Uganda is home to half of the world’s mountain gorilla population and is the only place where you can take part in gorilla habituation, giving you a chance to spend four hours with mountain gorillas in their natural home.
Gorilla filming in Uganda can be done in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These parks offer photographers, filmmakers, and documentary crews a good opportunity to film mountain gorillas.
Before starting a gorilla filming safari in Uganda, it’s important to know that flash cameras are not allowed, since flash can disturb the gorillas and make them feel unsafe. You should use a camera without flash or turn off the flash while filming.
Filming mountain gorillas in Uganda also helps raise awareness about their protection and promotes Uganda as a tourist destination. All professional photographers, journalists, or crew members coming for gorilla filming must clear their equipment and media cards at Entebbe International Airport.
Gorilla filming can take between 2 to 8 hours, depending on the movement of the gorillas, how fast the crew moves, or the number of hours paid for.
Gorilla Filming Permits in Uganda
Gorilla filming permits in Uganda are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which manages all the national parks in the country. You can also get them through a trusted tour company. When applying for a permit, you must indicate the number of filming days, your age, and the exact dates you plan to film.
Mountain gorilla filming permits in Uganda cost $4,200 per hour. In addition to this, every person in the filming crew must also pay for a regular gorilla permit. To get a better filming experience, you can choose to pay for a gorilla habituation permit, which costs $1,500 per person. A regular gorilla permit costs $800 per person.
If you plan to film mountain gorillas, you should book your permits 3 to 6 months in advance, since they are in high demand, especially during the dry season. You will receive a $100 refund if you provide a copy of your finished footage to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, so they can use it to promote mountain gorillas in Uganda.
Best Time for Gorilla Filming
Uganda is open for gorilla filming all year round, but some months are better than others. The best time to visit is during the dry seasons, from June to September and December to February. During this time, the vegetation is thinner and the trails are less muddy and slippery, making filming easier. See our full best time to visit Uganda guide for more detail.
What to Pack for Gorilla Filming
Mountain gorillas live in high-altitude rainforests where it can rain at any time, even during the dry season. Tourists should pack garden gloves, waterproof hiking boots, raincoats, plenty of drinking water, energy snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, and other essentials.
If you’re planning to come for mountain gorilla filming, remember that using flash cameras is not allowed. You should either turn off the flash or bring a camera without one.
Arrival Procedures at Entebbe International Airport
Visitors coming for gorilla filming must clear with the authorities at Entebbe International Airport upon arrival. This includes registering media cards and declaring filming equipment for all crew members, journalists, individuals, or professional photographers making the trip.
