Filming in the Rwenzori Mountains
Rwenzori, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the top tourist attractions in Uganda and a site for filming among tourists. Filming in the Rwenzori Mountains requires a lot of planning, and this includes planning on how to get to the country with your equipment, permits like the Press Accreditation from Uganda Media Council and filming permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The Rwenzori Mountain ranges are found in western Uganda in the Rift Valley, and they stretch from Kasese to Bundibugyo, which makes it the longest mountain range on the African continent.
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It is one of the most challenging climbs in the world due to its ruggedness and this is why there are few climbers on Mount Rwenzori.
Today we are looking at filming in Rwenzori, what is needed, what to film, where to stay and what to expect.
Permits needed for filming in Rwenzori Mountains
Below is a list of filming permits that are needed for filming in the Rwenzori Mountains.
Filming permits
The filming permits are obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and the process takes about 5 to 10 working days. Before you arrive in Uganda you need to provide a copy of the following to be able to prepare and process of getting a filming permit.
- A copy of the passport
- The equipment list
- Names of all the crew members
- A script
- Details of the location of filming
- An application form from the authorities
After you have sent in our application and it has been reviewed, you will receive the official filming licence from UWA and it must be carried throughout the shoots to avoid interruptions from the locals and authorities.
The press accreditation card
Issued by the Uganda Media Centre, the card gives you access to film in Uganda and Mount Rwenzori. Each person who wants to film in Rwenzori has to apply for the media card, and it should be done in advance at least 3 weeks before the filming date. You need to fill in the Form G and attach the following:
- A copy of the passport and national ID
- A certificate of good conduct
- An introduction letter
- Two coloured passport-sized photos.
After filling in Form G and attaching the above, you have to pay for the press accreditation fees, which are $175 valid for a month per person, $225 valid for 60 days per person and $325 valid for two years per person. And after the card expires, it cannot be renewed.
Filming equipment
For all tourists who plan on filming in Rwenzori Mountain, you need to declare all your filing equipment upon entry and it must be cleared. Tourists are advised to carry personal filming equipment, but the Uganda Revenue Authority will require you to have a temporary import permit or a bond that is refundable for all the highly valuable gear.
For tourists who wish to bring drones, you need to first receive clearance from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, and this has to be done in advance.
Equipment clearance can be done in 3 to 4 working days and we will help you with the clearance process. First, you need to send in photos of the equipment, the serial number and the cost of the equipment to us. The cost will help with determining the percentage taken off when clearing the equipment at the customs office and it is usually 10% of the total cost. We also arrange transport for the entire crew and the equipment from the airport to the filming destination and then back.
What to film in the Rwenzori Mountains
Below is a list of things to film in the Rwenzori Mountains and they include:
The peaks:
Mount Rwenzori, rising up to 5109 meters above sea level, is one of the top tourist attractions in Uganda with six mountains, which include Mt. Stanley, Mt. Baker, Mt. Speak, Mt. Gessi, Mt. Emin and Mt. Luigi. Each of these Rwenzori ranges has peaks that are worth filming.
The peaks that are found on Mt. Stanley include Margherita Peak which is 5109 meters, Alexander Peak at 5091 meters, Albert Peak at 5087 meters, Elena Peak at 4968 meters, Great Tooth at 4953 meters, Savoia Peak at 4977 meters, Elizabeth Peak at 4929 meters, Philip peak at 4919 meters, Kitasamba Peak at 4862 meters and Nyabubuya peak at 4862 meters.
The peaks that are found on Mt. Speke include Vittorio Emanuele Peak at 4890m, Ensonga Peak at 4865m and Johnston Peak at 4834m.
The peaks on Mt. Baker include Edward Peak at 4843m, Semper Peak at 4795m, Grauer Peak at 4484m, Moore Peak at 4624m and Wollaston Peak at 4627m.
The peaks on Mt. Emin include the Umberto Peak at 4798m and the Kraepelin Peak at 4791m.
The peaks on Mt. Gessi include the Iolanda Peak at 4715m and the Bottego Peak at 4699m.
The peaks on Mt. Luigi di Savoia include Sella Peak at 4626m, Weismann Peak at 4620m and Stairs Peak at 4545m. This is the lowest of the six Rwenzori ranges.
Lakes:
There are over 20 Lakes that you can film on your filming safari to Mount Rwenzori, but the most popular ones include Lake Mahoma, which is found at 2651m above sea level and is best known for being a birding spot along the Central circuit. The Bujuku Lake is found in the Bujuku Valley in the shadows of Mount Stanley, Speke and Baker. There are a variety of bird species at the lake and swamp vegetation that can filmed among others.
Snow:
The snow that is ever present on the peak of Mount Rwenzori is a top filming feature for tourists hiking up the mountain. The highest point on Mount Rwenzori has a formation of the glaciers throughout the year although due to the climatic changes, there has been a reduction of the snow at the peak. Although after trekking you get a few minutes at the peak, the view is worth the time and the best for filming.
