Filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park can be done for either non-commercial or commercial purposes. You, however, need to first secure the filming permits that allow you to legally film in the national park. Located in western Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is the second largest national park in Uganda and it was gazetted off in 1954, home to the largest bird species recorded over 612 and 95 different mammal species. The national park is strategically located with the Rwenzori Mountain acting as a backdrop and some of the tourist attractions to look out for when filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park include the Kazinga Channel, Kyambura Gorge where chimpanzee tracking is carried out, Ishasha sector which is home to the tree-climbing lions and the different wildlife species in the park.
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Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to over 6000 hippos, 2000 elephants, 1200 buffaloes, tree-climbing lions, 27 chimpanzees, leopards, jackals and over 612 bird species among others. All these, including the beautiful landscape, make it to be among the best safari destinations for filming in Uganda.
Filming lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park:
Queen Elizabeth National Park has more than 120 lions roaming around the national park, especially in the Ishasha sector, where tree-climbing lions can easily be accessed. They can also be seen when taking a game drive through the Kasenyi sector. The best time to see the lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park is during the drier months of June to September and December to February and the morning hours and late afternoons are considered to be the best time.
Filming Elephants in Queen Elizabeth:
Queen Elizabeth National Park has the largest number of elephants in Uganda estimated to be over 2913. The best time to film elephants in the park is from June to September and December to February, the drier months. Elephants can be seen roaming around the national park in search of food and water during the dry season, especially in the morning and late afternoon hours. These can best be seen on a game drive and if you want to include some beautiful green scenery, you can film the elephants in the rainy season from March to May and October to November.
Filming Leopards in Queen Elizabeth:
Leopards are known to be solo animals and harder to see while on a game drive, but they are still present in the national park, and when you get to see one, you will enjoy the rare sightings and take as many photos as you can. If you want to participate in the filming of the leopards in the national park, you should work with the Uganda Carnivore Project, an organization that is devoted to the conservation and research of carnivores in the country, including hyenas, leopards and lions. They run a leopard tracking experience, working closely with the researchers to track down the leopards.
Hippo filming in Queen Elizabeth:
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to over 6000 hippos that roam across the national park day and night, cooling off in the waters of the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and George. Filming of the hippos in Queen Elizabeth National Park can be done while enjoying a slow boat ride along the Kazinga Channel or a game drive while stationed along the banks of the Kazinga Channel. The best time to film the hippos is in the drier months of June to September and December to February.
Banded Mongoose filming in Queen Elizabeth:
Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the few places in the world where you can spot the Banded mongoose and these are seen in the Mweya Peninsular located in the western part of the national park. While in Queen Elizabeth, note that filming the banded mongoose is usually done with a researcher who will guide you on how to trek and find the mongoose in the national park. Most Mongoose families consist of members 25 and above and after locating them, you will be given ample time to film the banded mongoose. Mweya Peninsular has more than 400 banded mongooses and these are divided into 12 social groups.
Filming Mongoose in Mweya peninsular is limited to 4 people only and each person is expected to pay $300 per day. To be able to participate in Mongoose filming in Queen Elizabeth, you need to first get in touch with the Banded Mongoose Project Management which is found in Queen Elizabeth and put in a request to track Mongoose depending on your schedule and available dates. When the dates are confirmed, you will then have to contact UWA by writing a formal letter of introduction requesting to film the banded mongoose. Encounter Africa safaris will help you with the process of obtaining one.
Filming birds in Queen Elizabeth: Queen Elizabeth National Park has the highest number of recorded bird species in Uganda, about 612, including endemic and migratory birds. The best time to film birds in the national park is from November to April, and this is because, during this period, the migratory birds are present. The different bird species that are found in the different parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park include the African finfoot, Black bee-eater, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Collared Pratincole, Crab-Plover, Great Blue Turaco, Caspian Plover, Ayres’s hawk-eagle, Long-crested eagle, Papyrus yellow warbler, Pel’s fishing owl, Pink-backed pelican, Grey-crowned robin-chat, Palm-nut vulture, Red-chested sunbird, Yellow-throated longclaw, Western-banded snake eagle, Water thick-knee, Yellow-bellied wattle-eye, Yellow-billed stork and Rufous-bellied heron among others.
