Filming Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Filming Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park and Maiko National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo is of great importance to analyze and showcase what the country offers. The Eastern Lowland gorillas are at times referred to as Grauer gorillas, and they are known as the biggest species of mountain gorillas in the whole world. The Eastern Lowland Gorillas are different from other species of mountain gorillas because of their large hands, stocky bodies, and short muzzles. They depend mainly on the fruits in the wild and other plant species. The Eastern Lowland Gorillas are only endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo tropical rain forest. However, these areas are threatened by the human activities that threaten their existence.
Where to Film the Lowland Gorillas in Congo In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the eastern lowland gorillas are found only in the Kahuzi Biega National Park and then in the Maiko National Park.
Filming Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National Park
This is one of the most wonderful and best national parks found in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and visitors can drive to this wonderful park only 50 kilometres from Bukavu town. Kahuzi Biega National Park is listed as a world heritage site because it is home to the most endangered types of eastern swamp gorillas, which are only found in the fair republic of Congo. The eastern 75,000 acres are entirely mountainous.
The Mitumba Mountain range, the western piles of the Great Rift Valley, relies on the massif. Mount Kahuzi (3,308 m) and Mount Biéga (2,790 m) are both extinct volcanoes, and the massif dates from the late Tertiary to the early Quaternary. Kahuzi-Biega National Park contains a diverse range of vegetation that supports a wide range of plant, vertebrate, and bird species, with Eastern swamp gorillas being the most visible of the warm-blooded animals discovered. Chimpanzees, owl-faced monkeys, elephants, Bush bison, and Alexander Bush squirrels are among the other primates. The Albertine Rift’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park has a greater diversity of warm-blooded animal species than any other site.
It is the area’s second-most important location for both indigenous species and explicit variety. Kahuzi Biega National Park protects around 136 distinct kinds of well-developed creatures, the most notable of which is the eastern Lowland gorilla, as well as 13 different primates, including endangered species such as the chimp, the colubus bai, and the cercopiuthic of Hoest and Hamlyn. Giant forest hogs can also be found here. Please, this is the best place where you can come and film the Eastern Lowland Gorillas.
Filming the Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Maiko National Park
Maiko National Park, Congo is another national park where you can film the Eastern Lowland Gorillas. However, it is not available for gorilla trekking as compared to Kahuzi Biega National Park. Maiko National Park Congo is located in one of Congo’s most remote tropical jungle areas, with a total area of 10,885 km2 (4,203 sq mi). Maiko National Park is divided into three areas, covering the territories of North Kivu, Province Orientale, and Maniema, which is an obvious sign that explorers intending to visit gorillas in Maiko public park can have safari augmentations to cover Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park for the comparison of mountain gorillas and eastern marsh gorillas in the wild of Congo. Visitors who are interested in filming eastern lowland gorillas can take this chance to visit the Maiko National Park to film the wonderful eastern Lowland Gorillas documentary.
What is the cost of filming Filming Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
All visitors going for filming Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo must obtain valid filming permits. In order to film the eastern lowland gorillas, you must first get a gorilla permit. At the moment, there are two habituated lowland gorilla families in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which means that the gorilla trekking is very competitive and thus you must book your gorilla safari in advance. At the moment, the cost of the gorilla trekking permit in the Democratic Republic of Congo is at USD400 per person per day for non-residents and 200 USD for the East African residents, while it is only 20 USD for the Congolese residents. Thus, on top of this, you will be able to pay the extra filming costs additionally, and this is so very interesting. 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 gorilla trekking permit 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.
Where to stay during filming Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
There are a lot of facilities, including lodges and hotels, where you can stay around Kahuzi Biega or Maiko National Park. The lodges are either midrange, budget, or luxury accommodation facilities. From here you can stay at Coco Lodge, Hotel Bukavu, Orchids Safari Lodge, and Mount Kahuzi Hotel, among other facilities, which are so interesting and wonderful for your accommodation facilities.
What do you need for Filming Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The first requirement is to obtain filming permits and clearance.
For any related filming activity to be done in the Democratic Republic of Congo, all the filming crew members must have and possess the filming permits and gorilla trekking permits, which are provided with permission by the authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo in order for you to continue with your filming of Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Congo. 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 Eastern Lowland Gorillas 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 Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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 do Eastern Lowland Gorilla filming in 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 need to hire vehicles for filming Eastern Lowland Gorillas 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 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and knows all the corners of the country from the point of arrival up to the Kahuzi Biega or Maiko National Park for Filming Eastern Lowland Gorillas 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 Eastern Lowland Gorilla filming safaris with Africa Adventure Vacations.
Is it safe to film eastern lowland gorillas in the Congo?
It is very safe. Well, we all know that over recent years, DR. 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 Eastern Lowland Gorillas in 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 the Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Congo start. Always contact us at African Adventure Vacations for more information about filming Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Congo.
What to wear during the Eastern Lowland Gorilla filming in Congo?
In order to have a successful Eastern Lowland Gorilla filming safari in Congo, there are some of the items that you should not miss from your packing list, especially the right dressing code depending on the conditions available. Therefore, our visitors or the film crew members should put on or come with the following during filming:
- You need to wear long-sleeved shirts or long trousers while filming. It is good when they are waterproof, as this will protect you from being harmed by sharp tree branches and stones as well as thorns while in the Congo wildness filming.
- You need to wear water-proof shoes during filming. This will help you to navigate through the slippery trails that you will be following while filming in Congo, as these will give you stability on the ground.
- Don’t miss out on putting on the gardening gloves when filming, which will be very helpful in protecting your hands, and you can put them off when you feel you no longer need them.
- You also need to come prepared with a rain jacket because, in most cases, filming is done in the tropical rain forests that are always wet, and this is why putting on a rain jacket is of great help to you.
- Since filming is always done in the wild, it is good that you have insect repellent with you to safe guard against various insects, such as mosquitoes and other biting insects.
Other clothes that you should not leave out are the water-proof safari back and jacket, as these will help protect your filming equipment from getting in touch with water. You can also put on the African safari hat, safari socks, and shorts that you can sometimes put on, among others.
What is the best time to film the Eastern Lowland Gorillas?
Filming of Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo is done throughout the year. However, it has been established that the best time to film Eastern Lowland Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo 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 choose Africa Adventure Vacations for Eastern Lowland Gorilla Filming Safaris?
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.