Top Things To Do In Uganda Besides Gorilla Trekking
October 21, 2021Top Safari Experiences In Kenya
January 21, 2022
Did you know that Uganda is one of the best leopard filming locations in Africa? Are leopards among the big cats you have always wanted to film? Yes, leopards (Panthera Pardus) are a few most interesting big cat families you should consider a must to film on a filming tour in Uganda.
Leopard filming in Uganda is a unique opportunity that nature lovers on safari in Uganda have to take live videos or pictures of the elusive leopards while in the wild. Interestingly, choosing Uganda for leopard filming never leaves you with regrets. There are lots of leopard filming opportunities for you filmmakers/crews or production companies to meet their filming dreams in Uganda.
In Uganda alone, the top leopard filming locations include mainly the National Parks and other sites. Each of these filming locations hosts more than leopards hence boasting your leopard filming experience. The notable leopard filming locations in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC), and others.
Top places to visit for leopard filming in Uganda
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is Africa’s remotest safari park, offering the best leopard filming experiences in Uganda- The Pearl of Africa. Kidepo NP is approximately a 10-12 hours’ drive starting from Kampala, but this depends on the route taken. If you take the Northern route, there is a chance to make a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary- the only spot where rhinos are kept in the wild.
Other than road travel, there is an alternative of flying up to Kidepo Valley National Park for your leopard filming safaris. Fly in leopard filming tour from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield takes about 1-2 hours and this depends on the aircraft routing.
Kidepo Valley National Park is 1442sq.kms and protects a good population of leopards making it one best places to visit for leopard filming. The park is best to visit during June, July to August, and January, February. However, for filmmakers interested in capturing exceptional sceneries, then the wet or rainy season is amazingly the best time to have your leopard filming tour.
The Accommodation in Kidepo Valley NP
The top accommodation to book for an overnight stay while on a leopard filming trip is Kidepo National Park includes Apoka Safari Lodge, Kidepo Savanna Lodge, Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp, and Apoka Rest Camp etc.
Murchison Falls National Park
Famous for its powerful waterfalls and as the largest park in Uganda, Murchison Falls National Park is incredibly one important leopard filming location any filmmaker or productions shouldn’t leave out. Leopard filming in Murchison Falls NP is best done during the dry season- June to September and December to February.
Murchison Falls NP straddles on 3840sq.kms of land area, North-western Uganda. The park spreads to cover protected areas such as Karuma Wildlife Reserve, Bugungu Wildlife Reserve and Budongo Forest. Murchison Falls National Park is bisected by Victoria Nile and has powerful falls- Murchison Falls that forces itself into a narrow gorge of only 7m and drops 40m before flowing to Lake Albert.
Murchison Falls NP is a big cat destination worth visiting for leopard filming. Filmmakers or production companies require valid press accreditation in Uganda obtainable from Uganda Media Council. There are also several other remarkable filming opportunities to take part including shoebill filming at the Delta, chimpanzee filming in Budongo Forest, wildlife filming, and Murchison Falls filming on Baker’s trail.
Getting there: By road, filmmakers or production companies drive for about 5-6 hours to Murchison Falls National Park. Or 7 hours’ drive from Fort Portal, Western Uganda. By air, there is an alternative of taking a domestic flight from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Pakuba or Bugungu Airfield. While at Murchison Falls NP, the key game tracks/trails to explore include the Victoria-Albert track, Buligi game track, Queens track.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is an exceptional leopard filming spot in Uganda. Filming leopards in Queen Elizabeth NP is excellently done along Kasenyi Plains/sector, an area that is also best explored on a guided game drive. The Southern sector/Ishasha offers alternative leopard filming opportunities for nature travelers.
The other wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park include elephants, hippos, buffaloes, antelope families, 620 bird species, primates and more. The places for film crew to retire for the night include Mweya Safari Lodge, Kyambura Game Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Mweya Hostels, Kazinga Channel View Resort, Pumba Safari Cottages and more.
Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre- UWEC
UWEC is found in Entebbe and it is an ideal leopard filming spot. You can start your filming a few minutes after landing at the Entebbe Airport. The education center also features several other species of wildlife. The place to stay is Karibu Guesthouse or at budget Guesthouse nearby the airport.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo NP is Uganda’s nearest safari park, only 4 hours’ drive away from Kampala and it is accessible on Kampala-Mbarara route. The park offers the best leopard filming experience and filmmakers can spend a night at Eagle Nest, Mihingo Safari Lodge or Rwakobo Rock Lodge.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, located in 3-4 hours’ drive from Kampala is home to not only the endangered rhinos but also leopards. To most nature lovers on Uganda safari to Murchison Falls National Park or Kidepo Valley National Park, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is with no doubt the main stopover point. The sanctuary’s leopard population has had a tremendous leopard population growth.
What to require for leopard filming in Uganda?
Before you think of visiting any of the leopard filming locations in Uganda, ask yourself do I have all the requirements? The relevant requirements include valid permits, press accreditation, and press accreditation/media cards can be applied for through Uganda Media Council. Note: Media cards are issued out at US Dollars 175 and it is valid for 30 days. Processing the cards takes 2-3 working days and we encourage all interested filmmakers and production companies to apply for their cards as early as possible.
