How to Photograph Gorillas and Elephants

Wildlife photography is not just about capturing images; it’s about capturing emotion, connection, and the untamed beauty of the natural world. Few creatures embody this essence more profoundly than gorillas and elephants — two of Africa’s most majestic and intelligent species. Both animals exude power and tenderness, complexity and calm, and photographing them is as much a spiritual experience as it is a technical one.

Whether you’re trekking deep into the rainforests of Uganda or Rwanda to meet a gorilla family, or watching a herd of elephants march across the Serengeti plains at sunset, photographing these giants requires patience, respect, and preparation. This guide explores how to make the most of your encounters — from camera settings and composition to ethics and emotional storytelling — ensuring that every frame does justice to these magnificent animals.

Understanding Your Subjects

Before you even lift your camera, understanding your subject — their behavior, habitat, and body language — is key to capturing meaningful photographs.

Gorillas: The Gentle Giants of the Forest

Gorillas are among the most emotionally expressive creatures on Earth. Found mainly in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, these primates live in close-knit families led by a dominant silverback.

Gorillas communicate through subtle gestures, grunts, and eye contact. They are generally calm, but sensitive to human behavior. When photographing gorillas, remember: you are in their home. Respect their space and allow your presence to blend quietly into their world.

Elephants: The Wise Matriarchs of the Savannah

Elephants, on the other hand, roam the open savannahs of Kenya’s Amboseli, Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Tanzania’s Tarangire and Serengeti. They are social, intelligent, and highly emotional animals, known for their family bonds and matriarchal structures.

Their movements — slow, deliberate, and powerful — offer incredible opportunities for storytelling through your lens. From the tenderness of a mother touching her calf with her trunk to the grandeur of a bull raising dust at sunset, elephants are living poetry in motion.

Essential Gear for Gorilla and Elephant Photography

Your camera gear can make a world of difference when photographing wildlife, especially in varying environments like dense rainforests and open savannahs.

1. Camera Body

A DSLR or mirrorless camera with fast autofocus and good low-light performance is ideal. Models like the Canon R5, Nikon Z7II, or Sony A7R series offer excellent image quality and high dynamic range.

2. Lenses

• For gorillas, a 24–70mm or 70–200mm zoom lens is perfect. You’ll often be close (7–10 meters), and wider lenses help include their environment and group interactions.

• For elephants, a 100–400mm or 200–600mm telephoto zoom works best. Elephants move across vast landscapes, and these lenses let you capture distant herds without intruding.

3. Accessories

• Extra batteries and memory cards: Gorilla treks can last hours, and charging options in the bush are limited.

• Lens cloths or wipes: Forest humidity and savannah dust can affect clarity.

• Rain cover: Especially for gorilla trekking, sudden tropical showers are common.

• Beanbag or monopod: Helpful for stabilizing your camera on safari vehicles or uneven terrain.

4. Camera Settings

• Shutter speed: Use 1/500s or faster to freeze movement. For gorillas grooming or elephants flapping ears, faster speeds (1/1000s) are best.

• Aperture: A wider aperture (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates your subject and creates beautiful background blur.

• ISO: In gorilla habitats, where light is dim, you may need ISO 1600–3200. On open plains, ISO 200–400 is usually sufficient.

• Focus mode: Use continuous autofocus (AI Servo/AF-C) to track moving subjects.

Techniques for Photographing Gorillas

Photographing gorillas is unlike any other wildlife experience. You’re often on foot, in dense vegetation, and limited to just one hour of observation per trek. Every moment counts.

1. Follow the Ranger’s Lead

Guides and trackers play a crucial role — they know the gorillas’ moods and behaviors. Always follow their instructions for positioning and distance. Typically, visitors must stay at least 7 meters (21 feet) away, though gorillas sometimes approach closer out of curiosity.

2. Keep Movements Slow and Non-Intrusive

Sudden movements or loud sounds can startle the gorillas. Move slowly, speak softly (if at all), and maintain calm eye contact without staring aggressively. The goal is to make the gorillas forget you’re there.

3. Use Natural Light

Flash photography is strictly prohibited during gorilla trekking as it can distress the animals. Work with available light filtering through the canopy. Adjust your ISO and aperture to handle dim forest conditions.

4. Capture Emotions and Connections

The most powerful gorilla images convey emotion — a mother nursing her infant, a juvenile playing with vines, or the wise gaze of a silverback. Wait for moments of interaction. Compositionally, focus on the eyes; they’re the soul of the image.

