Best lens to photograph mountain gorillas

What is the best lens to photograph mountain gorillas is a question I get regularly asked by people coming on my mountain gorilla holidays. I partner with Gorilla Doctors for these and we’ll have supper with one of the vets the evening before our gorilla encounter. Unless there’s an emergency somewhere the vet will also accompany us to see the gorillas.

And the quick answer is very easy … drum roll … a 70-200 F2.8 lens is my first choice. It has the perfect focal range and the fast aperture comes into its own if the light is poor. My personal option is to use the new Nikon F-mount model of this lens on a Nikon Z9 body which allows me to shoot at an incredibly high ISO if I need to. So job done ? Well not quite …

What is the experience like when you track mountain gorillas ?

Every mountain gorilla encounter is utterly unique which is one of the factors that makes this such a great wildlife experience. When you find the gorilla group that you have permits for, you’ll get exactly one hour in their company. Unless you spend much more money and buy a habituation permit. These aren’t true habituation experiences – I’ve been out with a team of gorilla habituation rangers and it usually takes three years but can take over five. Basically they have to win the trust of the silverbacks by getting them to charge and then beating the ground with sticks and immediately retreating. Do that every day for a few years and the Silverbacks can’t be bothered to play the game anymore. You obviously can’t get remotely close to the gorillas until they’ve accepted the odd humans that come and stare at them every day. So the four hour ‘habituation’ permits are for a group of gorillas already completely habituated. As they are so expensive often the group size will be fewer than six people and having four hours in their company is an honour.

Best technique to photograph mountain gorillas

Along with most of my wildlife photography my camera is set up as follows: 1) Full manual mode 2) Auto ISO set to on 3) Back button focusing. This gives you full creative control of both your shutter speed and aperture while using the camera’s light meter to set the ISO. For mountain gorilla photography this really comes into its own. If a gorilla is in complete shade, the camera will choose a high ISO but if it then moves into sunlight it will instantly reduce the ISO much lower. I use animal eye detection focus but occasionally this can hunt with a dark animal so I’ve programmed one of my function buttons on the front of my Z9 to override this and allow me to move my focus point manually as and when needed.

Keep an eye on your exposure compensation

When photographing mountain gorillas I use exposure compensation more than with any other wildlife encounters apart from chimpanzees. Your camera is trying to meter the light for a very dark ape in changing light. Often – but not always – your shots will be overexposed and my exposure compensation can sometimes be as low as minus 3 to avoid this. But find the gorillas back lit and you’ll need positive exposure compensation. Basically keep a constant eye on your exposure before shooting a whole sequence of photos. With mirrorless cameras, what you see is what you get so there’s no excuse for over exposure. 

What other lenses are useful for mountain gorilla photography ?

I take two cameras with my second body having either a Nikon 12-24mm wide angle lens or a Nikon 24 to 120mm lens depending on my mood. Although in your briefing you’ll be told to keep at least 7 metres away from mountain gorillas this is rarely possible in reality. If a Silverback charges for example you have to hold your ground and at other times it’s not uncommon for baby gorillas to walk right by you. The video clips below will give you a better idea of how varied the encounter can be.  I like the combination of having a wider lens with me in case this happens. Some people also like a 24-70mm for middle distance encounters and some even use a fast 300mm for longer shots. Having two camera bodies and lenses with you can be cumbersome and if you are trying to move through dense forest if you have to follow the gorillas it’s easy to get snagged on branches. My advice for your first ever mountain gorilla encounter is to just take one body with a 70-200mm 2.8 lens and enjoy the experience. 

Which of Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC is best to see mountain gorillas ?

Currently due to instability the DRC is closed for mountain gorilla tracking leaving Rwanda and Uganda as the only places. Having spent many months in both countries my personal preference by a huge magnitude is Uganda. The biodiversity in Uganda is in a different league to Rwanda and as an added bonus the gorilla permits are also far cheaper.

Something to keep your camera dry is vital

The clue is in the name mountain gorillas. These great apes live in high forest which gets plenty of rainfall and you should be prepared for rain at any time of year. Something to keep your camera (and camera bag) dry is essential, even if you set off in glorious sunshine.

What’s the walk like to see mountain gorillas ?

This all depends on what part of their range the gorillas are in on the day that you go to see them. I’ve seen mountain gorillas many times now and every encounter is different. One time they were only about a half hour walk away which was really disappointing. The forest where these great apes live is so special and it’s nice to be able to have a decent walk in it. When they were that close we were back at the lodge before midday so I went for a four hour walk in the forest in the afternoon – you have to be accompanied by a ranger. On average I’ d say we normally walk between two and three hours to find them. This will usually be up hill but there’s no need to rush. On my mountain gorilla holidays we always put the slowest person at the front of the group for the walk and then they set the pace. There really is no hurry as every step in these gorgeous forests is to be savoured. It’s highly unusual that you’ll suddenly come across mountain gorillas. When you arrive near to the gorillas, the trackers will meet you and they’ll be a final short briefing. You’ll leave all of your possessions with them apart from your camera. It’s scenically beautiful on the walks with waterfalls, trees, mosses and ferns so I usually walk up there with just one camera out of my camera bag with either a wide angle lens or macro lens which I decide by spinning a coin over breakfast at the lodge. 

Please use a porter

Every morning at your briefing a number of people will gather from local villages, many of them having walked a few hours to get there. I like carrying my own camera bag as it’s good for fitness but I always hire a porter. It will cost you $20 but you are welcome to give them more and you’ll get to know them on the walk. If everyone who books a mountain gorilla trek doesn’t hire a porter some miss out and then could wait three weeks for their next chance. Even if you have a tiny camera or are just using a phone, your lodge will have provided you with a lunch box so you’ll still need a small day bag. If you’re a couple with only one day bag between you please still hire two porters. I’m not joking.

Don’t worry, be happy

I hear so much about people having sleepless nights the evening before their gorilla trek as the fear of the walk is hyped up by generic guidebooks and articles. Most African people assume that white people are really unfit which is often unfortunately true by African standards. Ever wondered why Covid was savage in America and of so little concern in Africa ? The clue is obesity and poor diet. I’ve asked the lodges I take my guests to in Uganda to stop saying how hard the trek will be when people arrive. The briefings in the morning before your gorilla trek are also a lot better these days. They used to regularly talk about how hard it’s going to be and that you’ll have no idea where you are heading. Every mountain gorilla group is carefully monitored and they know exactly where they nested the night before and will then follow them in the morning. This information is passed on by walkie talkie to your main guide. Please never worry about the trek. You’ll walk so very slowly and stop so much which is good as these forests are utterly gorgeous. This a wildlife experience that should make you tingle with excitement of what lies ahead.

What footwear ?

The most important feature is a good grip as it can be slippery underfoot when wet. Sneakers, trainers, walking boots etc are all perfect.

Mountain gorilla encounter video clips

Below are a couple of video clips from some of my mountain gorilla encounters which might give you more of a visual idea of what this wildlife encounter can be like.