Mountain gorillas are an endangered species of apes inhabiting the tropical and sub tropical rainforests of Virunga national park, Volcanoes national park, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park.
Many people who have encountered these human close relatives have taken back home unforgettable memories and stories that have made many more people come to trek mountain gorillas in Africa as they cannot survive in zoos.
Tourists planning to come for mountain gorilla filming should note that filming mountain gorillas with flash cameras is not allowed; you can either turn of the flash or come with cameras that have no flash.
Clients coming for gorilla filming will need to clear at Entebbe international airport upon arrival for media cards, gorilla filming equipment for all crew members, individuals, journalists or professional photographers.
Uganda gorilla filming permits can be obtained from the Uganda wildlife authority that is in charge of all the Ugandan national parks or a trusted tour company. When getting gorilla filming permits, you will need to indicate the number of days for filming, age and exact date of filming.
Filming permits
Mountain gorilla filming permits in Uganda cost $4200 per hour and on top of this, each person in the filming crew must pay the normal gorilla trekking permit. The easiest way you can have a better gorilla filming experience is paying for gorilla habituation permits that cost $1500 per person. The cost of gorilla trekking permits is $600 per person.
When planning to come for mountain gorilla filming, you must book permits in advance of about 3-6 months due to high demand especially in the dry season. $100 will be refunded back if you give a copy of your CD to Uganda Wildlife Authority so that they can it for marketing Uganda mountain gorillas.
Gorilla habituation
Apart from gorilla filming, tourists can also come to Uganda for gorilla habituation experience. Gorilla habituation is the processes of making mountain gorillas get used to human presence, this takes about two to three years with trackers and researchers visiting the gorilla family on a daily basis after which a mocking exercise is introduced and if they pass the exam the exam is introduced for trekking by tourists.
Best time for gorilla filming
Uganda can be visited all year round but some months are better than the rest. The best time to visit is in the dry season of June to September and December to February when filming can become easier with thin vegetation, the trails are also not muddy and slippery during this period.
What to carry
Mountain gorillas live on higher elevations of rainforests that can receive rainfall at any time even sometimes during the dry season, tourists should pack garden gloves, water proof hiking boots, rain coats, plenty of drinking water, energy snacks, sunscreen, insect repellents and so much more.
