Filming Lions in Uganda: Best Locations, Permits & Tips
Filming Lions in Uganda: Best Locations, Permits & Tips- Uganda presents unparalleled opportunities to film lions, Africa’s majestic big cats. Uganda offers easily accessible yet stunning wildlife experiences. These include Queen Elizabeth National Park’s tree climbing lions and Murchison Falls National Park’s dramatic river landscapes. Film lions safely and legally in 2025/2026 with this complete guide covering top filming spots, permits, and essential tips.
Uganda is one of the best destinations, with abundant opportunities for filming lions in their natural habitat. Set in the vibrant heart of East Africa with rolling savannas and a unique ecosystem, Uganda boasts diverse wildlife and other wonders. Lions, also described as the kings of the jungle, should be a must-see on a Uganda safari. Embarking on a journey to witness lions in the wild is such an amazing experience. One way you can capture the king of the jungle is by embarking on lion filming, and Uganda is the right destination that guarantees you epic experiences.
Filming lions in Uganda comes with abundant opportunities. Your sensational filming experience with lions in Uganda involves capturing the breathtaking scenery, great moments in a pride, and more. Accompanying you on a thrilling filming tour with lions will be an experienced guide. As you enjoy your filming expedition, expect to observe the right conservation practices as per the destination.
Best Locations for Filming Lions in Uganda
Uganda offers multiple destinations where you can experience the best of lion filming tours. The major destinations to consider for filming lions in Uganda include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Kidepo Valley National Park. Each of this destination provide unique opportunities to experience the best of filming adventure with lions in the wild.
Murchison Falls National Park
Located in Northwestern Uganda along the Albertine Rift Valley area, Murchison Falls National Park is an ideal spot worth visiting for you to begin your journey to film lions in Uganda. Murchison has many game tracks, including Albert’s game track and Queen’s track, for you to conduct your filming excursion. As you film lions, expect to come across other large and small mammals such as cape buffaloes, elephants, leopards, bushbucks, oribis, Jackson’s hartebeest, warthogs, waterbucks, and giraffes.
Murchison Falls National Park is about a 6-7 hour drive starting from Kampala. En route to Murchison, you can make a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and here, expect to embark on rhino tracking.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park features among the top places worth visiting for filming lions in Uganda and across East Africa. The unique bit about filming lions in this park is that you can capture the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. Other key sectors to explore in Queen Elizabeth National Park while on the filming tour include Kasenyi and Mweya plains.
Kidepo Valley National Park
Lying in the isolated Northeastern end of Uganda, Kidepo is without doubt the best place to explore during a filming expedition. Boasting of its diverse savanna landscape and huge lion population, Kidepo National Park is worth exploring for filming lions in Uganda.
Essentials to film lions in Uganda
Like any wildlife documentary tour, filming lions in Uganda also requires you to have certain essentials. Filming permits obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) are required. Press accreditation from the Uganda Media Council and clearance for filming equipment are a must. Visitors intending to go to film lions in Uganda are also required to secure accommodation facilities to rest for a night before or after filming lions. The planning process and booking are possible through a reliable tour operator like Native Africa Tours.
Filming fees in Uganda
To embark on filming lions in Uganda, participants are required to pay 40% of the activity fee. The filming fees with a drone shall be charged 50% of the activity. Consider booking your filming tour and permits in advance.
Press Accreditation
Film crew members are required, as per the laws of Uganda, to be accredited. The Uganda Media Council conducts accreditation. When you have completed the process, every crew member is provided a valid media card at about USD 175, which runs for 30 days of filming lions. Or obtain one valid for days of filming at USD 225. Each crew member should have filled out Form G, and this can be sent to you to provide the required details. You are expected to scan and later send the document back with a copy of your passport and one photograph to be attached to your media card.
You also need a letter from the filming company providing details about who you are, why you intend to go to film lions, the destinations to film lions, and also details of the crew members or participants. This letter shall be attached to all the details provided by you and sent to the Uganda Media Council kick kick-start obtaining a media card. Within 2-3 days, your media card can be ready, and our tour operator can alert you.
A valid visa is also essential. It is what provides you access to Uganda to begin your journey to film lions in any of the destinations of your preference.
Transportation
Interested participants in filming lions in Uganda must also plan for their means to help them carry on their activity. For car hire services or transportation, you don’t need to have any worries. We have you sorted with our range of rental cars suitable not only for game drives but also for filming excursions. We offer comfortable 4×4 safari vehicles suitable for navigating the savanna landscapes. Contact our expert to plan and book your filming tour in Uganda and beyond.
Where to stay?
Each of the destinations where lions are filmed in Uganda has comfortable lodges and camps. At Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can consider booking lodges close to the park. These include Elephant Plains Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Bulbul Safari Lodge, Engineers Game Lodge, Ihamba Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, and many others.
Accommodation in Murchison Falls National Park includes Paraa Safari Lodge, Nile Safari Lodge, Heritage Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Red Chili Camp, Chobe Safari Lodge, and more.
Kidepo Valley National Park consists of many accommodation options. These include Apoka Safari Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, Adere Safari Lodge, Katurum Lodge, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, and Zebra Safari Lodge.
The best time to go film lions in Uganda
Filming lions in Uganda can be done at any time of the year, thanks to the country’s ideal weather conditions. But the dry season is amazingly the best time to enjoy an excellent filming tour with lions. The longest dry months extend from June, July, and August to September, then another phase starts from December to February. These dry months are often characterized by low or no rainfall. The game tracks are kept drier, thus allowing you to enjoy smooth navigation. This will help you enjoy filming lions in the wild.
The wet months, on the other hand, come with heavy rains. Because of heavy rains, the game tracks tend to be muddy and slippery. This can slow down your movement and disorganize the entire experience.
What else should you carry on a tour in Uganda?
Besides filming equipment, expect to also pack other essentials. These include comfortable safari clothes, a daypack, insect repellents, a rain jacket, a sweater, comfortable shoes, a pair of socks, a medical kit, a safari hat, toiletries, bottled drinking water, and snacks, etc.
Ultimately, Filming Lions in Uganda: Best Locations, Permits & Tips results in a superb lion filming experience for wildlife filmmakers. Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls national parks, with their diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes, provide incredible opportunities for storytelling. Uganda offers unparalleled close-up lion filming opportunities in Africa, provided proper permits, expert help, and conservation measures are followed.
Consider filming lions in Uganda for your next project. Contact our team for filming safaris, location scouting, and permit help customized to your needs.
