Filming in Kenya

Filming in Kenya has to be done with permission from the Kenya Film Commission and a work permit issued out by the immigration department. Kenya Film commission issues out the general filming permit for crews and anyone who intends to film in Kenya and this has to be done before the shoot begins through a local fixer. Our team includes specialized fixers that are able to help you with pre-production activities such as acquiring film permissions, visa, and special pass applications, custom clearance location scouting, accommodation, and transportation. For more information about filming in Kenya, get in touch with your local Kenya fixers by phone or email.

Kenya filming Permit/License.

In order to obtain a permit to film in Kenya, application has to be done to the Kenya film commission through your local agent. A properly filled in Kenya license application form has to be filled in and presented to the commission with other documents that include

Synopsis and details of the shoot
Passport copies
Passport sized photos
Introduction letter of the company and crew members.
Full list of the equipment to be imported into the country for the shoot

The process and authorization time of the permit depends on the type pf production you are applying for. The permit for TV Series and Full-length Feature Films are processed within 3 to 5 working days while permits for short features and shoots take about 1 day to be confirmed.

The cost for a Kenya film permit is as described below

Documentaries, short features and drama cost KSH 5000 which is also 50USD
TV series and full length features cost KSH 15000 which is 150 USD
Daily filming fee which costs 10USD.

Special pass/Work permit for filming in Kenya

Filming in Kenya requires you to have a special pass which allows you to officially film in Kenya. The special permit works as an official document that allows foreigners to work in the country. This special pass costs 200 USD per person and is issued out by the Immigration department of Kenya . In addition to this , upon arrival into the country , the special pass also has to be endorsed.

Special pass authorization takes 2 to 3 working days upon application through your local fixer in Kenya.

Location permits.

In addition to the General film permit and special pass, certain location will require you to have additional permits as expected by their administrative authorities. These location include National parks, Privately owned institution and property and the public property that is owned by government. These could include county permits, city permits and so much more. If you have a particular location in mind , contact our local Kenya fixer to assist you get location permits.

Drone permits for Filming in Kenya.

Flying and filming with drones in Kenya can only be done when you have acquired the necessary permissions from Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. When planning to film with a drone, there is an option of hiring one locally which is easier as the permit as this doesn’t require an importation permit . However there is also a process of importing one though this process can be abit lengthy.

If you intend to import a drone to film in Kenya, a temporary importation permit has to be requested . With the necessary requirements provided , a temporary import permit for your drone can be gotten within 4 to 6 weeks . All you have to do is follow the steps below with the assistance of our fixer.

Apply and film in an RPAS/Drone Operations Application Form
Provide an introduction letter requesting for the permit. This letter should include details of location, drone and the drone pilot
Provide specifications if the drone and its operator manual and its insurance
Provide the certificate of the intended drone pilot
You also need to get you need to get a Class III medical certificate issued by a recognized aviation designated medical examiner.

Drone importation fees vary depending on the type of drone and this fee is determined once the application is made and when the fee is paid , the drone is cleared in for filming in Kenya. In addition to this , please note that different locations may also charge a fee for filming with drones especially national parks and reserves.

Drone Filming regulations

When filming with a drone in Kenya, it is important to note that flying drones in Kenya is very Regulated and you have to adhere to the set rules and regulations that include the following.

Avoid NO FLY ZONES . These include the airport, The State house, Military and police posts and any other places that may be communicated to you in the process of application
Drones are supposed to fly at or below 400ft/122meters
Flying a drone has to be done only during daylight
Drone flying speed should be kept under 100mph
Do not fly directly over people especially when filming in public places.
When flying, ensure to yield right way to any manned aircraft.
When filming wildlife, don not fly so close to the animals

Kenya Filming Locations

Kenya has a good deal of filming locations, depending on your interest. They range from towns to national parks, lakes, museums, and so many more. Our work is to assign you a location film fixer in Kenya to assist in scouting and production.

National reserves and parks.

Kenya is home to a multitude of wildlife that is found in reserves and parks. Different reserves are popular for different animals and if you are looking to film wildlife, then consider some of the following

Masai Mara is one of the most popular wildlife destinations in Kenya and Africa as a whole. the reserve has several conservancies that are both privately and government owned and fees for filming here vary according to the conservancy of interest. The Masai Mara is a great place for filming the wildebeest migration that happens annually. Apart from that , you can film animals such as lions, leopards, cheetahs , elephants, buffaloes and so much more.

