Filming in Rubondo Island National Park
Filming in Rubondo Island National Park: This is one of the best island national parks in the world, located in the southwest corner of Lake Victoria, and it has become an excellent wildlife conservation area, as well as the largest island national park in Africa, measuring up to 10 km wide and 26 km long. The island’s virgin tropical rainforest covers more than 75% of it. The island has been a haven for wild chimpanzees, sitatunga antelope, elephants, and giraffes since the 1960s. With its extensive greenery, huge trees, and lush vegetation, Rubondo Island resembles a movie set, and you can make your filming safari program at ease as you capture the beauty of Lake Victoria.
One of the most unique places to visit in Tanzania is Rubondo Island Camp, the only lodging option inside the national park. You are the only visitor on the island, save for a few park wardens and researchers. Take a stroll through the dense forest in search of chimpanzees in the trees above, take a G&T cruise around the serene lake at dusk, or go outside with a pair of binoculars to spot some of the 300 bird species that frequent the island. Rubondo, which has its own airport, is reachable from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha, and the Serengeti. To combine this wild island getaway with an unforgettable gorilla encounter in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, travelers can alternatively fly directly from Kigali.
In addition, animals are always nearby. Rubondo Island National Park has about 300 bird species, along with 40 orchid types that attract colorful butterflies. The two most significant pursuits in this region are walking safaris and bird watching. Because a few hippos and crocodiles still inhabit the shore, despite its beauty. All these competitors make the Rubondo Island National Park one of the best filming safari destinations that you don’t need to miss in Tanzania.
Let’s see what you can film at Rubndo Island National Park.
When you decide to go on a filming safari, the park has a lot of attractions and interesting things that you can film, including the following:
Endangered chimps and other wildlife are being filmed at Rubondo Island National Park; chimps are protected on the island. Elephants, giraffes, antelopes, black and white colobus monkeys, hippos, crocodiles, various bird species, tilapia fish, and hippopotamuses are among the other prevalent creatures.
Filming fish in Rubondo Island National Park: Anglers from all over the world go to this island to try and catch a Nile perch, one of Africa’s largest freshwater fish, which may be found in Rubondo National Park.
Other things to include in your film mix at Rubondo Island National Park
Numerous waterbirds, immigrants from Europe and introduced African grey parrots, African fish eagles, Sitatunga, elephants, giraffes, hippos, bushbucks, pythons, crocodiles, chimpanzees (not completely habituated), bush pigs, and suni are among the animal species seen in abundance. Others include a magnificent perspective of one of the last remaining specimens of evergreen dense primary lowland Congolese forest with a unique ecological mosaic in the middle of high biodiversity value, with the lowest point in the lake (Irumo) being part of the park, beaches with a lot of beauty and visitors, like Fly Catcher, Mchangani, and Michicoco, the important Irumo and Kamea Gulfs, Clear views of both sunrise and sunset Cultural landmarks including “Ntungamirwe,” “Maji Matakatifu,” “Altare,” and “Solo” provide insight into the way of life of the native people who once lived in the park. “Birds Islands,” a breeding ground for aquatic birds, such as Crocodile Island, among others, are extremely outstanding.
The cost of Filming in Rubondo Island National Park
Visitors who are interested in filming any destination in Tanzania are informed that there is some money that they will need to pay to do commercial filming in Tanzania. The filming permit will be issued by the Tanzanian government through the Tanzania Filming Board. Here at Africa Adventure Vacations, we will completely assist you in getting the filming permit in Tanzania and make sure that everything you need will be sorted in the quickest time possible. Once you have got the permit, which costs $1000, and this fee is for the regular permit, once you have this, then you will be able to go to the park where you will be filming, pay for the entrance, and immediately start the activity of filming.
What do you need to film in Rubondo Island National Park?
Requirement 1: Filming permits and their costs.
You will need a filming permit to participate in any filming activity in Rubondo Island National Park. All those who are interested in filming in Tanzania will have to book their filming permits from the Tanzania Film Censorship Board and the Department of Antiquities in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
Once you have this filming permit, then you can proceed and start your filming trips to Rubondo Island National Park. It is very important to note that getting a filming permit in Tanzania might be expensive and time-consuming, and thus the visitors must ensure that they book early with us so that we can start the process of securing the filming permit for Tanzania early. Make sure that you undergo all the application forms for filming with the assistance of your local Tanzania production service film fixer. This is the step that you must take before anything. Once you have finished the application procedures, make sure that you submit the forms to your reputable local Tanzania Consulate. This will help to quicken and complete your application process. Later, after this exercise, you will be asked to send your original documents back to your Tanzania film fixer to finalize the process with the authorities in Tanzania.
