Best Places in the Democratic Republic of Congo for filming forest elephants
Are you looking for the best Places in the Democratic Republic of Congo for filming forest elephants? The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the top destinations in Africa and the whole world where you can get an opportunity to film the African forest elephants, which are unique as compared to the usual elephants in the savannah parks. You will be able to film large herds of elephants moving and grazing in various national parks throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Another reason for the forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo is that the country has got a lot of dense forests, and these provide the perfect conditions for the forest elephants to live in. The following are the top and best places in Democratic Republic of Congo for filming herds of forest elephants;
Filming forest elephants in the Salonga National Park
Salonga National Park is known as the UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is found in the middle of the Democratic Republic of Congo, spanning about 33,350 square kilometers. This is the largest and biggest forest national park in the African Continent. This park is known for having more than 4000 trees, which you can film while in the Democratic Republic of Cong. Other than the forests, the park also features other endangered creatures, including the bonobos, the Congo peacock, and the African slender-snouted or what people sometimes call the false crocodile. Because of the abundance of forest elephants in this park, this present provides the best opportunities for you to con and engage in filming the forest elephants.
Filming Forest Elephants in Dzanga-Sangha National Park
This is, obviously, one of the best places in Congo where you can get an opportunity to film large herds of forest elephants. The park, which spans over 4000 square kilometers, is located in the southwest corner of the Central African Republic. While on a gorilla safari or watching wood elephants sweep the bias, the landscapes are much more perfect than other problems in Africa, with lush woodlands that are frequently overlooked and a huge appeal for people expecting to examine something a lot more unique. Animals such as chimpanzees and gorillas can be seen in the park as you film them in the forest.
Other great places to film forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo include the Congo Basin, Virunga National Park, the Congo River, and the Ituri Forest. So, with these destinations, you will have the best filming shoots for the forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What is the cost of filming forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
All visitors interested in filming forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo must obtain valid filming permits. If you’re filming for personal use, you will just need to pay the park entrance fees and then the fees and do the activity, while if you’re filming for commercial purposes or a documentary, it will be the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature that will issue the filming permit, depending on which destination you’re going to do the filming from. But generally, you will need to pay the park entrance fees and then a percentage levied for filming, as it will be well explained by the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature. We engage with the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature to ensure that we get for you the right and affordable Congo filming permit.
What do you need to film forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
Requirement 1: The first requirement is to obtain filming permits and clearance.
For any related filming activity to be done in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo, all the filming crew members must have and possess the filming permits, which are provided with permission by the authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo in order for you to continue with your forest elephant filming safari. Other than the filming permits, you will also need to have your filming equipment cleared at any point of entry in the Democratic Republic of Congo, whether through the international airport or by using the land borders. The filming equipment is supposed to be cleared by the customs department, which is always stationed at the point of entry.
Therefore, as Africa Adventure Vacations, this is where we can help you a lot. By merely informing us of your intentions to film forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we are very experienced in organizing for you the whole adventure activity, including processing for you the filming permits required, organizing for you the accommodation facilities, transportation, help in obtaining for you the local authorities’ permits, as well as aiding you in clearing your filming equipment with the customs department of the Democratic Republic of Congo at your point of entry.
With the Democratic Republic of Congo filming procedures, there is no formal process for the filming permits allocation, and thus this is handled by negotiations between the parties, and at Africa Adventure Vacations, we are experienced in doing this. Also, the DR.Congo government doesn’t authorize filming in the areas of interest, especially filming the military installation projects, filming of government buildings, as well as filming along the border areas, and this is illegal, and you may be penalized in the courts of law or even have your equipment confiscated. If you want to do filming that will require you to shoot using drones, market filming, or filming alongside the road whereby you will inconvenience traffic, such as filming in the cities or in national parks, then you will also need to get permission from the local authorities. To avoid inconveniences, you will need to contact Africa Adventure Vacations so that we can advise you accordingly when to do forest filming in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Requirement 2: Visas and work permits are required as part of the second requirement.
As you are aware, it is illegal to enter another country without a visa. It is important that all the film crew members obtain the visa to be allowed into the DR. Congo. For the neighboring Congo countries of Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, you can get the visa immediately on arrival. For the DR Congo Visa, it’s a different story. Rather, you must apply for the visa in advance through your nearby DR Congo Embassy. The single entry visa in Congo costs $100 and is valid for one month. The one valid for two months costs $135, while for the one valid for six months, you will need to pay $400. The important thing to note is that the DR. Congo Visa will need to be applied for in advance, about 3 weeks or a month before your planned dates of travel to Congo for the filming, since this visa cannot be issued on arrival as it is in its neighboring countries. The film crew members will not be allowed to enter the Democratic Republic of Congo to film forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo without a visa. Another document here is the yellow fever vaccination card, and thus, please contact us at Africa Adventure Vacations for the best filming opportunities in the DR. Congo.
Requirement 3: You must hire vehicles in order to film forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Yes, at Africa Adventure Vacations, we make sure that we make transport arrangements for you such that when you are in the Democratic Republic of Congo for filming, you don’t get stranded. We have got our own fleet of cars, and we book and arrange the vehicle services for the film crew members depending on their interests, budgets, and the terrain of the area that is going to be filmed. For the film crew members going to film in the rough terrain, we advise them to use a 4×4-wheel-drive vehicle that will be able to navigate the hilly terrain. We shall be able to tell you how much it cost in terms of the furl and the mileage covered in order to determine how much you will spend on the vehicle per day. Africa Adventure Vacations also organizes both chartered and scheduled flights within the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially for visitors who are interested in flying and do not have the time to drive long distances on the road.
Our hired vehicles will be manned by a well-experienced driver guide who has been to the Democratic Republic of Congo and knows all the corners of the country from the point of arrival up to the forest destinations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The driver fixer will be able to share with you the basic information about the Democratic Republic of Congo and will give you all the solutions required when it comes to film fixing, so you are lucky to book your forest elephant filming safaris with Africa Adventure Vacations.
Is filming forest elephants safe in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
It is very safe to film forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Well, we all know that, over recent years, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been affected by instabilities that have threatened investors as well as the tourism industry in the country. Such instabilities and disasters have come because of Ebola and other rebellion conflicts that have halted the filming process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, as of recently, the Congo has returned to peace, with only a few cases of insecurity, and the filming industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is safe and thriving, so we can assure you that filming culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is safe. At Africa Adventure Vacations, we keep tracking and monitoring any security threats from time to time, and we are very cautious in that anytime we feel a threat, we can let you know. This advisory service is always given before your filming of forest elephants starts. Always contact us at African Adventure Vacations for more information.
When is the best time to film forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
Forest elephants in the Democratic Republic of Congo can be filmed throughout the year. However, it has been established that the best time to film forest elephants is during the dry season, which lasts from June to October and then from December to February. The Democratic Republic of Congo is covered with tropical rain forest and this has influenced the country to experience the tropical rain climate, meaning that at times you can also experience certain rains unexpectedly. Therefore, you need to prepare accordingly for the changing weather conditions.
Why should you book forest filming safaris in the Congo with Africa Adventure Vacations?
Africa Adventure Vacations is a local company based in Uganda but operates in East African countries that include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and South Africa, and we have over 10 years’ experience in aiding filming and production companies, especially those interested in filming nature-related wildlife and the culture of Africa. We provide services such as booking for the filming permits, clearing of the filming equipment, booking for the accommodation facilities, organizing transportation to the filming companies, all in the shortest period of time. We organize other wildlife packages to all of the above-mentioned countries, including gorilla packages to Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Therefore, you should not hesitate to choose us to be your film fixers in East Africa.
