Filming in Tsavo National Park

Filming in Tsavo National Park

Tsavo National Park is the largest National Park in Kenya it was established in 1948 and it is commonly known as the Theatre of the wild. The Park is divided into East and west intersected by the Nairobi to Mombasa railway and road. The park has interesting and diverse habitats, wildlife, and scenic mountain landscapes. Tsavo East is an easily accessible and popular park attracting large numbers of tourists annually. Its scenic features include its large herds of Elephants and other wildlife and its striking natural landscapes and structures. Tsavo West National Park has a more varied topography and a more diverse array of habitats than Tsavo East National Park. Filming in Tsavo National Park will give you an opportunity to explore both sides of the park, wildlife including all the Big 5 animals and Cheetahs, its pristine habitats including open plains alternating with savannah bush and semi-desert scrub and acacia woodlands providing you with great scenery to shoot.

What to film in Tsavo National Park

Wildlife

Tsavo National park is best known for its large herds of Elephants and other wildlife which include Leopards, Cheetahs, wild dogs, buffaloes, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, lions, plains game, crocodiles, mongoose, hyrax, dik-dik, lesser kudu, and porcupine. The park also has over 600 recorded bird species.

Major attractions

Yatta plateau which is about 300 km in length is one of the world’s longest lava flows. Lugard Falls on the Galana River, Caves with potential for geological and cave exploration and hiking, Mzima springs and underwater hippos and fish watching, Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary, Lake Jipe, Mountain Kilimanjaro, diverse birds, and plant species.

Requirements to film in Tsavo National Park

You will need to get a filming permit from Kenya Film Commission for you to be allowed to film in Tsavo National Park. In order to obtain 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, 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 in Tsavo National Park, Kenya

The following charges are applied for any filming in Tsavo National Park:

• 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

1. a) 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)

1. b) 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.

1. c) 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 in Tsavo National Park 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 obtaining 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 in Tsavo 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 USD200-250 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. We also organize both charter and scheduled air transport for those that need to fly in order to reduce the number of hours to Tsavo National Park.

Fixers in Kenya to help you film in Tsavo National Park

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.

Accommodation in Tsavo National Park

Lodge options to stay in during filming 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. Accommodation options in Tsavo National Park include Patterson Safari Camp, Galdessa Camp, Kilaguni Serena Lodge, Ngulia Lodge, Severin Safari Lodge, and Voi Safari Lodge.

How to get to Tsavo National Park

By road: Tsavo East National Park is easily accessible on tarmac from Nairobi 233km south via Mtito Andei Gate and 25okm north of Mombasa on the main road from Nairobi to Mombasa. Tsavo West National park the main access routes are through Chyulu Gate from Amboseli and Miti Andei Gate.

By Air: There are daily scheduled flights from Nairobi and Mombasa to airstrips Kamboyo, Kilaguni, Tsavo Gae, Jipe, Kasigau, Finch Hattons, Ziiwani, and Maktau.

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

Filming in Tsavo 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 to film in Tsavo National Park, 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 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 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 in Tsavo National Park.