Filming the big cats of Akagera national park
Are you interested in booking filming the big cats of Akagera national park Rwanda? This park is the only place where you can meet all the big cats in the wild. the national park is located in the northeastern part of the country in Kayonza district and what makes it famous is the huge population of animals living in this park. The park is a home of about 8000 large mammals, over 400 bird species, and about 7 small lakes with Lake Ihema being the largest in the park.
Akagera national park can be visited at any time of the year for any activity including filming the big cats and can be accessed in just a single day from Kigali international airport or within Rwanda for its located just 2-3 hours drive from Kigali city.
Filming the big cats in Akagera national park includes filming lions, cheetahs, and leopards all of which live in different areas of the park. Lions are the newly introduced cats in Akagera national park for they were brought from South Africa in 2015 and 2017 and this made them the first lions of Rwanda. The lions were brought by the African Parks a non-government organization managing the park.
There are also leopards in Akagera national park although the number is not as much as that of lions. The population of leopards is not much but there are some areas where tourists are assured of meeting these animals and these include areas around Magashi Tented Camp. To film the big cats in Akagera national park, you can use a local tour operator to book for you everything from the permits to the accommodation and transport.
Is filming big cats in Akagera national park Rwanda allowed?
Yes filming the big cats in Akagera national park is allowed as long as you have proper permits and permission to do filming in this park. Tourists going to film the big cats of Akagera national park can fil the lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
What does it take to film the big cats of Akagera national park?
Tourists will need to fill out a Rwanda permit authorization form and get a filming license for Akagera national park from the Rwanda Development Board a body in charge of all tourism activities in the country.
Second, you need to get filming permissions to members of the press in Rwanda from the Rwanda Media High Council and the members will have to complete the Rwanda press accreditation application form to enable them to film the big cats of Akagera national park.
Another letter will be written and sent to the Executive Secretary requesting accreditation
Later you will scan passport photos of members, the passports, and you will email all these together with the media press card and a receipt from the Rwanda Development Board to the Rwanda Revenue Authority.
How much are the filming permits for Akagera national park?
The filming permits for Akagera national park are of different prices and this means tourists will have to pay depending on the number of days they want to stay in the park. 1-15 days pay $30, 15-30 days $50-, 1-3 months $100, 3-6 months $200, 6 months – 1 year $300. All the above money is paid to the Rwanda Development Board or you can pay it through a trusted local tour operator.
Below is a quick summary about Media or Filming Permit Fees 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
Please note that the above rates can change from time to time; we therefore advise you to contact us for latest Rwanda Media Permit fees.
What is the best time to film the big cats of Akagera national park?
Tourists can fly to Rwanda and visit Akagera national park for filming at any time of the year but there are months that are better than the rest. The drier months are the best to film the big cats of Akagera national park and these occur from June to September and December to February. During the above months there is little or no rainfall and this would hinder the filming or affect the filming equipment, the game trucks are dry, the vegetation in the park is short giving clear views of the big cats and the roads leading to the park are passable.
Tourists can still visit Akagera national park in the rainy season of March to May and October to November and film the big cuts just that these months are characterized by too much rainfall. During the rainy months the plenty of rainfall makes the game trucks muddy, the vegetation is tall and this affects filming because the animals are not seen clearly, the roads leading to the park are impassable. Tourists who film the big cats in the rainy season do get huge benefits from accommodation facilities.
Where to stay on a filming safari in Akagera national park?
Akagera national park is a place with so many accommodation facilities that are spread within the park and outside the park so tourists coming for filming in this country don’t have to worry about where they are to stay. The lodges of Akagera national park are budget, mid-range, and luxury with where to stay depending on your budget. Some of the accommodation facilities in Akagera national park include Magashi Safari Camp, Karenge Bush Camp, Magashi Tented Camp, Akarenge Game Lodge, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Akagera Resort and Country Club, Akagera Rhino Lodge, Nyagasambu Realm Beach Hotel, and Vintage Cottage among others.
Accessing Akagera national park for filming big cats
Tourists who want to film the big cats of Akagera national park will have to fly into Rwanda through Kigali international airport. From Kigali international airport, tourists will meet their safari driver guide who will drive them through different rolling hills for 2-3 hours to the northeastern side of the country where Akagera national park is located. Luxury travelers can also board helicopters at Kigali international airport to one of the airstrips in the park.