Rivers:
The Rivers that can be filmed in the Rwenzori Mountains include the Mubuku River, Nyamwamba River and the Ruimi River, all of which flow into Lake George. The Lamya River meets at the Lake George overflow together with the Butawu River, and River Nyamugasani River also drains into Lake Edward. When you visit any of the mentioned rivers, you get the chance to film the surrounding areas, the water bird species, landforms around and other wildlife species that are found around the Rivers.
Bird species:
There are over 217 bird species that can be viewed in Mount Rwenzori NP and around the mountain making it one of the best birding destinations in the country. Bird watching can be done all year round but the best time is from November to April. Some of the bird species that can be filmed include the Long-eared owl, Rwenzori Turaco, White starred Robin, Blue-headed sunbird, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Flycatchers, Crimsonwing, Lagden’s bush ride, Apalises, Greenbul, Rare Montane Sooty Boo-boo, White starred Robin, greenbul, Strange weavers, golden-winged sunbird and Handsome Francolin among others.
The bird species can be seen along the different trails leading to the peak, and these include the Bukurungu Trail, Kazingo Trail, Rwenzori Central Circuit and Kilembe Trail.
Valleys:
The Bujuku Valley is where tourists can go to film on Mount Rwenzori. It gives film crew members enough time to have more time while filming on Mount Rwenzori.
Vegetation:
Mount Rwenzori has six different types of vegetation zones that are found along different elevations providing beautiful scenery. The different vegetation zones are formed because of the different climatic zones and below is a list of the vegetation zones found along Mount Rwenzori.
The Savanna grassland, which is found at 680 to 1800 meters, is the first type of vegetation to be encountered, and it is made up of trees, shrubs, grass and herbs, among others. Some of the dominant species found in this zone include Acacica, cympopon Ibrism and spp among others.
The Afro-montane forest zone, which is from 1800m to 2600m, is mainly made up of bamboo trees, and many ferns can be viewed within this area. It comprises the podocarpus ssp and prunes Africana, among others.
The bamboo forest zone at 2600 to 2900m is where the bamboo zone begins and this is where mixed forests are found. Some of the montane forests here include shrub herbs, grasses and sedges.
The Afro-Alpine moorland at 4000 to 4500m starts at a slight change in altitude at 100m altitude, and here, the density of the shrubs, Erica species, and Afro-alpine trees increase, creating a dense forest. The most common tree species include the Alchemila shrub, curex bog, Denderosenecio woodland, Tussock of grassland and helichrysum shrub.
The Glacier zones: these are open zones covered with lichens and mosses and stand at 4500 to 5109 meters above sea level.
Mount Rwenzori National Park: This is one of the 10 national parks in Uganda and is where Mount Rwenzori is found.
For more information about filming on and around Mount Rwenzori, do contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris.
What to pack for your filming safari on Mount Rwenzori
Mount Rwenzori packing list when planning a filming safari is important and this is why we have come up with a list of items that you should bring on your safari and these include a pair of binoculars, a camera(with extra batteries, lenses and memory cards), waterproof, strong hike boots, neutral-coloured long-sleeved shirts and trousers, socks, a backpack, gardening gloves, walking/trekking stick, toiletries, warm clothes like scarves, sweaters and ponchos, snacks, a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses and insect repellent among others.
The cost of filming in Mountain Rwenzori
The cost of filming in Mountain Rwenzori is one of the many things that tourists ask and consider before planning their safari. The cost of the filming safari depends on several factors, including the number of days spent on the safari, the number of people travelling on a safari, and the type of accommodation and transport.
Accommodation is in three categories, and these include budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities. Whichever category you choose will determine the cost of the safari. Some of the accommodation facilities that can be used while filming include Ruboni Community Camp, Elephant Plains Lodge, Ruboni Turaco View Camp, Trekkers Hostel, Hotel Margherita, Mihunga Lodge, Equator Snow Geo Lodge and Tropical Savannah Guest House, among others. These facilities are found around the mountain.
The transport chosen also affects the cost of the filming safari on Mount Rwenzori. Road and air transport are mainly used, the number of people in a group also affects the cost because the more people travelling, the less the cost of the safari since some of the costs like transport.
For accommodation along Mount Rwenzori, several huts can be used, and these include the Nyabitanga hut, John Matte hut, Kitandara hut, Bujuku hut, Guyeoman hut, Kalalama hut, Mutinda camp, Sine hut, Kiharo camp, Hunswick camp, Butawu camp, Bugata camp and Margherita camp among others.
When to film in Mount Rwenzori
The best months for filming in Mount Rwenzori are December to February and June to September. During these months, there is little or no rainfall which makes it easy to hike up the mountain. However, the rainy season is also a good time to film with the beautiful scenery provided by the beautiful greenery covering the largest part of the country. Note that with the rains, it is sometimes hard to use the hike and trek routes.
In conclusion, the highlights of planning a filming safari to Mount Rwenzori are as follows: first, apply for permits from UWA and the Media Council, make sure that you declare all the filming equipment that you are to use at customs and in case you have any drones, make sure that you have it registered. Ensure that you work with professionals for better production and remember that the dry season is the best time to film.
Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris to help you plan your filming safari to Mount Rwenzori, plan your accommodation and transport and process your filming permits.