5. Tell a Story

Don’t just shoot portraits. Include context — the forest setting, the texture of foliage, or fellow gorillas in the frame. Wide-angle shots can emphasize the intimacy of the family group within their jungle home.

6. Protect Your Gear

The forest can be muddy, humid, and steep. Use a waterproof backpack or dry bag. Keep your camera ready but secured with a strap, as both hands may be needed for balance.

Techniques for Photographing Elephants

Unlike gorillas, elephants are usually photographed from safari vehicles or on foot (in some conservancies). They offer endless creative opportunities — from grand landscapes to close-up details.

1. Understand the Herd’s Behavior

Elephants are intelligent and emotional. Watch for patterns — how they feed, interact, and move. Never block their path or separate them, especially when calves are present.

If an elephant flaps its ears, raises its trunk, or trumpets loudly, it may feel threatened. Stay calm and give them space. Patience and respect yield the most natural photos.

2. Play with Scale

Elephants are massive creatures that dominate their environment. Use wide-angle lenses to capture their scale against vast landscapes or other animals. Positioning them under dramatic skies or near acacia trees emphasizes their grandeur.

3. Capture Golden Hour Light

The soft light of dawn and dusk transforms elephant photography. At sunrise, mist and dust create magical tones; at sunset, elephants glow like molten bronze against the horizon. These hours also coincide with their most active periods.

4. Focus on Family and Emotion

Elephants are deeply social — mothers, calves, and siblings stay close. Photograph moments of affection: trunks intertwined, babies learning to drink, or a matriarch leading her herd. These intimate interactions tell stories of family bonds and wisdom.

5. Highlight Textures and Details

Zoom in on their wrinkled skin, ivory tusks, or expressive eyes. Play with shadows and light to emphasize texture. Black-and-white conversions can create timeless portraits.

6. Frame the Scene

Use natural elements like trees, dust clouds, or reflections in waterholes to compose dynamic frames. Leading lines, like herd trails, can guide the viewer’s eye through your photo.

Ethical Considerations

Great wildlife photography starts with respect — for the animals, the land, and the people who protect them.

• Never bait or disturb animals for a better shot.

• Maintain proper distance — especially with gorillas, whose safety and health depend on minimal human contact.

• Avoid flash or artificial lighting. It can disrupt animal behavior and stress them.

• Support conservation-oriented tours and lodges. Responsible tourism funds anti-poaching and habitat protection.

• Leave no trace. Carry back all waste, avoid touching vegetation unnecessarily, and follow park rules diligently.

Remember, the best photographs are born from patience and compassion — not intrusion.

Emotional Storytelling Through Photography

What sets apart a good wildlife photo from a great one is emotion. Both gorillas and elephants are highly sentient beings; their eyes tell stories of intelligence, memory, and kinship. Capture those quiet moments — a gorilla lost in thought, an elephant calf nestling close to its mother.

Compositionally, focus on the eyes and gestures. Use depth of field to isolate subjects from busy backgrounds. Aim for authenticity — not perfection. The slight imperfections, the shadows, and the dust all tell the truth of the wild.

And don’t forget to put your camera down occasionally. Sometimes the most profound connection happens when you’re simply watching — heart open, camera at rest — absorbing the privilege of being there.

Final Thoughts

Photographing gorillas and elephants is about more than creating images. It’s about humility — realizing that we share this planet with beings as complex and emotional as ourselves. Every photo you take can serve as a reminder of their beauty, vulnerability, and importance to the world.

As conservation faces mounting challenges, wildlife photography has a role to play — inspiring awareness and protecting what remains wild. So when you lift your camera, do so with reverence. You’re not just taking a picture; you’re telling a story worth preserving.

Travel With Moreen Tours & Travel

To capture these extraordinary moments responsibly and safely, travel with experts who know the land and its rhythm. Moreen Tours & Travel specializes in immersive safaris and photography tours across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Their guides understand animal behavior, the best lighting conditions, and how to position you for the perfect shot — all while respecting wildlife ethics.

Whether you dream of photographing silverback gorillas in Bwindi, elephants beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, or the sweeping savannahs of the Serengeti, Moreen Tours & Travel will make it happen with care, expertise, and a deep love for Africa’s wild heritage.

With them, every photograph becomes more than an image — it becomes a memory, a connection, and a contribution to conservation.