Film in Volcanoes National Park

Film in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is one of the best places in the World to film Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat. The Park is also home to various primates including Golden Monkeys and various monkey species. The park is one of the 3 national parks found in the Virunga volcano ranges with the other two including Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo. There is much to film and see in Volcanoes National Park ranging from the beautiful landscapes and sceneries, bamboo forests, local Rwandan cultures and traditions, volcanoes, and primates among others.

What to film in Volcanoes National Park.

Mountain Gorillas and Other Primates

Mountain Gorillas are the prime primates to film in Volcanoes National Park. other primates include Golden monkeys and various species of monkeys. For you to film Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park you will need to secure a gorilla permit that costs $1500 per person from Rwanda Development Board and process other Rwanda filming requirements.

Dian Fossey Tomb

Dian Fossey was the lead person in the conservation and sustainability of mountain gorillas in Rwanda and the Virunga ranges. She dedicated her life to their protection and conservation including her study about the mountain gorillas which took place at Karisoke Research center and lasted for 18 years. She was mysteriously murdered in 1985 and later buried next to Digit her favorite gorilla friend in Volcanoes National Park. The gorilla graveyard has about 20 gorillas buried here that were killed either by poachers or by natural causes making it a great place to film Dian Fossey’s legacy towards her conservation story of the now endangered mountain gorillas.

Birds

Volcanoes national park is one of the 3 Important Birding Areas (IBA) in Rwanda with the rare Albertine rift endemics. The park is home to about 165 species of birds including 17 endemics.

Musanze Caves

Musanze caves were formed due to a volcanic eruption which formed an underground space large enough for humans to enter. Musanze Caves are over 1 million years old believed to have been formed during the creation of the Volcanoes in the area. The molten rock moving underneath left behind tunnels that formed a cave.

Virunga Volcanic Mountains

The Volcanoes National Park protects Rwanda’s part of the Virunga mountain ranges it is home to five volcanoes namely Mountains Muhavura, Gahinga, Sabinyo, Bisoke, and Karisimbi. Great for filming Landscapes and craters on top of the Volcanoes.

Requirements and permissions for filming in Volcanoes National Park

You will need to get a filming permit for you to be allowed to film in Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda filming permits are issued by the Ministry of Sports and Culture. Filming permits can be secured directly by contacting this ministry however if you want less hassle then Film crew Fixers can assist you to do all the ground processes to secure for you the Rwanda Filming permits. Filming permits in Rwanda cost $30 valid for 15 Days and $50 valid for 3 Days. The permits are strictly issued by the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture an institution under the Ministry of Sports and Culture. Then your filming equipment will also need to be cleared with customs at the point of entry in Rwanda. Contact us at Film crew fixers we will process both the filming permissions with Local Authorities in Rwanda, Accommodation, transportation for you as well guide, and help you with clearance processes at the point of entry into Rwanda.

Rwanda Press Accreditation

After securing the Rwanda Filming permits for filming in Rwanda, all film crew members must have press Accreditation from the Rwanda Media High Council to be allowed to film in Volcanoes National Park. For you to get the press accreditation in Rwanda you will be required to fill in the Rwanda Press Accreditation Application Form (Which we normally send to you) with all details and then attached the following;

• Official letter requesting for accreditation addressed to the Executive Secretary
• Two colored passport size photographs
• A copy of your passport
• A copy of visa except for those who come from countries that benefit from the Rwanda Visa Waiver For example From the East African Community member states, USA, COMESA Member states among others contact us here for more details
• A copy of a press card from your country of origin
• A receipt of Payment from the Rwanda Revenue Authority
• List of Filming equipment and kits to be used during your shoot

On top of this, we will need a letter from the filming company detailing who they are, why they are filming, where they will be filming, and details of crew members on this shoot. We will attach this letter to all details provided and send them to Rwanda Media High Council for press accreditation. This takes 2-3 working days for the press accreditation cards to be ready.

For you to secure the Rwanda Press Accreditation you are required to pay as follows to Rwanda Revenue Authority depending on the length of your shoot in Rwanda;

• $30 Press Accreditation Card valid for 01 to 15 days
• $50 Press Accreditation Card valid for 15 days to 30 days
• $100 Press Accreditation Card valid for 1 to 3 months
• $200 Press Accreditation Card valid for 3 to 6 months
• $300 Press Accreditation Card valid for 6 months to 1 year

Kindly note the rates above are used as a guide and these change from time to time. Contact us here for up-to-date rates for filming in Volcanoes National Park.

Rwanda Visa Advice

You will need to purchase a Tourist or Business visa for you to get into Rwanda for Filming. Many film crews prefer obtaining their visas before they come to Rwanda but visas can be obtained easily upon arrival at any entry point and in this case Kigali International Airport upon paying either USD50.00 for Tourist Visa you will get it immediately. Those who come from countries that benefit from the Rwanda Visa Waiver For example From the East African Community member states, USA, COMESA Member states among others don’t need to pay for the Visa and they will be cleared upon arrival at any point of entry into Rwanda contact us for more details.

Rwanda Vehicle Hire Services

Film Crew Fixers organizes transport for film crews depending on their interest, budget, and the nature of roads in such selected locations they are filming in Volcanoes National Park. For rough terrains, like in National Parks, we recommend Customized 4×4 Land Cruisers which costs from USD200-350 per vehicle per day with Driver/Fixer or 4×4 Safari Vans from USD200 per Van per day with driver/Fixer. For us to estimate how much it will cost in terms of fuel, we will need to look at your filming schedule to establish mileage and distance to be traveled. We also organize both charter and scheduled air transport for those that need to fly in order to reduce the number of hours.

Fixers in Rwanda to help you film in Volcanoes National Park

All our vehicles come with drivers who act as location fixers and most of them have been to almost all parts of Rwanda and are thus conversant with the local situations and can provide relevant information and fix any situation on the ground. These act as intermediaries between you and our office while on location in Volcanoes National Park.

Lodges to stay in during filming in Volcanoes National Park

Lodges to stay in during filming in Volcanoes National Park range from Budget, mid-range to luxury options, Luxury options include Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Five Volcanoes Hotels, and Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge. The price ranges from USD300 to USD1000 per person per night.

The Midrange lodge options at Volcanoes National Park include Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and Lebambou Gorilla Lodge, Davinci Lodge. For budget lodges in Volcanoes National Park options are many from basic accommodation to camping which includes Kinigi Hotel, Hotel Muhabura, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Virunga Hotel, Faraji Hotel, and La Palme Hotel or Home Inn.

How to access Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park can be best accessed by road the park is just a 2 to 3 hours drive from Kigali town. You can also fly from Kigali to Kivu and then drive 40 minutes to Volcanoes National Park.

What is the best time to film in Volcanoes National Park?

Filming in Volcanoes National Park is done throughout the year and the best time is during the dry season months of June to September and December to March.

Why use Film crew fixers to film in Volcanoes National Park.

Film crew Fixers is a local fixer company, assisting filming companies and Production agencies in Uganda and East Africa as a whole. We handle all fixer services required with our professional team of local fixers and driver guides. We have all relevant connections with other service providers and government agencies in Rwanda to make sure that accreditation and filming permits are processed in the shortest time possible. Contact us for details and all relevant information you would like to know to film in Volcanoes National Park.