Best Places to Film Hippos in Kenya

Best Places to film Hippos in Kenya

Kenya is one of the best places in Africa to film Hippos. A hippo is one of the most sought-after animals during a safari for many travelers visiting Kenya. Below are the best places to film hippos in Kenya.

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Maasai Mara is one of the finest wildlife destinations in the world offers excellent chances of filming schools of hippos in various hippo pools and rivers in the reserve.

Hippo Pool at Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park hippo pool is the main concentration of hippos of this park. The park is located just 7 kilometers away from Nairobi. Nairobi National Park is unique in being the only protected area in the world with a variety of animals and birds close to the capital city.

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National park is surrounded by the Kilimanjaro Mountains the park is also home to the rare spectacle elephant shrew to the huge bulk of African Elephants. Filming the hippos in this park will give you superb pictures with Kilimanjaro as a backdrop 

Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru is one of the beautiful national parks in Kenya, with its alkaline lake home to the pink flamingos you also have a great opportunity to film hippos, cheetahs, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos.

Requirements to film Hippos in Kenya

You need to get a filming permit from Kenya Film Commission for you to be allowed to film Hippos in Kenya. In order to get a Filming Permit, one must write a letter requesting the filming permit and fill out an application form which must be accompanied by a copy of the screenplay, a story synopsis, and a shooting schedule. These should be sent to the Film Licensing Officer, Kenya Film Commission. Filming permits for features, documentaries, short films, music videos, corporate videos, and commercials are issued within minutes of application. Applications for TV Series and full-length feature films are processed in less than 48 hours (2 to 3 days) of application. Contact us at Film crew fixers we will be able to help you process the filming permissions with the Local Authorities in Kenya.

Filming fees and costs to film Hippos in Kenya

The following charges are applied for filming Hippos in Kenya:

• Ksh. 8, 000 ($80) for five (5) people for one (1) week or part thereof.
• Ksh. 12, 000 ($115) for six (6) – ten (10) people for one (1) week or part thereof.
• Ksh. 20, 000 ($200) for more than ten (10) people for one (1) week or part thereof. 

Kenya Filming Fees

Filming rates

• Adverts, documentaries, dramas, short features; still photographs KSHS 5,000 ($50)
• Full-length feature films, TV series KSHS 15,000 ($150)
• Daily filming fees KSHS 1,000 ($10)

Liaison Officer’s service charges

The Ministry charges Ksh. 400 ($5) per day to cover Liaison Officer’s services provided by a government Liaison Officer to be attached to the crew.

Other charges

• Each visitor is required to pay Ksh. 2,000 ($20) to the Immigration Department for a special pass before engaging in any film shooting. The crew may, however, arrive in Kenya on a visitor’s pass while the filming special pass is being processed. We recommend you travel after all the filming paperwork has been arranged to avoid inconveniences.
• For all filming equipment, a nominal non-refundable fee of 1% of the value of the equipment or Ksh 30,000 ($300) whichever is less is payable to the Customs Department on presentation of a film license.

On top of the above you will need to cover Press accreditation, accommodation, transport, and others for a successful shoot of Hippos as below;

Kenya Press Accreditation

All film crew members are by law supposed to be accredited by Kenya Film Commission. Local filming agents and Private production companies or individuals are requested to submit their applications through a local agent registered with the ministry. This requirement is mandatory for all applications to make feature films or documentaries in Kenya. Each crew member is required to fill out a Kenya Film License Form (which we normally send to you) with all details, scan and send it back to us with a copy of his/her passport as well as one photograph to be put on his/her filming license. 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 Kenya Film Commission for film license processing. This takes 2-3 working days to have these film licenses ready. 

Kenya Visa Advice

You will need to purchase a tourist visa. Many film crews prefer getting their visas before they come to Kenya but visa’s can be obtained easily upon arrival at any entry point and in this case Nairobi International Airport upon paying either USD51.00 for Tourist Visa you will be able to get it immediately.

Kenya Vehicle Hire Services

Film Crew Fixers will help you organize transport for film crews to film Hippos in Kenya depending on their chosen filming location interest, budget, and the nature of roads in such selected locations to film in the park. We recommend Customized 4×4 Land Cruisers which costs from USD200-250 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. 

Fixers in Kenya to help you film Hippos in Kenya

All our vehicles come with drivers who act as location fixers and most of them have been to almost all parts of Kenya and are thus conversant with the local situations and are able to provide relevant information and fix any situation on the ground. These act as intermediaries between you and our office while on location in Kenya. Contact us here to help you secure a film fixer in Kenya.

Accommodation

Lodge options to stay in during filming Hippos in Kenya range from Budget, mid-range to luxury options. You will choose what to stay in depending on your interests and budget. Contact us here for details. 

What is the best time to film Hippos in Kenya?

Filming Hippos in Kenya is done throughout the year and the best time is during the months of December to February and then June to October which is relatively drier than March to May and November this offers great sightings and easy shoots. 

Why use Film crew fixers to film Hippos in Kenya

Film crew Fixers is a local fixer company based in Uganda, we assist 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 to make sure that accreditation and filming permits in Kenya are processed in the shortest time possible. Contact us for details and all relevant information you would like to know for successful filming of Hippos in Kenya.