The cost of filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The cost of filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park depends on several factors that need to be put into consideration especially what you would wish to film when in the national park. When it comes to filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the cost depends on how much to pay for the local permits, press accreditation, clearing of the filming equipment, hiring of the filming equipment, transport, accommodation, visa fees and location scouting among others.
The media card cost: All foreign filming groups/crews and journalists have to pay a certain fee to the Uganda Media Council to be able to get accredited to film in the various locations. The cost of the media card is determined by the association, and it costs about $175 per person, and this is valid for only a month. The fee goes directly to the Uganda Media Council, and the process of acquiring one takes about 2 to 3 working days as long as you have all the paperwork that is needed to acquire one.
The wildlife filming fee: if you are interested in filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Uganda Wildlife Authority will design a filming contract after payment enabling you to film in the national park. The Uganda Wildlife fees for filming are charged at 40% of the activity chosen, and this is inclusive of the monitoring fee, which is at 10%. When filming with drones, you will be required to make a 50% charge of the activity and a refundable deposit of $1000 will be made if the filming crew gives back at least two DVDS to UWA (and UWA uses these DVDS for non-profit purposes and educational purposes only).
Clearing the filming equipment cost: When bringing filming equipment into the country, a fee is supposed to be paid so that they are cleared at customs. The fee depends on the value of the filming equipment that is brought into the country, and the process can take 2 to 3 working days given you have proper documentation to speed up the process, which includes the serial numbers on the equipment, a kit list showing the type and the value of your equipment in USD. A fee has to be paid to the fixers and customs to have your equipment cleared.
The local talent-hiring fee: Uganda as a country has a variety of people who can assist you in your shoots for example directors, assistant producers, cameramen, drone pilots and many more others that can be hired at a fee ranging from $150 to $350 per day depending on the number of days you are spending in Queen Elizabeth National Park shooting. The cost may go up and down.
Accommodation costs: Queen Elizabeth National Park has different categories of tourists including budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities and the type of accommodation you choose will entirely depend on the amenities you want and your budget. The accommodation rates can range from $100 to $400 or more and Encounter Safaris is here to help you book the best accommodation for you. The peak season has a lot of tourists and each tourist is advised to book in advance.
Transport cost: There are two ways in which you can get to Queen Elizabeth National Park and these are road or air. 4×4 safari vehicles are used to get to the national park and around the park during the filming exercise. Tour operators help in booking the safari vehicles that are used for transportation, but in cases where you are taking a solo trip, you can hire a safari vehicle at around $200 per day, and this is exclusive of the fuel costs, which are determined by the mileage covered.
The Fixer Agency fee: After we have compiled the list and cost of your shoot and how many logistics are involved, Encounter Africa Safaris, as your fixers, will add an extra fee that ranges from $200 to $400 depending on the duration and load per day. For more information about the filming cost in Queen Elizabeth National Park, contact us via email for a quicker response.
The requirements and procedures for filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park
The applications for filming should be made to the Uganda Wildlife Authority with an official application form. For proper processing, all the filming requests should be done and sent at least three weeks before the filming date, and after the application has been sent, the Uganda Wildlife Authority will acknowledge receipt of the application within 24 hours. The filming requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, putting into consideration commitments and other sensitivities of the protected areas with a flexible approach so that the filmmakers are helped to meet their objectives. Note that no filming will be carried out if there is no payment processed. You can only start filming after payment has been processed and confirmed.
A refundable fee of $1000 has to be paid by the filmmakers, and you have to sign a legally binding contract to receive the permits between UWA and the filmmakers.
Where to stay when filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park has three categories of tourists and these are budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities. The best type of facility is one that provides any of the facilities that you want and puts your budget into consideration. The best time to book accommodation is months before your travel date because, with this, you have ample time to look around and get the best facilities even during the dry/peak season when they are scarce. Some of the accommodation facilities that you can use when filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park include Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Mweya Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Tembo Safari Lodge, Park View Safari Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Enjojo Lodge and Elephants Plain Lodge among others.
Best time/when to go for filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is an all-year-round safari destination; however, the best time to go for filming in the national park is during the drier months from June to September and December to February. The drier months receive little or no rainfall making it easy for tourists to access the national park, and the animals are easier to see during this period because they usually gather around the watering holes to cool down from the heat. Tourists who wish to travel on a budget can film in the National Park from March to May and October to November during the rainy season when some services like accommodation offer discounts.