Filming in Saadani National Park

Filming in Saadani National Park

Saadani National Park is where the beach meets the bush. It is the only national park in East Africa with an Indian Ocean beachfront. The park gives you an opportunity to film animals basking along the Indian Ocean shores. The park boasts of a wide range of wildlife which can be filmed during game drives and walking safaris and all the attributes that make Tanzania’s tropical coastline and islands very popular with European sun-worshipers. This is one of the places in Tanzania where those tourists at idle hours of sunbathing might be interrupted by an elephant strolling past or a lion coming to drink at the nearby waterhole

The park was protected as a game reserve since the 1960s and then in 2002, it was expanded to cover twice its former area. The park suffered greatly from poaching before to the late 1990s but in recent years there has been a turnaround and poaching has been controlled with great collaborations with the neighboring villages.

What to film in Saadani National Park

Wildlife

Animals that are found in Saadani National Park include giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs, common waterbucks, reedbucks, hartebeests, wildebeests, red duikers, greater kudus, elands, sable antelopes, yellow baboons, and velvet monkeys. Herds of up to 30 elephants are encountered with increasing frequency, and several lion prides are inhabitants, together with leopards, spotted hyenas, and black-backed jackals. Boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami River come along with a high chance of sighting and filming hippos, crocodiles, and a selection of marine and riverine birds, including the mangrove kingfisher and lesser flamingo. The beaches form one of the last major green turtle breeding sites on mainland Tanzania.

How to get to Saadani National Park

Charter flights from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam are available to help you access the park. A Thrice-weekly road shuttle from Dar es Salaam which takes four hours in either direction is also available.

No road access from Dar es Salaam along the coast – Follow the surfaced Moshi road for 160km (100 miles), then 60km (36 miles) on dirt. Road access from Tanga and Pangani except after heavy rains 4×4 required.

Requirements and fees to film in Saadani National Park

You will need to get a filming permit from Tanzania Film Censorship Board and Tanzania National Park Authority for you to be allowed to film in Saadani National Park. Securing a filming permit in Tanzania can be an expensive and time-consuming process so make sure to allow plenty of time for us to help you secure the permit for you. The first step is to complete all necessary applications with the help of your Tanzanian production service producer/fixer. The application will be submitted to your local Tanzanian consulate so that they can complete the application. Once that is done you will send the original documents back to your Tanzanian service producer/fixer for finalizing with local Tanzanian authorities.

A regular Tanzania Filming permit costs US$1,000 if you apply 3 months in advance and a last-minute Tanzania Filming permit costs US$3,000. Contact us here to help you secure the Tanzania filming permit.

Other permissions and fees for filming in Saadani National Park

Once you have obtained a filming permit for filming in Tanzania, there may be other permissions needed depending on what you want to film in Saadani National Park. Permissions include filming inside the national park or conservation area, drone filming, and night filming. Tanzania has many rules and regulations when it comes to filming and therefore it is important to be properly guided through this long bureaucratic process.

Various filming fees apply for filming within Tanzania national parks, wildlife areas, and conservation areas. National Parks and conservation areas have specific fees to film crews that change regularly. Contact us here for up to date filming fees in Saadani National Park

On top of the above, you will need to cover accommodation, Visas and work permits, fixer fees and transport for a successful shoot in Saadani National Park Park as below;

Tanzania Visa and work permit Advice

You will need to purchase a tourist visa. Many film crews prefer obtaining their visas before they come to Tanzania but visas can be obtained easily upon arrival at any entry point in Tanzania upon paying USD100.00 for Tourist Visa you will be able to get it immediately. Proof of yellow fever vaccination and a COVID-19 free certificate may be asked if arriving from affected countries. Visa, work permit, and other entry and exit conditions such as customs and quarantine regulations can change regularly. We advise you to contact your local Tanzanian embassy or here for the latest travel information to Tanzania.

Tanzania Vehicle Hire Services

Film Crew Fixers Uganda will help you organize transport for film crews to film in Rubondo Saadani National Park depending on their 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 USD200-350 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.

Film Fixers in Tanzania to help you film in Saadani National Park

All our vehicles come with drivers who act as location fixers and most of them have been to almost all parts of Tanzania 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 Tanzania. Contact us here if you are in need of a Film fixer in Tanzania to help you film in Saadani National Park.

Accommodation in Saadani National Park

Lodge options to stay in during filming in Saadani National Park range from Budget, mid-range to luxury options. You will choose what to stay in depending on your interests and budget. Lodge options in Saadani National Park include Saadani Safari Lodge, Saadani River Lodge and Saadani Guest House among others.

What is the best time to film in Saadani National Park?

Filming in Saadani National Park 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.

Why use Film crew fixers Uganda to film in Saadani National Park

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 for the last 8 years. 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 are processed in the shortest time possible. Contact us for details and all relevant information you would like to know for successful filming in Saadani National Park.