Permits for filming can only be used for three months at a time. Giving oneself as much time as possible to accomplish this process is recommended. If you just have a short amount of time, you can get an expedited permit, but the expenses will be substantially higher. A standard permit costs $1,000. The film crew members who don’t have time and would like to book the last-minute filming permit in Tanzania will have to pay $3,000 each. Please contact us here at Africa Adventure Vacations as we can help to secure the filming permit to enable you to make and do filming in Tanzania.
Other Permission and Filming Fees in Rubondo Island National Park, Tanzania
The moment you are done with getting the filming permit, which is the core of filming in Tanzania, remember that you might need some other permissions that you will need to gain access to Rubondo Island National Park for filming safaris.
The other permissions that you might need may include filming inside the protected area or the national park, in case you need to do drone filming, as well as those interested in night filming safaris in Tanzania. Several laws and rules guide visitors or those who are interested in filming in Tanzania, and thus you must get the proper film fixer with high credentials to guide you so that you are not caught on the wrong side of the law. Please be reminded that you will also need to cover the accommodation costs, the visa, the film fixers’ fee, and the vehicle that you need to transport to Rubondo Island National Park for filming.
Requirement 3: You need a 4×4 vehicle when going to Rubondo Island National Park for filming safaris.
When you trust Africa Adventure Vacations as your film fixer, then you will get the opportunity to book for yourself a strong vehicle that will transport the crew members to and from Rubondo Island National Park for filming. We offer the vehicle based on the preferences of our clients and their budget, but also the location where you are going to film, because it may also determine the kind of vehicle that you might need. Because of the nature of the terrain, which might make you travel long distances, we kindly urge you to book our customized
Daily, these cost about $200 to $250 per vehicle, and this price includes the fuel and the driver. You can also opt for our 4×4 safari van, which is available for $200 daily. By contacting us, we shall make sure that we calculate everything, and thus we shall inform you and give you the inclusive price. Each of our vehicles is accompanied by drivers who work as area fixers, and many of them have traveled to nearly every part of Tanzania, so they are familiar with the local conditions and can provide critical information and resolve any situation on the ground. While in Tanzania, these serve as intermediaries between you and our office. And please contact us for any film fixers in Tanzania. We are available 24 hours a day to be able to help you with all the information relating to Rubondo Island National Park in Tanzania.
Filming equipment freight and customs
If you choose Tanzania as your recording destination, you will almost certainly need to bring film equipment with you. The most efficient method of air shipping freight is to “go with” the baggage on your aircraft. The alternative option is to convey it as “unaccompanied” cargo via airship. The last method is more expensive, and the hardware may spend some time in customs at the port of entry. In Tanzania, the temporary importation of film equipment is governed by a bond framework or system. You can save the entire value of the hardware with the Tanzanian government for the duration of the shoot. You can apply for a discount on this bond’s cash market value. In any event, film studios can pay a freight agent or specialist a non-refundable 10% of the total cost of the equipment in exchange for the use of his or her bond. This is a shorter and less complicated cycle.
The best time for filming safaris in Ruhondo Island National Park is now.
Filming in Ruhondo Island National Park in Tanzania is an adventure that is done all year round, but the best times for filming are during December and then from June to October. This time, weather conditions are dry and this makes filming activities so much more fantastic. The ideal opportunity for filming in Ruhondo Islands National Park, Tanzania, is during the dry season, which lasts from June to December. Filming in the rainy season is hectic and I would advise anyone to think of filming dry this time. However, the wet season is associated with the green color of nature because of the regeneration of vegetation, and this at times makes filming an adventure that is done all day or all year through. The wet season disturbs the film crew members, and it happens especially from March to May and November. Therefore, it is good that you film hippos from December to February and then June to October, which is relatively dry compared to March to May and November.
How to get to Rubondo Island National Park for filming?
There are two methods to get to Rubondo Island National Park: parking boat, which can accommodate up to seven people, but reservations are necessary. Additionally, there is the choice of taking a taxi or a motorcycle from Muganza port to Rubondo Island.
Where to stay while filming at Ruhondo Island National Park?
On Rubondo Island, there are a variety of lodges to choose from, ranging in price from cheap to luxurious. Depending on your preferences and financial situation, you will decide where to stay. Rubondo Island Camp, Boki Lodge, Chato Beach Resort, Boma Guest House, and Divinity Guest House are just a few of the lodging possibilities in the Rubondo Island National Park.
Why should you book your Tanzania filming safari with Africa Adventure Vacations?
Africa Adventure Vacations is a well-known tourist company based in Uganda that operates in East African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and South Africa. We have more than ten years of experience assisting filming and production companies, particularly those interested in filming nature-related wildlife and African culture. We offer services such as obtaining filming permission, clearing filming equipment, reserving lodging, and arranging transportation to filming businesses, all in the shortest amount of time possible. Other wildlife tours are available in all of the countries mentioned above, including gorilla tours in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As a result, you should not hesitate to choose us as your East African film fixers.
