Wildlife Filming In The Congo Basin
Filming in Congo Basin; when we talk of the Congo basin, we mean that basin that consists of the richer system network, the tropical rain forests, flooded forests and other biodiversity, including the then swamps, savannah and several others that do house a lot of biodiversity. The Congo Basin region is the second region in the world that has got the most untamed forest species in the whole world, and it goes up to six states, some of which are regarded as the poorest in the world. These countries include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Gabon, the Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo. In the Congo-basin, over 400 species of mammals and over 1000 species of birds, including 10, 000 species of tropical plants and more than 700 species of fish, are found in the Congo-basin.
Further, the Congo basin coastline spans more than 250 square kilometers of the pristine beach environment, the coastal forests and the beautiful lagoon lakes. The cost of the basin provides the perfect environment for the green turtle breeding site and features the tidal lagoon with the crocodiles, hippos, and hippopotamus. Elephants and buffaloes can be seen emerging from the forests to relax in the surf, as well as humpback whales and the world’s largest recorded gathering of rare Atlantic humpback dolphins. The Cameroonian coast, located north of Gabon, forms part of the Gulf of Guinea seascape.
Filming in the Congo Basin is one of the most interesting activities that you shouldn’t miss in Africa because it represents the most biodiversity region in Africa, representing all of the tourist attractions and activities that you can do. There are some of the activities that you can film in the Congo Basin, as summarized below.
Filming wildlife in the Congo Basin:
There are many of the wildlife in the Congo Basin that you can film, and these, among others, include the African forests, filming the Ituri rain forests, and the western lowland gorillas. All these can be filmed.
Film Bonobos
Filming the bonobos in the Congo Basin will be special because bonobos are only found in the Congo Basin in the whole world, and it will be special to film these great apes. Additionally, you can also film the Batwa pygmy’s, especially the pygmies of the Congo, who can be filmed here.
Other things to film here include fish species, the Congo River, and various species of bugs found in the forest, as well as the green forest, which can make the filming quality so interesting and wonderful. Don’t need to miss this activity for your wonderful species.
How much does it cost to film in the Congo Basin?
For filming in any place or any attraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo, you should 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. This is so much fun and it is also required for the visitors who are interested in the Congo Basin.
What do you need to film in the Congo Basin?
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 filming in the Congo Basin, 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 Congo Basin 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 in the Congo Basin 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 filming in the Congo Basin in 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 film in the Congo Basin in the DR. 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.
In order to film in the Congo Basin, you must hire vehicles.
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 Congo Basin 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 Congo Basin filming safaris with Africa Adventure Vacations.
Is filming in the Congo Basin safe?
It is safe to film in the Congo Basin. 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 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 filming in the Congo Basin starts. Always contact us at African Adventure Vacations for more information.
Where to stay in the Congo Basin while filming?
There are different lodges where you can stay as you are traveling in the Congo basin. Some lodges and hotels can be found in the Kisai district, particularly in the town of Llebo, while others can be found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kasai-Occidental province. Good lodges where you can stay include the Hotel Amika, Hotel Med, Douze Maisons Motel, Guest House La Vernaise, and Guest House Woodland, among other wonderful lodges.
Getting to the Congo Basin for Filming
The Congo basin is the region found in the central part of the central basin of the Congo River, and it can only be accessed by water transport. You need to have all your equipment so much cleared that you won’t be susceptible to security reasons and so much safety while on your filming production, which makes it best once you have been cleared.
When is the best time to do filming in Congo Basin in Congo?
Filming in the Congo Basin is done throughout the year. However, it has been established that the best time to film in the Congo Basin 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 Congo Basin filming safaris in 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.