Are you a film maker? Do you want to film mountain gorillas in Uganda? Whereas tourists are able to record gorilla videos while on their gorillas trekking safaris in Uganda using their cameras, there is need to go extra mile to par take filming safaris to encounter these giant apes in Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Southwestern Uganda and take a video shooting in the few thick tropical rain forests that Africa still has. Traveling for gorilla filming safaris needs you to work with the two varied Government bodies which include the National Forest Authority which manages and conserves Uganda’s Natural Forest and the Uganda Wildlife Authority which is responsible for conservation of the mountain gorillas and they issue the Gorilla permit and also the filming pass. Gorilla filming in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park attracts professionals, individuals, TV production companies and film crews and many more. Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park is home to over 480 gorillas making them the best destinations for filming safaris for TV’s filming crews for companies, documentary companies and individual film crews and others.
Categories of filming in Uganda
Commercial filming, which is conducted by gorilla enthusiasts and usually one to five crew members are allowed and the Uganda Wildlife Authority issues permits at $600 per day, this is also the normal trek. The other category is marketing filming which costs $4000 per day excluding gorilla permits. Note that gorilla filming in Uganda need you to have a gorilla permit on top of the paying $4000 for filming experiences. You will also be required to pay the 5 percent of the sum filming cost which is charged by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Refund, after the gorilla filming activity is complete and a copy of the CD is given to UWA, refundable fee of $1000 is paid back to you from the amount paid for the activity. For amazing filming safaris, our reliable and authorized travel company to help you organize your adventures appropriately in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park which offers refuge to half of the world’s mountain gorillas that still thrive. The shortest safaris for filming adventures can be three days. You may also need media cards, clearing your filming equipment into Uganda via customs, booking accommodation and transport. TV crews, international journalists, individuals and photographers will all need media cards and some body to clear their filming and photography equipment’s at Entebbe International Airport.
In order for you to book a gorilla filming safari, you will have to secure all the eight trekking permits that are meant for that day’s gorilla group. This means, the number of people who will be traveling with you on filming tours doesn’t matter in anyway. After purchasing all the 8 permits, you will pay the filming fees. You will need to obtain the permits in advance at least four months before the actual filming date. The mountain gorillas live in families led by a dominant male silverback gorilla who is the head of the group and leads members on the daily operations. The filming adventure permits tourists only one family unless your group is separated into 2 groups with the other crew filming a distinct group. The maximum of one hour is always given to visitors to spend with gorillas and it will enough for you to get all the captions and understand the behavior if these endangered apes in their natural habitat. The search may take about one to six or more hours depending on the speed of visitors, gorilla group that will be allocated to you and nature of terrain. However, if you have heavy luggage, there are porters around the park headquarters for you to hire to help relieve you from the heavy load. These porters were once poachers but understood the value of conserving these endangered species, therefore your support to them is highly appreciated as it will greatly impact on their lives.
If you are interested in Gorilla Habituation Experience, permits are purchased at $1500 and visitors spend four hours with a gorilla group. The difference between filming and the rest of adventures is that visitors get exposed to semi habituated mountain gorillas that are still undergoing habituation process unlike the usual gorilla trekking that takes visitors to fully habituated gorilla groups.
In conclusion, gorilla filming safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the sought after adventures that reward efforts with life time experiences. However, a trek to film these endangered apes, is strenuous and requires some physical wellness in you. Enjoy your safaris!