Top Uganda National Parks to film big cats. Uganda has some of the top adored National Parks to see the big cats in their natural habitats. The big cats include lions, leopards, and cheetahs. There are lions in parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park including Mweya Peninsular, Kasenyi Plains, and Ishasha. There are also big cats in parts of Murchison Falls National Park called Pakuba. In Kidepo Valley National Park they are found at Narus Valley, and also at Lake Mburo National Park. Many travelers come for safaris in Uganda desiring to see lions, which are very important animals there. A cheetah can be best be seen in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Kidepo Valley National Park
One of the best places in Uganda to film big cats is Kidepo Valley National Park. The best times to see them are from June to September during the dry season and from December to February during the wet season. You can film them on game drives to the best spot in Narus Valley in the morning and afternoon. This is the place where you can spot the cheetah. However lions and leopards can be spotted as well.
Murchison Falls National Park
Another great place to film lions, as well as leopards in Uganda National Parks is Murchison Falls National Park. When it's dry, from June to September and from December to February, is the best time to shoot them. You can film them on game drives in the morning and afternoon. There is a great spot on the northern edge of the park called Pakuba.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
It is easier to see big cats in Queen Elizabeth National Park because they can be found in most of the park. It's also possible to see tree climbing lions. These lions are most often seen in the Ishasha area, which is also where you can see leopards that climb trees. Filming can also be done during the morning and afternoon game drives. The best places are in the northern parts of Ishasha wildness, in the Kasenyi Plains and Mweya Peninsular areas, and in the southern parts.
What you need to do to film big cats in Uganda
You will need to get a filming permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority and a media card from the Uganda Media Council in order to film big cats in Uganda National Parks. After that, you will need to clear your recording gear with customs when you enter the country. If you contact us at Dav Safaris Uganda, we will take care of both the filming permits and the Uganda Media cards. We will also help you with the clearance steps at the point of entry into Uganda.
How much it costs to film big cats in Uganda's national parks
The cost of filming big cats in Uganda National Parks depends on how long you want to spend filming them in different parts of Uganda. Once you have all of the above necessities for filming in Uganda, you will need to pay the Uganda Wildlife Authority's commercial and monitoring filming fees. For commercial wildlife shooting, the Uganda Wildlife Authority charges 40% of the park entry fee per person. The current park fee per person is USD 45, implying that 40% of USD 45 is USD18 per person per day. This will cover general filming while on game drives and boat safaris. People who want to film in any of Uganda's national parks are also charged a tracking fee of 10% of the total cost. Besides this, you'll also have to pay for the following:
Getting media credentials
Media cards from the Uganda Media Council are what your team will need. Everyone gets one media card, which costs $175 and is good for 30 days. As long as we get all of your papers, it only takes 2-3 business days.
Kit customs clearance
Besides these things, you will also need to temporarily clear your gear into and out of Uganda. Dav Safaris can also help with this, and it takes 2-3 business days to finish. You only need to give us a list of all the equipment, with its type, value, and serial number. When we get this, we'll send it to our clearing company. They will let us know how much the fee is. Most of the time, the fee is 10% of the total amount.
How to get there and where to stay
Dav Safaris Uganda can enhance your transportation and lodging requirements. We have safari vehicles that are affordable and are manned by experienced driver guides. Then, where you stay will rely on your budget and preferences. There are budget lodges, mid-range lodges and luxury lodges.
When is the best time to film big cats in Uganda's national parks?
Because Uganda is on the equator, it has a modified equatorial climate with 2 wet seasons. For this reason, many people think that the best time to film big cats in Uganda National Parks is during the dry season. Unfortunately, this is true because heavy rains make it impossible to drive through the park to see wildlife because they make the roads too slippery. In Uganda National Parks, the best times to film big cats are from December to February and then again from June to October, when it's not as wet as it is from March to May and November.
List of popular itineraries for the big cats experience in Uganda National Parks
Book Uganda wildlife safaris with Dav Safaris Uganda
As a local tour operator based in Uganda, Dav Safaris is proud to offer special Uganda wildlife safaris and other tour and travel services in Africa. For any inquiries, detailed itineraries or reservations contact us via email at info@davsafaris.com and davsafaris@gmail.com. For personalized assistance, kindly reach out via phone call or WhatsApp to +256701412430 and +256757795781.