Bwindi gorilla filming is an unforgettable experience which gives visitors an opportunity to take videos of mountain gorillas in their natural environment. Mountain gorillas are critically endangered primates that can be found only in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is within the Virunga mountains region.
Today, gorilla numbers have risen to more than 1,004 individuals, evident from the recent ongoing gorilla census.
Gorilla tourism has been the key financier for mountain conservation projects and hence is the major factor for increase in gorilla numbers. So, Bwindi gorilla filming is another strategy to promoting and developing gorilla tourism in national parks, as well as strengthening conservation.
As a result, Uganda is the ideal place for both gorilla tracking and filming experience because it hosts half of the gorilla numbers in the world. These are found in Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla national parks on the southwestern borders with Rwanda and DRC.
With such great numbers of mountain gorillas, Uganda becomes the best place for gorilla filming in their natural environment. Currently, there are 20 habituated gorilla families in Bwindi and one group in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which makes them 21 in total.
Those who are interested in Bwindi gorilla filming must first sign a memorandum of understanding with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), in order to obtain a gorilla filming permit. There are a range of policies governing the conduct of this lifetime experience.
UWA is the top body in charge of all national parks and game reserves in Uganda, so the agency manages all activities conducted in those areas.
Policy on Bwindi gorilla filming in Uganda
Media cards are issued by the Uganda Media Center, and the filming equipment must also be cleared at Entebbe International airport. Gorilla filming permits must be purchased through UWA, but in advance, that’s about 4 months earlier due to permit availability consideration.
To all visitors who wish to do such a memorable activity in Bwindi or Mgahinga Gorilla national parks in Uganda to enjoy such experience. While here, you will need to pay a refundable fee of US$ 1,000 which will be returned once you share a copy of your photo-shoot at the end of the experience. The charges exclude the normal gorilla trekking permit fees. Besides, there’s is a 5% fee for monitoring and research which is included on the cost of filming.
Gorilla trekking permits can separately be purchased at USD 700 per person.
Bwindi gorilla filming fees depend on the number of people involved in the activity as per the guidelines of commercial filming and photography by UWA. All gorilla filming requests must be sent in at least 3 weeks before the actual filming date.
Many visitors combine gorilla filming in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with a stop at other parks in Uganda. So, you can visit Queen Elizabeth National Park, the country’s most visited national park. Then Kibale National Park, the primate capital of the world and Murchison Falls National Park, the world’s most powerful waterfall and so on.