Shoebill filming locations in Uganda – Are you looking for top places in Uganda to film shoebill?  Uganda is known as the birders’ haven with over 1046 species of birds recorded in Uganda and this makes it one of the best destinations for bird watching in Uganda. Additionally, Uganda is the top destination for filming the shoebill in the whole of Africa because there are very many locations or places in Uganda where the shoebill can be found.

The shoebill bird species is one of the endangered and rare bird species in the whole of Africa and because most of the film and production companies, as well as individual filmmakers and shooters of documentaries, have been attracted by the wonderful shoebill and thus have rushed into Uganda to have a shoebill video shoot or film.

In the whole world there about 6000 to 8000 shoebills that have been left in the whole world and only Uganda there is an estimation of over 150 pairs of shoebill species that inhabit Uganda as the destination and this makes it the country with large storks of shoebill in the whole region.

The shoebill species in Uganda can be found around the swampy areas, the lake shores, and riverine backs and this is because the birds only get their food from water, in other words, shoebills feed on the aquatic foods.

The shoebill is an interesting, unique, and undistinguished bird to film in Uganda and they have provided quality documentaries especially to the companies that have filmed shoebills in Uganda. The endangered and the rare shoebill bird species can be spotted in about 8 places in Uganda where you can find them and make your quality filming.

 Other than the shoebill stork, Uganda has got a variety of storks and these include open billed stork, yellow-billed stork, Marabou stork, Saddle-billed stork among others and you can have a film combining all the stocks that are available in Uganda.

Shoebill filming location areas in Uganda

There different places and areas in Uganda where shoebill can be found and filmed and these places include the following;

Shoebill filming in Mabamba wetland Uganda:

The bird watching trips in Uganda are so interesting when begun in the Mabamba wetland in Kasanje Entebbe with large shoebill storks. Mabamba wetland is the Ramser Site and it has been declared as an important birding area by the International Birding Association and the wetland protects over 3000 species of birds and it acts as an important area of stoppage for the migratory birds take an example of Blue Swallow and among others. Filming shoebills in the Mabamba wetland is o interesting and can quickly provide you with results. The wetland is found along the shores of Lake Victoria and thus makes it a wonderful habitat for the threatened or rare shoebill stork.

You can easily access the Mabamba wetland from Entebbe by use of the engine boats and in case your many on the filming crew then you can opt to hire many boats to enable you to produce the quality filming of the shoebill and the other bird species that are within the swamp. Shoebill filming in Mabamba wetland can be done easily in the morning and the evening depending on the time and your interests.

Shoebill filming in Ishasha Sector-Queen Elizabeth National Park:

In Queen Elizabeth National Park, the shoebill stork can also be filmed there within the park, this rare bird species enjoy or inhabits the swampy areas of Lake Edward in the southern part of the park in the Ishasha sector. Remember that is also is the Ishasha sector where tree climbing lions in Uganda are found here. We shall make sure that we do all the paperwork for you provided you have informed us early enough in advance. You will be required to pay the filming fee to the Uganda Wildlife Authority to do the filming of the shoebill in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Ishasha is a section of Queen Elizabeth National park famously for tree-climbing lions in the whole of Uganda. 

Shoebill filming at Makanaga Bay swamp:

Makanaga bay swamp is found on the shores of Lake Victoria and it provides the best place where you can go for filming the rare and endangered shoebill species in Uganda. From Entebbe, you can get to Makanaga swamp bay by canoe boat and it will offer you interesting and amazing views of the shoebill and other interesting bird species that inhabit the swamp. Filming the shoebill in Makanaga is an interesting adventure activity and the journey commences in the morning with the local fixer or the guide in a canoe boat who will be lecturing you about the history of the area, showing and identifying for you different bird species that are available within the bay swamp until you reach to the point where the shoebills are inhabiting the swamps. The quality of the film will be excellent provides beautiful views of Lake Victoria water.