Tsavo National Park . This is the largest park in Kenya by size with two sectors namely East and west. Tsavo is known for its large population of wildlife. The park has elephants, lions, buffaloes, hippos, cheetahs, leopards, lesser kudu, zebras, porcupines, hyraxes, wild dogs, mongooses, and crocodiles.
Amboseli National Park is also another good location . The park is characterized by acacia woodland, open plains, rocky thorn bushes, swamps and marshland. It is home to acacia woodland, open plains, rocky thorn bushes, swamps and marshland
Other popular parks , reserves and wildlife locations. As already mentioned, Kenya is a wildlife hub and has several locations that one can choose to film from . in addition to the Masai Mara, Tsavo and Amboseli , you can look out for the following:

Other Locations.

Cities and Towns.

Kenya has several cities that can be explored and filmed the major one being Nairobi city where you will be able to find several gems such as the city life , places such as the giraffe centre, the elephant sanctuary , Nairobi national park. Festivities and markets that showcase the culture of the people.

In addition to Nairobi , you can choose to film in cities such as Eldoret, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru , Meru and others.

Historical sites and museums

Kenya has a number of these that can be incorporated in your project when filming in Kenya and these include Fort Jesus in Mombasa, The Gedi ruins, Kenya railway museum, Nairobi Gallery and so much more. These sites stand as a testament of the history of the country and are great for those that are interested in documenting culture and history.

Tips for Filming in Kenya

Planning. It is important for you to plan ahead of your arrival. As You plan you have to consider things like the time period that is required for you to get the necessary permits that are suitable for you shoot to avoid any delays and inconveniences. In this stage, you have to look into different aspects such as the time, the fees that you have to pay for permits.

Hire and work with a local fixer. Filming in Kenya is very easy when you work with a professional local fixer to help you along every step of the shoot. Our local fixers are available to help you plan and execute your shoot in Kenya. From providing the necessary information in the planning stage, to acquisition of the necessary permits and logistical assistance during shoot days, our fixers are well equipped to provide you with assistance.

Consider the time and season. Kenya as a country experiences both the dry and wet seasons of climate and the dry season is usually in the months of June to September and January to February. For those that are interested in filming wildlife and in National parks, this is the best time because the wildlife can be spotted easily and the roads are in good condition as compared to the rainy season. March to May and October to December is characterized with Rain. When planning your shoot, this should be put into consideration. Public holidays are also to look out for when it comes to permits as several offices are closed during those days and seasons.

Take into consideration the culture and the rules and regulations of the country. It is important to carry yourself in a way that is respectful to the government and the local people so as to have a successful shoot in Kenya.

Kenya filming permissions and Licenses.

Africa Fixers is able to process all the necessary permissions that are needed for your shoot to take place. This all depends on the location you are filming, the number of people, and the purpose of your project. We will process all the required permits and permissions as soon as we get details of your project, what it is about when you want to film, how many people, and all special production requirements. Get in touch with our Kenya fixers to discuss this further.

Location scouting in Kenya

Africa Fixers offers location scouting services. With a plot from you, we are able to find and search all the locations that you are interested in and make sure that they are available for you. Do you have any particular location that you are interested in, please let us know so that we can check it up for you. Let’s chat over it by clicking here.

Hiring filming Equipment in Kenya

Kenya has an abundance of equipment for hire. For those who are not interested in bringing in their own gear. You just have to send us a kit list of the required equipment and their specifications, and we shall check its availability for you. Please contact us for more details.

Kit customs clearing in Kenya.

Crews who are interested in bringing their own equipment into the country have to go through customs clearing, Africa Fixers make sure that the equipment is successfully cleared in for the time period needed. Kenya clearance is through a bonded agent. You have to send a list of the kit. The list should have the type, serial numbers, and the value of dollars. 10 percent charge is paid for the equipment to be cleared.

Transport and Accommodation

Africa Fixers also helps you to arrange all the necessary accommodation and transportation of the crew during the designated period of filming until the project is finished. We will gladly organize this for you based on the available options in your preferred areas.

Film Fixers in Kenya

Africa Fixers employes location fixers in Kenya with vast experience in offering pre-production and production services in Africa and Kenya as a country. Our Kenya fixers are well-trained to meet all your requirements. As a company, we have connections with several authorities in different places to ease the process of acquiring permissions. Our professional fixers take care of the whole process to ensure that you get the best out of your planned shoot. Contact us for more details about Kenya Fixers

Choose Africa Fixers.

Africa Fixers is a film Fixing Company in East Africa, and we pride ourselves on assisting filming companies and Production agencies that are interested in filming in several African countries. Our Film fixers in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya can handle all production services required. Our team of local production fixers in Kenya and driver guides are very professional Over the years, we have been able to get all relevant connections with other service providers and authority agencies to make sure that accreditation and filming permits are easily processed. Contact us for details for more information about filming in Kenya, scouting filming locations, pitching ideas, and hiring a top-notch Kenya film fixer to assist with your production project.