My life is an incredible adventure that has taken me down some very exciting and extraordinary paths. I have been fortunate to be able to follow my passions in life. This has been a challenge, and at times a difficult road, but worth it in unimaginable ways. A life with tigers and lions has been a dream of mine since I was a child. My work with the big cats eventually led me to wildlife conservation in East Africa. Currently, I am working for the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda. In 1998, the sanctuary was founded by Dr. Jane Goodall and a group of founding trustees. This website is an account of my journey.
To learn more about my collaborative NFT project with Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda, visit NFT.ChrisAustria.com. A portion of sales from the chimp NFTs goes towards the feeding and veterinary care of the orphaned great apes. You will also receive a signed print that you can frame and hang on the wall. This handsome chimp is “Eddie” and one of my favorite great apes here. Eddie was rescued from a circus. Ngamba Island is home to 52 chimpanzees that have been rescued from the illegal wildlife and bushmeat trade..To learn more about their work, visit NgambaIsland.org.
I’m excited to be photographing so many talented fashion designers here in Kampala, Uganda. This stunning dress is modelled and designed by Juan Harriet. Her dresses are so unique and she selects gorgeous fabrics.
This is a beautiful vervet monkey that I photographed in western Uganda. To see more of my digital paintings NFTs, visit NFT.ChrisAustria.com. When you purchase an NFT, it comes with a signed physical print.
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I love lion moms. They are so caring and protective over their offspring. This gorgeous lioness killed a zebra and was waiting patiently for her cubs to come over for breakfast. She wouldn’t let them out of her site. I photographed her in Kidepo Valley, Karamoja in the northeast region of Uganda.
I’m always ecstatic when I see the northern red bishop. They are one of may favorite birds with their intensely bright colors. I spotted this beauty in Kibuye, the western region of Rwanda.
This humongous elephant approached me at a close distance while I was photographing him. It was an epic experience. He was near the roadside of Queen Elizabeth National Park in […]
This was a beautiful moment photographing a female lion and her young cub. My travel clients and I encountered these big cats in Kidepo Valley in the Karamoja region of […]
While sheltering in place, I focused my time on expanding my creativity. The process of digitally painting my photographs was a fantastic experience, and helped me get through these challenging […]
Chris Austria Productions is filming a documentary on the work of Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. Her organization provides effective programs to protect the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda, and to assist […]
I am professional photographer, videographer, and the CEO of Chris Austria Safaris Ltd. in Uganda. Before moving to this beautiful country, I lived in Ethiopia, and Rwanda. My travel company offers customized wildlife, cultural, and photographic safaris in Uganda, and Rwanda. I’m very passionate about sharing the stunning beauty, culture, people, fashion, food and wildlife from the Pearl Of Africa.
When I lived in the US, I worked with tigers, lions, and other animals for many years at Six Flags in Vallejo, CA and the San Francisco Zoo. This rewarding career inspired me to focus my energies towards wildlife conservation, tourism, and protecting endangered species. To see more of my work, visit ChrisAustriaSafaris.com, and ChrisAustriaPhotography.com
Chris Austria 