Filming Tree Climbing Lions in Uganda

Uganda is one of the top tourist destinations gifted with a tree-climbing lion species. It’s not an accident that Winston Churchill named Uganda, “the pearl of Africa” indeed it is. Tree climbing lion is one of the rare species of lions in Africa and the world at large, however, the Ishasha sector in Uganda is their famous colony.

It should however be noted that foreign journalists (filming crew employed by film production companies or freelancers) are mandated to apply for and get a media card before being allowed to import their filming equipment in Uganda. Media cards or media accreditation are issued by the Uganda media council and each filmmaker is supposed to apply for his or her media card.

Filming tree climbing lions is one of the most interesting ventures in Uganda and you need to travel for 5-6hrs from Kampala or Entebbe Airport to the Ishasha sector which is the only home of the tree-climbing lions. Ishasha sector is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park which is the second largest park in Uganda after Murchison Falls National Park. Not only tree-climbing lions, but the journey will also expose you to other attractions like Non – tree-climbing lions, Baboons, Monkeys, Antelopes, Elephants, Buffaloes, waterbucks, impalas thus a wide filming coverage.

Why Filming tree climbing lions in Uganda?

There are several reasons accounting for the filming of tree climbing lions in Uganda. Being a rare species of its kind, tree-climbing lion documentary can earn the filmmakers a lot of money if sold to the media houses to be used as adverts and to film production companies to add part of the clips to their movies.

Some filmmakers aim at advertising the rare species of tree-climbing lions.

In Uganda, all tree-climbing lion filmmakers must sign contracts and make payments to the Uganda Wildlife Authority which means, part of the revenue is put on the conservation and protection campaign.

Best time to Film Tree climbing lions in Uganda

Crystal Film Fixers Uganda organizes tree-climbing lions filming in any season of the year however, dry season from June to September and from December to February is the best time for encountering tree climbing lions in the Ishasha sector because filmmakers’ cameras are affected by rainwater, filming exercise can also be delayed or affected by rain and above all, the disappearance of the tree-climbing lions into their hideouts to get warmth. More so, the tree-climbing lion’s trails are not slippery in the dry season.

Where Tree climbing Filmmakers can stay while on Filming

Ishasha sector is dominated by Luxury, Mid-range, and Budget accommodation. Tree climbing lion film crew can hire camping gear from Crystal Fixers Uganda and you do camping in any camping grounds found in Ishasha however basing on your budget, you can stay in Luxury, Deluxe or Budget accommodation like Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Ishasha Ntugwe River Camp, Savanna Resort Hotel, Enjojo Lodge and so on.

How to reach Tree climbing Lions in Ishasha Sector?

By Road, you can reach the ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park from Kampala city to Fort portal and then to Queen Elizabeth national park and then link to the Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park which will take about nine hours from Kampala to Ishasha sector. From Mweya in Queen Elizabeth National Park to connect Ishasha in Queen Elizabeth National Park takes you 2 hours. While from Lake Mburo National Park it is six hours on road to access Ishasha’s sector in Queen Elizabeth National park via Mbarara Kasese road. Visitors going for gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park can as well link to the Ishasha sector on a 2-hour drive.

By Air transport, you can fly from Entebbe Airport to the Kihihi Airstrip and then drive via Queen Elizabeth National Park to the Ishasha sector.