Filming Chimpanzees in Budongo Forest

Filming Chimpanzees in Budongo forest, chimpanzees are the biggest pull factor for tourism in Budongo Central Forest reserve with chimpanzee trekking as the most participated in activity in both forests. Budongo Central Forest reserve and its activities is under the management Uganda Lodges and National Forestry Authority. Chimpanzee permits are very essential for you to be allowed to trek chimpanzees in Budongo Central Forest reserve. Are you planning to film chimpanzees in Budongo forest or filming any other feature in Bundongo contact Eco Adventure Safaris to tailor your interest and we will help you secure these both the filming and chimpanzee permits for you?  We do provide adequate information on chimpanzee permits, trekking, Uganda general travel information and alternative activities in Budongo Central Forest Reserve.

The Budongo forest Reserve allows you to view and stay with the chimpanzees for one hour and four hours depending. The chimpanzee permit habituation for Budongo Forest Reserve costs USD230 per person Non-Foreign Residents, USD160 Per person  Foreign Residents and USD90 for Uganda Citizens, This chimpanzee habituation permit allows you to view and stay with the chimpanzees for four hours as you move with them, observe the way they feed, live and communicate. It is an experience conducted by the Researchers and Forest guides.

The chimpanzee Trekking permit is issued for those interested to see the chimpanzees that are already used to people and only allows one hour of viewing and staying with the chimpanzee once you find them. This permit costs USD 130 per person Non-Foreign Residents, USD120 Per person Foreign Residents and USD85 per person for Uganda Citizens. There are two sessions for chimpanzee trekking in budongo Namely; Morning session that starts at 8:00am and afternoon session that starts at Mid-day through put the year.

The chimpanzee treks at both Budongo Central Forest reserve start early morning with briefing about the dos and don’ts at the forest headquarters, you are later grouped in groups of members each with Park guides, Rangers who lead you to the forest for your chimpanzee experience. The trek takes about 2 to 4 hours, depending on the movement of the chimpanzees. Once the chimps are found you will stay for one hour with these amazing creatures to watch them eating, resting and playing. The trek gives of chances of viewing other primates, reptiles and mammals.

Chances of seeing chimpanzees in Budongo Central Forest reserve are 95% so which ever forest you visit you will be able to see these great apes in their natural environment. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Central forest also gives you an option to spend more time with the chimpanzees through chimpanzee habituation experience, a chimpanzee habituation permits costs USD230 per person Non-Foreign Residents, USD160 Per person Foreign Residents and USD90 for Uganda Citizens giving you more hours encounter with the semi habituated chimpanzees under the guidance of trackers and researchers as opposed to one hour for the normal trekking.

Requirements to film chimpanzees in Budongo forest

You will need to get a filming permit from the National Forest Authority (NFA) to enable you to film chimpanzees in Budongo forest, on top of this you will also need media cards from Uganda Media Council which authorizes you to do any filming work in Uganda. Then for your filming equipment will also need to be cleared with customs at the Point of Entry in Uganda. Contact us here we will be able to process both the filming permissions with Local Authorities, Uganda Media cards, Accommodation, transportation for you as well guide and help you with clearance processes at the point of entry into Uganda for a successful shoot of chimpanzees in Budongo forest

You will need to cover Press accreditation, accommodation, transport, and others for a successful shoot as below;

Press Accreditation

All film crew members are by law supposed to be accredited by Uganda Media Council. Once this process is completed, each crew member will be given a media card which costs USD175.00 for 30 days of filming and USD225.00 for up to 60 days of filming. Each crew member is required to fill Form G (which we normally send to you) with all details, scan and send it back to us with a copy of his/her passport as well as one photograph to be put on his/her media card. On top of this, we will need a letter from the filming company detailing who they are, why they are filming, where they will be filming, and details of crew members on this shoot. We will attach this letter to all details provided and send them to Uganda Media Council for Media card processing. This takes 2-3 working days to have these media cards ready. You will also need Chimpanzee permits which we will secure for you from Uganda lodges

Visa Advice

You will need to purchase a tourist visa. Many film crews prefer obtaining their visas before they come to Uganda and this is the best option only available by paying either USD50.00 for Tourist Visa you will be able to get it immediately.

Vehicle Hire Services

Eco Adventure Safaris organizes transport for film crews depending on their interest, budget, and the nature of roads in such selected locations. For rough terrains, like in National Parks, we recommend Customized 4×4 Land Cruisers which costs from USD200-250 per vehicle per day with Driver/Fixer or 4×4 Safari Vans from USD200 per Van per day with driver/Fixer. For us to estimate how much it will cost in terms of fuel, we will need to look at your filming schedule to establish mileage and distance to be traveled. We also organize both charter and scheduled air transport for those that need to fly in order to reduce on the number of hours.

Fixers in Uganda to help you film chimpanzees in Budongo forest

All our vehicles come with drivers who act as location fixers and most of them have been to almost all parts of Uganda and are thus conversant with the local situations and are able to provide relevant information and fix any situation on the ground. These act as intermediaries between you and our office while on location in Uganda.

Best time for filming chimpanzees in Budongo forest?

Filming chimpanzees in Budongo forest is best done in the months of June to October and December to March during this time it is a dry season in Uganda with mild rainfall making it easy for chimpanzees to trek in the Forest, as well during this time the vegetation is not fully grown and it is easy for viewing the chimpanzees offering great sights for photographs. During the other months of April, May and November which is normally a wet season this makes the vegetation grow high making the sightings unclear however during this time the treks tend to be shorter given the fact chimpanzees don’t move further distances looking for food, food is readily available. Filming chimpanzees in Budongo forest can be done throughout the year given the fact it is a very well-organized activity and you have 99% chances of seeing the Chimpanzees.

Where to stay in Budongo Central Forest reserve

In Bundongo forest lodge options where to stay include Budongo Eco Lodge, Murchison river Lodge, you can as well stay in Masindi town at Masindi Kolping Hotel.

How to book the chimpanzee permits for Budongo forest?

You will be required to book and secure your permit to confirm a spot to spend time with the chimpanzees in Budongo forest. The process of booking the chimpanzee permits is very easy with Eco Adventure Safaris throughout the year, Once you send contact us here about your interest to trek the chimps and your preferred travel dates, We shall check availability of permits and confirm if permits are there or even advise change of dates to get the permits, We shall then send you a permit payment invoice where you can opt to make payment by Credit bank or by Bank. Once we receive Payment we shall secure your permits and send you a copy of the scanned receipt for your records and Perusal.

Why book your shoot to film chimpanzees in Budongo Forest reserve with Eco Adventure Safaris?

Eco Adventure Safaris is a local fixer company, we assist filming companies and Production agencies in Uganda and East Africa as a whole for any filming assistance needed including filming chimpanzees in Budongo forest. We handle all fixer services required with our professional team of local fixers and driver guides. We have all relevant connections with other service providers and government agencies to make sure that accreditation and filming permits are processed in the shortest time possible. Contact us for details and all relevant information you would like to know to film chimpanzees in Budongo forest.