A drone can very well be used on a safari in Uganda. Wondering what are drone is. A drone is also known as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or Remotely Piloted Aircraft with a built-in camera used in taking amazing aerial photos and capturing videos. Uganda is an incredible destination of enchanted places known to exist from the ever-flowing waters of the Nile, ranking first in length in the world, and the strongest waterfall to bless the Earth, overseen by the snow-capped Mountains of the Moon that breathe life to the rolling hills that host the endangered mountain gorillas. The untamed wilderness roars with echoes of adventure, alluring the nature to uncover the tropics for primate control. The skies are lit by the colorful birds that ignite the nature lovers with sweet melodies that awaken the Big Five on the open savannah plains. This is the distinctive definition of why Uganda is not just a perfect spot for travel with a drone on a safari, but also its identity as the Pearl of Africa.
In the recent past, drones have revolutionized videography and film tourism, updating it from the traditional hand-held cameras. However, this technology of using drones was not entirely introduced for photography and videography; it was solely used by military operations across the world for espionage purposes and military operations. Drones helped in military operations to monitor hard-to-reach areas safely from danger. As time moved on, the usage of drones also fell to the civilian population, who brought the usage of drones for photography. Nevertheless, drone usage is regulated in many countries, as a simple, harmless video coverage on specific areas can cause insecurity. This is no exception in Uganda, as the country monitors and regulates the usage of drones.
Guidelines for the importation and usage of drones in Uganda for safari photography
Due to security reasons, drone usage in Uganda for safari photography is keenly studied, and rules or guidelines for importation have been put in place. A highlight of some of these guidelines is listed below.
Importation permit
Importation of a drone into Uganda for safari photography requires strict measures taken by the officials. Visitors can work with the tour operators, like Standard Safaris, on how they can help obtain the importation permit. Importing a drone for safari photography requires an importation permit issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. Obtaining this permit, one writes formally to the Civil Aviation Authority at least a month before the travel date, as this process involves intense requests and reviews from the relevant authorities, like the defense forces. After approval, an importation permit is granted, and the drone can be imported into the country.
Pilot license
Flying a drone requires a pilot’s license issued by the aviation authorities and given to individuals after approval of ownership. Granting this pilot license, one has to provide different documents, including the proof of ownership and other documents like the registration certificates.
No-fly zones
Several places in the country have been listed as no-fly zones for any aircraft and strictly for drones. Uganda’s airspace is controlled by the Civil Aviation Authority in cooperation with the defense forces. These no-flying zones or areas include the presidential residences across the country, government facilities, military areas, airports, and other places named by the authorities. Some national parks also don’t allow the usage of drones, such as in gorilla destinations, as these drones can scare and stress these primates.
Flying distance
The distance of using a drone on a safari for photography, also known as the Visual Line of Sight, means that the distance of the drone should be directly seen by the operator or pilot. There should be no obstructions between the drone and the pilot when flying.
Require flying height
A flying drone on a safari for photography should be at an average height of at least 400 feet from the ground in order not to scare the wildlife. The guide will offer the specific areas for drone photography on safaris.
However, it is also important to note that acquiring an importation permit to bring a drone into Uganda is a complex experience, as in most cases it ends negatively, as the permit is denied. Other times, this process of acquiring the permits takes a very long time and ends up conflicting with the date for travel. It is on this account that it is advisable to get in touch with your tour operator, like Standard Safaris, to hire a drone upon entry into Uganda. This is because these drones owned by the residents already possess the required documents to operate. The cost for hiring a drone per day goes between USD 100-200.
Places in Uganda best for safari photography using a drone
Uganda is an epic safari destination that binds safari with photography, and several places rank incredibly as the best for drone shoots. Some of these places include the following.
Queen Elizabeth National Park
The vast wilderness landscape of Queen Elizabeth National Park is best suited for drone photography on a safari. The park is relatively flat with epic attractions such as the wildlife and the natural features like the Kyambura Gorge, Lake Edward and Lake George, and the Rift Valley escarpments. These attractions combine to craft the best drone photography.
Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park’s terrain is also relatively flat, and best suited for using a drone for safari photography on this particular landscape. The highlight of this drone photography on a safari in Murchison Falls National Park is the waterfall, wildlife, and the landscape. Drones take the best shots of Murchison Falls, the strongest waterfall in the world, by giving it a more outward look.
Kidepo Valley National Park
The uneven terrain of Kidepo Valley National Park, characterized by the vast plains and valleys drained by ever-flowing rivers and lakes, creates a good platform for drone photography on a safari. This is in addition to the several wildlife species scattered across Kidepo Valley National Park.
