Filming in Giswhati Mukura National Park

Filming in Giswhati Mukura National Park is one of the interesting parks to film in Rwanda. It is Rwanda’s newest national park which was created in 2015 after merging Gishwati forest and Mukura forest. The park is the smallest and least visited National Park in Rwanda. It is home to various primates, birds, reptiles and tree species including the endangered Eastern Chimpanzees. Filming in Giswhati Mukura National Park will give you an opportunity to film chimpanzees which live alongside golden monkeys, L’Hoest and Blue Monkeys. It is the only National Park in Rwanda where you can film Chimpanzees and Golden Monkeys at the same time.

RWANDA GORILLA TOURS

• 2 Days Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda
• 3 Days Gorillas and Golden Monkey Tracking in Rwanda
• 3 Days Akagera National Park Wildlife Safari
• 5 Days Rwanda Primates Safari
• 6 Days Gorillas and Game Safari in Rwanda
• 7 Day Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda Safari

What to film in Giswhati Mukura National Park

Primates

Giswhati Mukura National Park is home to various primates, these include Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys, L’hoest Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Olive Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Black and White Colobus monkeys

Birds

Giswhati Mukura National Park is home to over 230 bird species among them including the Albertine endemic species this has made it one of the best places for filming birds in Rwanda. Notable bird species include Regal Sunbird, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Ruwenzori Batis, Wood hoopoe, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Martial Eagle, Strange weave, Grey Crowned Crane, Dusky Crimson wing, Ruwenzori Turaco, Mountain Yellow Warblers and Red-throated Alethe some are endemic to the Albertine Rift.

Filming the Gisakura Tea Plantation

Filming the Gisakura Tea Plantation is suitable for tea enthusiasts and those who appreciate the beauty of nature.  You will have an opportunity to film process how tea is produced starting from how tea is grown, harvested and processed.

How to get to Gishwati-Mukura National park

The park can be accessed by road from Kigali which is about 2 hours drive to the park. For those interested in flying to the park there is an option of a chartered flight from Kigali to Gishwati Mukura.

Accommodation in Gishwati-Mukura National Park

Giswhati Mukura National Park has one lodge called Gishawti Lodge given the fact it is still a new national park more accommodation facilities and camps are yet to be set up. Gishwati Lodge is has about 6 luxury chalets which house less than 15 guest at a time with this we advise you book your stay here in advance atleast 2 to 3 months before visiting the park.

Requirements and permissions for filming in Gishwati-Mukura National Park

You will need to get a filming permit for you to be allowed to film in Gishwati-Mukura National Park. Rwanda filming permits are issued by the Ministry of Sports and Culture. Filming permits can be secured directly by contacting this ministry however if you want less hassle then Eco Adventure Safaris can assist you to do all the ground process to secure for you the Rwanda Filming permits. Filming permits in Rwanda cost $30 valid for 15 Days and $50 valid for 3 Days the permit is strictly issued by Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture. Then for your filming equipment will also need to be cleared with customs at the point of Entry in Rwanda. Contact us at Eco Adventure Safaris we will be able to process both the filming permissions with Local Authorities in Rwanda, Accommodation, transportation for you as well guide and help you with clearance processes at the point of entry into Rwanda.

Rwanda Press Accreditation

After securing the Rwanda Filming permits for filming in Rwanda, all film crew members must have press Accreditation from the Rwanda Media High Council to be allowed to film in Gishwati-Mukura National Park. For you to get the press accreditation in Rwanda you will be required to fill in the Rwanda Press Accreditation Application Form (Which we normally send to you) with all details and then attached the following;

• Official letter requesting for accreditation addressed to the Executive Secretary
• Two coloured passport size photographs
• A copy of your passport
• A copy of visa expect for those who come from countries that benefit from the Rwanda Visa Waiver For example From the East African Community member states, USA, COMESA Member states among others contact us here for more details
• A copy of a press card from your country of origin
• A receipt of Payment from Rwanda Revenue Authority
• List of Filming equipment and kits to be used during your shoot

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 Rwanda Media High Council for press accreditation. This takes 2-3 working days for the press accreditation cards to be ready.

For you to secure the Rwanda Press Accreditation you are required to pay as follows to Rwanda Revenue Authority depending on the length of your shoot in Rwanda;

• $30 Press Accreditation Card valid for 01 to 15 days
• $50 Press Accreditation Card valid for 15 days to 30 days
• $100 Press Accreditation Card valid for 1 to 3 months
• $200 Press Accreditation Card valid for 3 to 6 months
• $300 Press Accreditation Card valid for 6 months to 1 year

Kindly note the rates above are used as a guide and these change from time to time. Contact us here for up to date rates

Rwanda Visa Advice

You will need to purchase the tourist or Business visa for you to get into Rwanda for Filming. Many film crews prefer obtaining their visas before they come to Rwanda but visas can be obtained easily upon arrival at any entry point and in this case Kigali International Airport upon paying either USD30.00 for Tourist Visa you will be able to get it immediately. Those who come from countries that benefit from the Rwanda Visa Waiver For example From the East African Community member states, USA, COMESA Member states among others don’t need to pay for the Visa and they will be cleared upon arrival at any point of entry into Rwanda contact us here for more details.

Rwanda 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 they are filming in Rwanda. 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 travelled. We also organize both charter and schedule air transport for those that need to fly in order to reduce on the number of drive hours.

Fixers in Rwanda to help you film in Gishwati-Mukura National Park

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

What is the best time to film in Gishwati-Mukura National Park?

Filming in Gishwati-Mukura National Park is done throughout the year and the best time is during the wet season which happens in months of April to May and November, during this time food is readily available in the forest for the primates and their movements are not very sparse making it easy to spot and film them in close proximity of the forest.

Why use Eco Adventure Safaris to film in Gishwati-Mukura National Park.

Eco Adventure Safaris is a local fixer company, we assist filming companies and Production agencies in Uganda and East Africa as a whole we have done this for the last 8 years. 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 in Rwanda 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 in Gishwati-Mukura National Park.