Filming Lions in Uganda
Filming Lions in Uganda. Lions, also known as the King of the Jungle, can be filmed in the different national parks that are found in Uganda, including Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park and Murchison Falls National Park. These national parks are home to diverse wildlife species offering unique and beautiful opportunities for films and documentaries. The details of what you need to film lions in Uganda include scouting the location for filming and choosing the best time to go for filming. Processing and purchase of the filming permits and accreditation, paying fees for the permits, clearance of the filming equipment, and finding out the best accommodation and transport means to use.
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You have to be prepared for the unpredictable wildlife encounters at the different filming destinations and follow all the rules and guidelines that are set up when it comes to game drives in the national parks.
In this article, we are going to be discussing the requirements needed for filming lions in Uganda, where to film lions in Uganda and the best time to film lions.
Where to Film Lions in Uganda
Uganda offers multiple lion filming destinations located in different parts of the country. Each of the destinations offers unique filming experiences and below is a list of the best destinations for filming lions in Uganda.
Murchison Falls National Park: This is an ideal spot for filming lions in the country. Murchison Falls National Park has several game tracks that tourists can use when filming lions in the park, and some of these include the Queen’s track and the Albertine Game track. As you film the lions in Murchison, you will be able to film other wildlife species, including elephants, bushbucks, cape buffaloes, leopards, Jacksons, hartebeests, giraffes, warthogs and oribis, among others.
Murchison Falls NP is 6-7 hours from Kampala with a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the only place in the country which is home to the white Rhinos. Filming lions in Murchison is best done during a game drive in the national park and there are two sessions, one in the morning and the other late afternoon.
When you choose to film in Murchison Falls National Park, you will be able to see plenty of wildlife species within the national park alongside the lions and the filming is done along the drive tracks as directed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Queen Elizabeth National Park: This is one of the top tourist attractions in Uganda and one of the few places where you can film lions. Filming lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park is done in the Ishasha sector, which is home to the tree-climbing lions. Experts believe that lions climb trees so that they can easily target their prey, rest and also to avoid the heat, which is felt more on the ground. These lions can be seen lounging in the trees which makes it easy for them to be filmed. Other sectors in the park where you can film lions are the Mweya plains and Kasenyi plains.
The Mweya plains or sector is the most used part of the national park that is used to spot and film various animals within the park. This is the best place to film lions as they hunt; you get to participate in the lion tracking, day filming and night filming just to get a chance to see the lions in the different parts of the park.
There are other attractions that you can film in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and these include the salt mines at Lake Katwe, chimpanzees in the Kyambura Gorge, Maramagambo forest, the beautiful scenery, and views of Mountain Rwenzori and mongoose projects, among others.
Kidepo Valley National Park: Kidepo Valley, which is in the northeastern part of the country, is one of the best filming locations for lions in Uganda. The diverse landscape of Kidepo made up of the Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley, is home to a large lion population, making it the best place for a lion filming expedition. Lions in Kidepo Valley National Park are filmed during a wildlife game drive and the best time to go filming in Kidepo is from June to September and December to February, the dry season.
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve: Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is considered to be one of the best filming destinations for lions in Uganda. It is one of the rarely visited reserves in Uganda near the Kidepo Valley National Park and is a habitat to not only lions but also other wildlife species which include cape buffaloes, Gunther’s Dik-dik, common duikers, cape buffaloes, zebras, elands, cheetahs, hartebeests and Mountain reedbuck among others.
Filming lions in Pian Upe gives you a chance to film the big cats and also other wildlife species that are found in the reserve. You also have an 80% chance to fill leopards that can be sighted in the different parts of the reserve. Other predators that you should expect to film include civets, spotted hyenas, jackals, serval cats, wildcats and leopards, among others. Contact us for more information.
Essentials needed for filming lions in Uganda
Like any other filming safari, when you decide to film lions in Uganda you should note that certain essentials are needed or required before you are allowed to film the lions in their habitat.
The filming permits are required, and these can be obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The press accreditation card from the Uganda Media Council is needed and clearance of the filming equipment is a must.
Tourists planning on filming lions in Uganda also need to get accommodation and transport for their entire safari. The process of booking and planning a lion filming safari in Uganda is possible through operators like Encounter Africa Safaris.
