Filming the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya

Filming the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya

Filming the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya is one of the best filming activities that will give you an opportunity to explore Africa’s best wildlife. The Great Migration happens every year which involves over 1.5 million wildebeests and thousands of Zebras migrating from the southern parts of Serengeti National Park plains and Ngorongoro crater to the southern parts of Masai Mara National Park in Kenya and back to Serengeti National Park. It is named the Great Migration because it is not like other migrations this is unique and hard because it involves a clockwise movement of wildebeests and Zebras spanning an approximate 3000-kilometer journey as they search for fresh grounds and rear their young ones during seasonal changes every year. The Great Migration normally happens in the dry season forcing the wildebeests and Zebras to move in search of fresh grazing vegetation and water. The Great Migration is an epic safari option recommended for many travelers visiting Kenya and Tanzania this will give you best the African Safari Experience.

During the Migration of the wildebeests and Zebras rear their young ones, this is not simple given the fact it is more than 3000 miles journey which is tiresome making it a life and death migration, many die because of exhaustion giving a chance to other carnivore animals to ease their search for food like Hyenas, Cheetahs, and Lions. Of the above dry months, August and September are the best months to see the Great Migration given the fact this is a good time as well to experience the river crossing during the migration, late October the rains will resume in Tanzania and the herds will start their journey back to southern parts of Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro crater grassland plain areas.

What is the best time to film the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya?

The best time to film the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya is during the dry season period that is between the months of July to early October every year. During this period in the southern parts of Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater the vegetation is sparse and dry, the waterways are as well dry this forces the wildebeests and Zebras to migrate to the northern plains that are the southern part of Masai Mara National Park to search for fresh vegetation and water.

Where to stay while filming the Wildebeest Great Migration

Lodge and Hotel options to stay in while filming the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya range from Budget, mid-range to luxury options. You will choose what to stay in depending on your interests and budget. Lodges include Mara Serena, Little Governors Camp, Mara Sopa Lodge, Keekorok and Sarova Mara, Mara Intrepids, and Explorer among others. Contact us here for reservations and booking details.

Requirements to film the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya

Like filming in any other National Park in Kenya, you will also need to get a filming permit from Kenya Film Commission for you to be allowed to film the Wildebeest Great Migration. In order to get a Filming Permit, one must write a letter requesting the permit and fill out an application form which must be accompanied by a copy of the screenplay, story synopsis, and a planned shooting schedule to film the Wildebeest Great Migration. 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 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 for you to be able to successfully film the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya.

Filming fees and costs to film the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya

The following charges are applied for filming the Wildebeest Great Migration 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 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.

Press Accreditation

All film crew members are by law supposed to be accredited by Kenya Film Commission for them to be allowed to film the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya. 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. 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.

Why use Film crew fixers to film the Wildebeest Great Migration 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 the Wildebeest Great Migration in Kenya.