Shoebill filming at Uganda wildlife Education Center in Entebbe:

If you have less time but you feel that you would like to film the shoebill in Uganda then the best way to do this is to visit the Uganda Wildlife Education center and film the shoebill. The Entebbe wildlife educational center stretches up to Lake Victoria and a reason why the place is best for filming the shoebill. The zoo is strategically close to the Entebbe international airport, the main point of entry into Uganda by international visitors. This implies that you can do the shoebill filming at the zoo and then proceed to other destinations for the filming or to engage in other safaris animals within Uganda. The Entebbe zoo protects a lot of animals and therefore you can do other wildlife species at the zoo in addition to the shoebill. At Africa adventure vacations, we shall arrange for you all the necessary equipment including the media accreditation, filming fees, the local guide film fixer, accommodation, and transportation to ensure that you get success in shoebill filming in Uganda, particularly in Uganda Wildlife Education Center.

Shoebill filming in Lugogo swamp:

Lugogo swamp if found close to Ziwa rhino sanctuary in Nakasongola district. Lugogo swamp is an important destination in Uganda where one can go and film the shoebill. Lugogo swamp is the habitat of over 300 species of birds and the fact that the swamp is close to Ziwa rhino sanctuary, you can get a chance to film both the shoebill and the rhinos, you will have to take a canoe early in the morning to Lugogo swamp with the use of the local guide to start your Shoebill filming trip, you can carry binoculars and other equipment that are deemed essential in helping you to locate properly, view and film the rare shoebill in Uganda.

Shoebill filming in Semuliki National Park:

Semuliki National Park harbors over 400 species of birds of which one species of them is the rare shoebill. Semuliki National Park features the best destination where you can go and film the shoebill along with other bird species that you can incorporate into the shoebill filming. Semuliki National Park also features the Sempaya hot spring and the river Semuliki these are key moments or areas of the park that you shouldn’t miss while in Semuliki National Park. The park features the endemic bird species which are named the red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, the piping hornbill, the swamp palm bulbul, great black-casqued wattle hornbill among other birds of interest. You can spot these birds in Semulik National Park as your filming the rare Shoebill stork.

Shoebill filming at Delta Point in Murchison Falls National Park: 

shoebill filming in Uganda can as well be done in Murchison falls National Park at the delta point. Yes, the shoebill here is not commonly built is seen when your time properly. visitors who have visited in point from January to March have been able to see the shoebill in this areas, this is a magnificence place that offers an opportunity for film fanatics to film the shoebill stork., selecting Murchison falls National Park as you best interesting destination is the best you can do because the park is abundant with different species including the big 4 animals such as buffaloes, lions, elephants, leopards and other animals such as giraffes and all these can make your filming production so interesting. The Park is well served with accommodation facilities and the can be easily accessed through road and air transport.

Shoebill Filming in Lake Mburo National Park:

with the use of the boat cruise you can get to the shore of Lake Mburo in Lake Mburo National Park to film the shoebill. Lake Mburo National Park is one of the smallest and easily accessed National Park in Uganda and from Kampala, you can reach the park with 3 to 4 hours. Visitors filming the shoebill in Lake Mburo National Park will need to take the boat to the shores very early in the morning and in the afternoon to increase their chances of sighting and filming the shoebill in Lake Mburo National Park. Remember that Lake Mburo National Park is famous for the presence of zebras, impala, and other species such as leopard, giraffes, and buffaloes which you can incorporate into your shoebill filming in Lake Mburo National Park.

What is required to film shoebill in Uganda?

Undoubtedly, Uganda is one of the best destinations where you can go and see the rare and the threatened shoebill species. As indicated above, the shoebill can be filmed in various places in Uganda and nothing is exciting like shooting or film the shoebill as they inhabit their natural habitat. All those interested in filming the shoebill in Uganda and the above-mentioned places must be accredited by the Uganda media council as the law stipulates. This means that after you have got a shoebill filming permit, then the next step is for you to get credentials for the Uganda press accreditation offered by the Uganda Media Council.

Those who are interested and they are from the local company, or private production companies or filming companies min Uganda here should hand in their application via a recognized local agent who is in the books of the Ministry. This is a must for all those even who are interested in the filming industry even shortly. Applicants will have to fill the so-called form-G which we shall send you and then after filling it, you will be requested to send it to us back with attachments of your passport /national identity and then the passport photo that is put on the license form.

In summary, you will need to get permission from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you need press cards from the Uganda media council and to pay the filming fees of 40% of the activity fees including the 15% monitoring fees paid to researchers on the top of the actual fee paid, also your filming equipment must be cleared by the customs department at the point of your entry into Uganda. Just contact Africa Adventure Vacations for more information about all shoebill filming in Uganda.