Filming permits and fees: The filming permit has to be applied for by all the crew members and this has to be done in advance. You need to write an application letter, attach two coloured passport-sized photos, a script, all the names of the crew members, the equipment to be used and a detailed view of the filming location. Upon receipt of the application, UWA will acknowledge receipt in 24 or 48 hours and after it has been approved, you will be given your filming permit that you have to carry with you at all times.
For participants to be able to film lions in Uganda, you will be required to pay at least 40% of the total cost of the activity and those that come with drones will be charged 50% of the total cost of the activity. Always consider booking your filming permit and safari in advance.
Press Accreditation: This is one of the essentials that are required for tourists to have before they are allowed to film lions in Uganda according to Uganda laws. The Uganda Media Council conducts the accreditation and you have to apply for it so that you get the media card that will give you access to the lions in their natural habitat. Every crew member is supposed to apply for the accreditation, and each card is $175, which is valid for only 30 days, $225, which is valid for 60 days and $325, which is valid for 2 years.
As you apply for the media card, you have to first fill in Form G (for all crew members), attach a copy of the passport, national ID for East African citizens, two coloured passport-sized photos, an introduction letter, a certificate of good conduct from your country of origin and make sure that you pay the accreditation fees.
You need to provide a letter from your organization or company introducing who you are, your intention of filming the lions, the destination where you are going to film the lions and all the details of the crew members. The Uganda media card can be ready in about 2 to 3 days and when it is ready, we shall send you an alert.
You also need to have a valid visa to be able to access Uganda as a country as this will be the start of your filming safari to Uganda.
Clearance of the equipment: All filming equipment has to be cleared at the customs office at your point of entry. Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris and we will be able to help you through this entire process of clearing the equipment. You need to know what equipment requires extra permits and we are here to ensure that your filming kit is cleared in at least 3 to 4 working days.
Transport: All participants interested in filming lions in Uganda should be ready to organize transport to and from the filming destination and Encounter Africa Safaris will help with this. We have 4×4 safari vehicles that we use to transport our clients and their equipment to and from the filming destination and they are also used to navigate the landscape within the national parks. If you prefer to fly to the filming destination, we can also arrange domestic flights to the chosen park and ensure that all the transportation needs are met.
Accommodation: Each of the lion filming destinations in Uganda has comfortable accommodation facilities in the form of lodges, camps and hotels. These are categorized into budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation facilities, and these have to be booked in advance because they are always in high demand.
Accommodations that can be used when filming in Murchison Falls National Park include Nile Safari Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Heritage Lodge, Red Chili Camp and Murchison River Lodge, among others.
Accommodations that can be used when filming in Queen Elizabeth National Park include Ihamba Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Engiri Game Lodge and Bulbul Safari Lodge, among others.
Accommodations that can be used when filming in Kidepo Valley National Park include Apoka Rest Camp, Zebra Safari Lodge, Apoka Safari Lodge, Katurum Lodge, Adere Safari Lodge and Kidepo Savannah Lodge, among others.
What to pack for the lion filming safari in Uganda
There are so many items that you can pack for the lion filming safari in Uganda, and you need to make sure that you do not overpack past the weight limit since you will be moving up and down, and you do not want the luggage weighing you down.
Some of the essential items that you can pack for your lion filming safari to Uganda include a waterproof backpack, a camera, a pair of binoculars, extra batteries, a memory card and lenses, a camera bag, snacks, refillable water bottle (complimentary drinking water is provided in the safari vehicles), two pairs of stockings, a warm sweater and scarves, comfortable shoes, insect repellent, snacks, a rain jacket/coat, a safari sunhat, a first aid medical kit, toiletries, comfortable long-sleeved shirts and trousers (all should be in neutral colours) and a flashlight among others.
When to film lions in Uganda
Lions in Uganda can be filmed throughout the year because of the good weather conditions experienced within the country, but the best time is during the dry months, which are June to September and December to February. The dry months in Uganda are usually characterized by little or no rainfall. The trails within the park are not wet and slippery, making it easy to drive through, and the lions can easily be spotted as they gather around the watering holes due to the heat.
The rainy season, on the other hand, is characterized by heavy rains, especially in March and April, and because of the rains, the trails and roads within the national parks are wet, muddy and slippery, which slows down the movement of vehicles and also disorganizes the entire experience. The rainy season, however, offers some beautiful scenery because it is the birthing season for many animals within the national parks, providing enough food for the lions to hunt.
If you are considering filming lions in Uganda, contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris for the filming safari, scouting of the location, processing of the permits and customizing your safari for you.