Are you looking for filming safaris in Bwindi forest national park? Well, we are here to avail you with detailed information required while planning for your trip to Uganda. We give you tips on how to process filming permits for Bwindi impenetrable forest national park to capture amazing sceneries, fauna and flora, getting all media and press accreditation required, kit customs clearing, fixers and all necessary pre-production and post-production logistics required.

Yes, Bwindi forest national park is among the best filming destinations in Africa and we provide the practical information required to shoot nature in this threat of wilderness. The park is well known for hosting a half number of mountain gorilla individuals in the whole world. It is also home to other primates such as chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys among others.

In general, during your filming tour in Bwindi, expect to capture mountain gorillas in the jungle, over 23 endemic bird species, plant and shrubs, reptiles, beautiful waterfalls and the Batwa people

Filming permits for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

You are required to get permits from the government of Uganda through Uganda Wildlife Authority before going for filming activities in Bwindi forest national park.

We do arrange all required filming permits on your behalf to allow you to concentrate on other logistics. Just send us the necessary details such as the number of filming days, crew members and core filming interest and we will do the rest for you.  Arranging filming permits for Bwindi filming activity takes between 4-5 working days.

Guests looking for filming adventure in Bwindi must be accredited and endorsed by Uganda Media Council and Uganda Communications Commission. The authorities will issue a Media Accreditation Card to allow you film in Uganda for a period of one month or six months.

Guests who wish to come with their filming equipment must be cleared into the country through customs department at Entebbe International airport or any boarder entry point. In most cases; 10% fee of the total value is required to clear a non-refundable bond. African Adventure Vacations team is always ready to help you clear your filming equipment without any hassles. We also handle all pre-production services such as pilot study, hotel bookings, ground transport to and from Bwindi forest national park.

Best time to go for filming safari in Bwindi Forest National Park

Are you looking for best time to go filming in Bwindi? Well, the park can be visited throughout the year just like any other travel destination in Uganda hence filming safaris can be conducted anytime any day based on what you want to film. However, we highly recommend to plan your trip during dry season where rains are less to enable you to record better videos and take fantastic photos. Also, during dry seasons, hiking in the forest tend to be easy since the trails are a bit drier compared to wet season. Such dry months in Uganda include; June, July, August, & September and December, January & February.

How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park For Filming?

Getting to Bwindi forest national park can either be by air or road transport. Using road; the journey is approximately 9 hours from Kampala / Entebbe to most of the park sectors. We have a fleet of vehicles to offer ground transportation to our guests looking for transfer to and from Bwindi.

Guests looking for air transport; you can charter or booked a scheduled domestic flight from Entebbe or kajansi airstrip to Kihihi or Kisoro airstrip. The journey from Entebbe of kajansi by air is about 2 hours flight. On arrival at the airstrip, your guides are always stand by to offer transfer services to any gorilla trekking sectors. Upon arrival to the lodge, relax and prepare yourself for filming safari the next day.

Many guests prefer taking a walk in the evening hours to explore more about the local communities. Be entertained by local performances characterized by music, dance and drama.

Things to do during Filming Activities In Bwindi Forest National Park

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla tracking is the chief activity do in Bwindi for visitors staying at different lodges in the park. Most lodges are about 20 minutes’ drive to park headquarters. This activity of gorilla trekking in any gorilla trekking sectors enables you to see the habituated mountain gorilla families.  The journey to gorilla trekking starts after a briefing at the headquarter at 7:00 am. The briefing is done to ensure that the visitors don’t deviate from the gorilla trekking rules that might the behaviors of the gorillas. Some visitors have found gorilla trekking so tiresome and ended up hiring porter services to help them with their luggage and sometimes may give you a hand while walking. Mountain gorillas are not far ways close to human beings as they share 95% of the DNA with that of humans. This makes it so interesting to come and be nearby these human-like creatures

Gorilla permits are a must requirement when it comes to gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. Each gorilla family is visited by 8 visitors per day and once you contact us at Africa Adventure Vacations via our website page we shall send you the invoices and a book your permit temporality and once you make payments then, Africa Adventure Vacations will book and secure your permits and send you a copy of the receipt showing clearly the booking ID to confirm that your gorilla trekking. The process of getting the gorilla permit is not difficult as you can get it through Africa Adventure Vacations. Gorilla trekking permits are only allowed to clients/visitors/persons above 15 years.

Gorilla Habituation Experience

It is only in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park that the Gorilla habituation process is done. In this activity, visitors will be allowed to spend 4hours with a gorilla as they learn how they are being trained to get familiar with people. However, only 4 people will be allowed for this great experience. The cost of a gorilla habituation permit in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in United States dollars 1500 per visitor per trek. Just book with us in advance your gorilla habituation experience in advance.

Birding and Nature Walk

The park is an excellent bird-watching sector in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park records over 348 species of birds which include the twenty-five 25 restricted-range species with twenty-three accustomed to the Albertine Rift. Some of the bird species that only be spotted in the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park include Shelley’s Crimson-wing – which is vulnerable, Chapin’s Flycatcher, -African Green Broadbill, and Grauer’s Rush Warbler among others. Staying at Engagi Lodge will enable you not only to see gorillas but also different bird species. The birding trail that leads you to River Munyaga is exciting since the place is full of bird species. Birds such as African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Warbler and Short-tailed Warbler can only be seen in the Bwindi and the broadbill are believed to be close to Asian species as compared to African species.

Community and Batwa experience

Visit the local communities especially those around Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Batwa people’s community experience is the best. These were known as pygmies until when they were removed from the park and now stay around the park as adjacent communities. These people are so good and have been integrated into the conservation of the park.  See their ancestral homes which are the forests, communicate with them as they will lecture you on how best they used to hunt and gather fruits since these were their livelihood activities. There are different women groups engaged in making local crafts and selling different kinds of foodstuff. There are several community schools around the park and feel that you can as well visit these community schools and support them with simple scholastic materials at your will.

Where to stay in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for filming?

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park has got many accommodations and lodge options ranging from budget to luxury. Such lodges include; Trekker’s Tavern Cottages, Buhoma Lodge, Mahogany Springs, Silverback Lodge, Engangi Lodge, Buhoma community rest camp, Wagtail eco safari lodge, 3 Way gorilla resort, Bwindi view bandas, Broadbill forest camp, Nshongi Campsite, Kisoro Traveller’s Rest, Gorilla valley lodge, Bakiga lodge among others. Most lodges are well equipped with hot shower and WiFi