Where to film the big five animals in Tanzania
Where to film the big five animals in Tanzania: Tanzania is one of the best safari destinations and one of the countries with the highest number of national parks where one can film the big five animals. Yes, Africa has got several countries where you can film the big five mammals, but filming the big five mammals in Tanzania national park is the most outstanding experience that you have ever had, and you need to come with everything possible to film these great mammals, which is extremely wonderful and interesting. In Africa, the big five animals include the African lion, the leopard, African elephants, the rhinos, and the cape buffaloes, with Tanzania having very many of these animals in various national parks. Today, we look at where one can film these animals for the best filming experience.
Filming the big five in Tarangire national park
Less than two hours from Arusha in northern Tanzania’s Manyara region, Tarangire National Park is a surprisingly popular destination for tourists. To fully film the big five in Tarangire, we advise staying for at least two days. Many people either avoid the park entirely or only arrive for a quick morning or afternoon game drive. Numerous species depend solely on the Tarangire River for water from June to October, pulling enormous herds of elephants (sometimes numbering up to 300), zebra, giraffe, impala, eland, and warthogs to drink there.
Predators like lions and spotted hyenas congregate along the river to prepare for an attack, and the park also has leopards, cheetahs, and even lions that can climb trees. Despite their rarity, African wild dogs have been seen in the park. You may see around 550 kinds of birds in one of Tanzania’s top birding locations, including the ashy starling, northern pied babbler, bushveld pipit, and a yellow-collared lovebird.
Filming the Big Five in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
It is called after the enormous Ngorongoro Crater, a 600-meter-high crater wall enclosing a 260-square-kilometer old volcanic crater. It is the biggest complete and empty caldera in the world, and it is home to more than 25,000 big game animals. The conservation area safeguards Tanzania’s final remaining population of the critically endangered black rhino, making it one of the few spots in Africa where you may see all five of the Big Five in a single day.
Large herds of buffalo and gazelle, spotted hyenas, slinking cheetahs, the elusive leopard, and even the critically endangered African wild dog may all be seen. Hippos and enormous pink flocks of flamingos can be seen if you head to the sparkling soda lakes. Another excellent location in Tanzania to shoot the Big 5 animals is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Wildebeest, the hartebeest, mountain reedbuck, zebra, spotted hyena, hippopotamus, and gazelle are a few additional interesting animal species to film in this conservation area.
Spot Rhinos in Lake Manyara National Park
Filming the Big Five in Lake Manyara National Park
A visit to Lake Manyara National Park is a simple addition to a Northern Circuit safari because it is situated halfway between Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. However, it’s recognized for its distinct ecosystems teeming with a variety of wildlife, making it well worth a trip on its own. There are at least 11 different ecosystems in this miniature Serengeti, including groundwater forests, floodplains, hot springs, and open savannahs. Lake Manyara, a stunning soda lake that is home to pink flamingos, hippos, and more than 300 other migratory birds, covers the majority of the park.
The highest density of large mammals can be found in Lake Manyara National Park. Large herds of elephants, the fabled tree-climbing lions, as well as abundant populations of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, warthog, impala, and waterbuck are among the wildlife you may see. Keep a watch out for the local baboon, vervet monkey, common monkey, and nocturnal bushbabies if you’re eager to see some primates. Leopards and hyenas can also be found in the park, though they are more elusive.
The Big 5 creatures as well as other predators, including the black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, serval, honey badger, African wild cat, spotted hyena, African civet, genet (Genetta) species, and various mongoose species can all be filmed in this park. Rare sightings of cheetahs and African golden cats exist. Baboons, lesser and greater flamingos, hippopotamuses, wildebeest, bushbuck, impala, giraffe, zebra, white pelican, yellow-billed stork, Ayres’s hawk-eagle, Nile monitor, white-breasted cormorant, palm-nut vulture, and cobra are other notable mammals.
