Filming and Photography in Uganda

Filming and Photography in Uganda. Are you an international, regional or local media company, ad agency, brand, or production company looking for filming or photography production support and shooting crew in Uganda? Contact us for trusted and experienced directors, fixers, producers, videographers, full shooting crews, drone pilots, Director of photography, photographers, and other specific needs of your filming project in Uganda.

Filming in Uganda

Uganda is one of the best filming locations in Africa commonly tagged as “The Pearl of Africa”. Uganda filming locations depend on the need of your project, locations range from filming mountain gorillas, wildlife, forests, rivers, local culture, mountains, waterfalls, hospitals, cities and towns, historical sites among others. For introductions and guidelines to shooting in Uganda see below notes on Uganda filming permits and requirements, what is needed from each film crew member planning to film in Uganda, film locations in Uganda, when to shoot, costs and tax incentives, unique local stories, crew and talent, filming equipment, visas and work permits for filming in Uganda, transportation, Accommodation and safety advice.

Uganda Film Locations

Uganda is the Pearl of Africa. Despite the small size of Uganda, it is home to 50% of the only remaining mountain gorillas in the wild and Africa’s most diverse ranges, landscapes, wildlife and biodiversity including more than 1000 bird species. This makes Uganda one of the best filming location in Africa. Filming locations in Uganda range from rivers, lakes, savannas, mountains, jungle, waterfalls, hospitals and traditional villages.
Uganda has hosted films including The Last King of Scotland (2006), Queen of Katwe (2016), Congo (1995), and The African Queen (1951).

 

Uganda Film Location Permits

For location permits in Uganda, most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach. Please contact Eco Adventure Safaris for location specific information. All the members of the visiting crew may be required to present their Press Accreditation when filming on location so we advise you always secure this in advance before starting off the project.

Uganda Visas and Work Permits

For you to come for Filming and Photography in Uganda. Uganda requires Press Accreditation for each visiting crew member. Once all required visitor documentation is submitted, processing takes 2-3 days. Press accreditation is valid for 30 days. Visitors are required to have this permit at the port of entry, when clearing gear through customs, and when filming anywhere in Uganda. Our fixer can arrange this for all visiting crew members. Press accreditation costs US$175 per person.

1. Headed cover letter addressed to the Uganda Media Council stating the purpose of your visit to Uganda.
2. Scanned photocopies of the passport of each crew member.
3. 2 Scanned passport-size photo of each crew member.
4. $175 per crew member press accreditation fee.
5. Completed form G. (We shall share with you this form to fill in) to go ahead and secure the Uganda filming permit

Visas are required by all nationals. These can be applied for at your closest embassy, or online using the e-Visa system, or on arrival at Entebbe airport. Our local team can provide you with an invitation letter for you and your crew. The tourist visa costs $50.
Uganda has an agreement with Kenya and Tanzania to waiver visa re-entry fees if traveling between the three countries.

Similarly, obtaining an East Africa Visa allows travel multiple entry travel between Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda. Important to remember you must carry your yellow fever vaccination cards at all times.

Press Accreditation

All film crew members are by law supposed to be accredited by Uganda Media Council for Filming and Photography in Uganda. 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.

When To Shoot in Uganda?

Uganda has a wet, tropical climate, with the exception of the far north savanna region which is dry. Uganda’s first dry season runs from December to February. The first wet season runs from March to May. The second dry season runs from June to August and the second wet season runs from September to November.

The dry seasons are the best time to film for weather and tracking the Great Apes. Big game wildlife filming is best at the end of the dry seasons when animals congregate around water sources.

Uganda is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed. Public holidays may affect timing, availability, and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Uganda.

Filming in Uganda with Eco Adventure Safaris You film Smart and Capture more.

We at Eco Adventure Safaris our mission is to create life-changing and impactful Filming and Photography in Uganda which begin the moment you arrive in Africa. We are on a journey to transfer the normal way of how to explore Africa, that is on all our trips in Africa you have an optional opportunity to take part in activities mostly life-changing and giving hope to the communities as well conserving for future generations such as planting a tree, volunteering and Packing for A Purpose among others.

From our airport meet and greet, welcome services to our private and group transfers to safari destinations your Adventure safari is well planned and managed. We have a strong concern on conserving the environment on all our trip we discourage where possible no to pack non-recyclable items and carry reusable items like water bottles among other important aspects to protect the environment.