyful party on the riverbank that continued into the evening. The combination of pristine natural scenery, extraordinary wildlife sightings and human connection made the journey through Uganda an unforgettable experience."