Filming the big five in Ruaha National Park
The Usangu Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park merged in 2008, making Ruaha the largest national park in Tanzania and home to a vast array of animals. Despite this, Ruaha is still one of the best-kept safari secrets in the nation. The park, which is in southern Tanzania, is only reachable by air. This is the ultimate getaway from the well-traveled safari path because it is so secluded and teeming with animals. Large wide plains, undulating hills, century-old baobab trees, and the Great Ruaha River, which flows through the center of the national park, make up its lovely scenery.
The park is home to a staggering number of diverse species, and a large number of animals are drawn to this great river to drink and go on hunting expeditions. In just a few days, you can find cheetah, leopard, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, a large pride of lions, great populations of giraffe, zebra, buffalo, waterbuck, hartebeest, kudu, impala, bushbuck, roan, gazelle, and other species of antelope, in addition to some of the 12,000 elephants, one of Tanzania’s largest populations. With only about 100 wild dogs left in the park, you might even get lucky and sight a critically endangered African wild dog or a rare striped hyena.
Another location to capture the Big 5 animals in Tanzania is Ruaha National Park. The Greater and Lesser Kudu, Sable and Roan antelopes, wild dogs, cheetahs, giraffes, impalas, elands, jackals, and bat-eared foxes are some of the additional animals. Selous Game Reserve, Arusha National Park, Kilimanjaro National Park, Kitulo National Park, Saadani National Park, Katavi National Park, and Mikumi National Park are some of the other famous top national parks in Tanzania to shoot the Big 5.
Filming the Big Five in Serengeti National Park
If you travel during the big migration, which typically takes place from July to October, you will have the opportunity to record the lions hunting prey during the wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park, one of the greatest areas to shoot the Big 5. Wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, giraffe, spotted hyena, agama lizard, rock hyrax, secretary bird, cheetah, jackal, and aardwolf are other prominent wild creatures. One of the best areas in Africa for animal viewing is the Serengeti National Park, which is also Tanzania’s biggest and most recognizable national park. Many tourists and safari aficionados have it on their bucket lists because it is one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders.
The Serengeti, which lies in northern Tanzania, is one of the planet’s most intricate ecosystems. It connects to the Masai Mara in Kenya to form the powerful Mara-Serengeti ecosystem. One of the oldest and least disturbed ecosystems on the planet, this area’s temperature, flora, and animals haven’t undergone many alterations in the last million years.
The Serengeti, which is home to all five of Africa’s Big Five animals, is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise. Here, visitors may witness giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and other characters from The Lion King, in addition to elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and rhinoceroses. It is home to more than 500 different bird species, making it a sanctuary for bird enthusiasts. You can see all the common species and perhaps some uncommon ones, like the recently reintroduced African wild dog.
This unusual species is seriously endangered throughout Africa and has been extinct in the Serengeti since 1991. The Serengeti, known for its breathtaking landscape, is also a wildlife photographer’s heaven. In the southeast, you can wander over grassy plains; in the west, you can cross valleys, rivers, and forests; and in the north, you can climb the park’s rocky hills.
What do you need to film the big five in Tanzania?
Requirement 1: Filming permits and their costs.
You will need a filming permit to film the big five 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, then you can proceed and film the big five 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 do filming in Tanzania.
Other Permissions and filming the big five 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 film the big five 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 you to the film location in Tanzania.
A strong vehicle is essential for a filming safari of the big five in Tanzania.
Requirement 3: You need a strong vehicle when going to film the big five 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 up to Tanzania, where filming will take place. 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 big five 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.
What is the best time to film the big five in Tanzania?
Filming the big five in Tanzania is an adventure that is done all year round. The optimum time to film the big five in Tanzania is during the dry season, which runs from July until early October each year. During this time, wildebeests and zebras can be seen as well as a lot of predators because the grazers will always move and search for fresh vegetation and water, and the rains in Tanzania resume in late October when the herds begin their journey back to the southern parts of Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro crater grassland plains. Therefore, the best months are from December to February and then June to October, which is relatively dry compared to March to May and November.
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.
