Gorilla Filming In Buhoma Region
Gorilla Filming In Buhoma Region – Permits & permissions needed to film Gorillas in Buhoma – the best time to go gorilla filming In Buhoma – Getting to Buhoma for your gorilla Filming Project.
Buhoma region is located in the northern part of Bwindi forest national park. It is home to four (04) habituated gorilla families; Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, and the newly habituated Katwe gorilla group. It’s from this list of families that you may decide which one you want to film. Feel free to contact us for guidance on which family to film ( See & read about: The 19 habituated Gorilla families of Bwindi Forest)
Individuals planning to film mountain Gorillas In Buhoma region must secure the following permits and permissions prior to arriving in Buhoma for their shoot.
- Press Accreditation to film in Uganda.
- Location Filming permit to film inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Press Accreditation to film in Uganda
Press Accreditation In Uganda is issued by the Uganda Media council after each individual or crew member fills out FORM G. This form must be accompanied with copies of scanned passport (bios Page) and a recent passport-sized photo to be used in processing your Media card (Press accreditation).
It does take us approximately 02 – 03 working days from the time we receive all the above-mentioned documents to process your media card.
To accompany all the individually filled out FORM G’S for each crew member, the team leader has got to send us a detailed write-up or synopsis of the film you intend to shoot in Uganda.
After all the above is sent through, our Uganda film Crew Fixer Services team leader will then proceed to submit these to the Uganda Media Council for approval. Upon approval, we will then contact and inform you of this achievement.
After securing your Media cards, we will then need to advise and also further assist you in securing all the other necessary permits and permissions all guided by your film Scriptwriter or the Synopsis
Press Accreditation fees in Uganda (Payable to Uganda Media Council)
- a fee of US$175 per person is paid for a period not exceeding 30 days of the journalist’s stay.
- a fee of US$225 per person is paid for a period beyond 30 days up to six months of stay.
- a fee of US$325 per person is paid for a period of two years.
** The fees mentioned above are set and can be amended by the Uganda Media Council without any prior consultation. we, therefore, remind you to treat these as a guide.
Location Permit/ Permission to film Gorillas in Buhoma
Having secured Press accreditation for each individual or crew members, the next permission to worry about is a location permit. For instance, if your filming location of choice is Buhoma Region, and what you intend to film in Buhoma is the mountain Gorillas that live inside Bwindi impenetrable forest a protected area/ national Park, then we have to contact Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) the governing authority for parks in Uganda.
UWA charges 40% filming fee of the activity you intend to film plus a 10% monitoring fee both fees are to be paid to UWA. (see: Gorilla Filming fees 2020/2022)
UWA will draft a filming agreement between you and them upon which you will append signatures in the agreement of the terms therein indicated.
**Realm Africa Safaris™ will assist you all through these processes to the very final point – its what we do best.
UWA Procedures: (**We have no influence on this but can only help you follow up the process on the ground)
Pre-application advice:
- UWA welcomes an initial conversation and/or site visit with filmmakers to discuss the logistics of your request and determine from an early stage what we may and may not be able to achieve. (Realm Africa Safaris™ can assist acting as your representative)
- You should address all your enquiries to the Communications Manager at UWA Headquarters. (Realm Africa Safaris™ can assist acting as your representative)
- After initial discussions with the filmmakers or photographers to agree on activities, a formal application and letter must be submitted.
Fill in an application form (download from the link below) and send:
- Applications should be made using the UWA official application form only. (link provided below)
- UWA will acknowledge receipt of all applications within 24 hours and no later than 48 hours.
- All film requests must be sent in at least 3 weeks prior to the start date of filming/photography.
- All film requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the various sensitivities and other commitments of the protected areas but with a flexible approach aimed at helping, filmmakers/photographers meet their objectives.
Click to download and fill out this UWA Filming & Photography Application form
Other optional services offered by Realm Africa Safaris™
Dealing with the right persons (company) to assist you clear all your filming equipment will help make your shoot a success. Realm Africa Safaris™ can assist in clearing you Filming Kit at any entry point in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda & Rwanda. Among the things we do is assist in temporary importation of filming drones. However, drones being a sensitive subject, we often recommend starting this process a lot earlier. Ample time is the secret to successfully importing a drone in most destinations we fix.
Learn More from our article: Hassle-Free film Kit clearance Services by Realm Africa Safaris™
- Accommodation :
Realm Africa Safaris has a long-standing good working relationship with most hotels, lodges and inns in each of the destinations we fix. We are therefore in a better position to not only recommend but to also find the best rates and also book the accommodation for your film crew if need be.
- Transportation:
Realm Africa Safaris™ operates a fleet of very reliable and purpose suited vehicles for filming. From open-sided jeeps to very basic closed cars including well-suited equipment carriers. We can arrange both your crew and equipment transportation.
Our Filming security services are designed to secure your filming location, and protect your cast, crew, and equipment. Location shooting offers its own unique threats and risks, so we design patrol tours, standing guard placement, and post-order duties to maximize our surveillance and minimize opportunities for theft, trespassing, vandalism, disturbances, and other unwanted activity.
Learn More about our Film crew Security services
Getting to Buhoma Region Gorilla Filming In Buhoma
Buhoma from Entebbe can be reached by either road or air transport.
By Road: Entebbe to Buhoma is approximately 500km/310mi which takes about 9-hours which we must say is a long drive. We, however, recommend breaking your journey to Buhoma with an overnight stay at Lake Mburo National Park (half the journey – 04 hours from Entebbe/Kampala).
By Air: There two (02) domestic flight companies that service the Entebbe – Buhoma route. Travellers can fly out from either Kajjansi airfield or Entebbe International airport to Kihihi airport, and drive approximately 40km/25mi to get to Buhoma region. The flights generally last about 1.5-hours depending on the day’s routing – **subject to change based on weather and other factors to the full-discretion of the service provider(s).
