Filming the wildebeest migration in Tanzania
Filming Wildebeest Migration in Tanzania: If I am not mistaken, this is one of the most interesting activities to film while in Tanzania, and you need to come and enjoy this great safari experience for the benefit of your documentary. Many people have filmed the wildebeest migration in Tanzania, and now you can be part of the only group that has ever carried on a filming safari in Tanzania.
Filming the wildebeest migration in Tanzania will involve you filming over a million animals moving continuously in a circular pattern across the Serengeti-Mara environment during the Great Migration, one of the most popular wildlife and natural experiences. In pursuit of grass and water, columns of wildebeest migrate continuously with a large group of friends. The animals travel through the Serengeti up and around in a clockwise pattern towards the Masai Mara in Kenya after calving in the southern region of Tanzania’s Serengeti, close to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, before returning toward the end of the year. As thousands of creatures are killed by predators and thousands more are born, replenishing the population and maintaining the cycle of life, tremendous drama is constantly present along the way.
The figures are staggering: in quest of nourishing grass and water, nearly 1.2 million wildebeest, 300,000 zebra, topi, and other animals migrate continuously through the Serengeti-Mara habitat. Each wildebeest will travel 800 to 1,000 miles on its own over historic migration routes, guided by instincts for survival. Only the strongest survive in this natural display, which is sometimes referred to as “the greatest show on Earth” thanks to hungry predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs, and crocs. If you have enough time, then you can film the wildebeest movement cycle that transports the animals from Tanzania’s southern Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (though not into the Crater itself), across the Serengeti, across into Kenya’s Masai Mara, and back again. The trek is fraught with peril: crocodiles take their fair share of the stragglers; newborn calves are stolen by predators; the slow are brought down by lion prides; daring animals break legs on steep river slopes; and the weak and tired drown.
In Serengeti National Park, the wildebeests begin and end their migration. Every year, millions of zebras and more than 1.5 million wildebeest migrate from the southern plains of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park to the southern plains of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, then return to the former park. Wildebeests and zebras are typically forced to migrate during the dry season in search of new pastures and water. This is a fantastic opportunity for wildlife and wildebeest footage for filmmakers. Additionally, you will be able to capture footage of lions and cheetahs hunting throughout the migration.
Filming the wildebeest migration in Serengeti
When is the best time to film the wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park?
The wildebeest migration may be continuously filmed throughout the year, whether the animals are giving birth or attempting to traverse rivers while dodging predators. It is preferable to capture the Great Migration of the Wildebeest in Tanzania during the dry season, which runs from early July to mid-October each year. This causes the wildebeests and zebras to migrate to the northern plains in the southern part of Masai Mara National Park in search of fresh vegetation and water. During this time, the vegetation in the southern parts of Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater is sparse and dry, and the waterways are also dry. August and September are the best months to view the Great Migration out of the aforementioned dry months because it is also a good time to witness the river crossing during the migration. In late October, when Tanzanian rains resume, the herds will begin their return journey to the southern Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro crater grassland plain areas.
Every year, around January, the migration will have completed its journey south and will be entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area along the eastern fringe of the Serengeti. Here, the plains are abundant in nourishing grass, giving the herds the ideal surroundings for rearing their calf calves. Even though this migratory circuit has no actual beginning or finish other than birth and death, it appears reasonable to refer to the wildebeests’ breeding season as the migration’s beginning. The herds move onto the short-grass plains around Olduvai Gorge and the lower northern slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater highlands in late January or early February. In a span of two to three weeks, around 400,000 calves are born here, or almost 8,000 calves per day.
After giving birth in February and March, the wildebeest herds start to migrate northwest toward the greener grass of the middle Serengeti around April. Along the way, they are followed by large numbers of zebra and smaller herds of antelope. In May, columns of wildebeest stretch for several kilometers as the animals begin to gather by the Moru Kopjes, close to Dunia Camp, one of the few Serengeti lodges that offer migration viewing at this time of year. Dunia Camp is one of the few places in the Serengeti that offers this service. Male wildebeest engage in head-to-head combat as mating season approaches at the end of May. The trek continues leisurely throughout “the rut,” with the wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle grazing along the way. The wildebeest continues, and you can follow the movement throughout the year as you are filming.
Lodges or campsites where to stay during the wildebeest migration filming in Tanzania.
Budget, mid-range, and luxury lodge and hotel options are available in Tanzania while filming the Great Migration of the Wildebeest. Depending on your preferences and financial situation, you will decide where to stay. Some of the lodges are Mwiba River Lodge, Mwiba Wildlife Reserve, Mbali Mbali, Soroi Serengeti Lodge, Singita Sasakwa Lodge, and Zawadi Serengeti Safari Lodge.
The cost of filming in Tanzania
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.
Requirements for filming the wildebeest migration in Tanzania
Filming permits and their costs: You will need a filming permit to participate in any filming activity in Tanzania. 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, you can begin filming wildebeest migration filming trips in Tanzania. 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 film the wildebeest migration in Tanzania.
Other Permission and Wildebeest Migration Filming Fees in 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 Serengeti National Park for filming the wildebeest migration in Tanzania. 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 and from Tanzania for filming.
You need a 4×4 vehicle to film the wildebeest migration
You need a 4×4 vehicle when going to and from filming the wildebeest migration in Tanzania: 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 filming the wildebeest migration. 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 filming the wildebeest migration in Tanzania.
How to access Serengeti National Park for wildebeest migration filming
Flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is located around 46 kilometers (29 miles) from Arusha, is the best way to get there. Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport can be reached by flying into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), which is located just outside of Dar es Salaam (JRO). From Arusha, there are frequent flights to several airports inside the park. Alternatively, you can drive the 325 km (202 mi), which will take you roughly eight hours. Although the journey is rough, the scenery is beautiful, and you’ll get to see some wildlife. One common option is to fly one way and drive the other way, making a stopover the next day to visit the Ngorongoro Crater, as the journey passes through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive to the Seronera region of the Serengeti from the crater is around three hours long and 140 kilometers (90 miles) away.
Filming equipment freight
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.
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 black rhinos, 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.
