Filming in Lilongwe City

Filming in Lilongwe City. Lilongwe is the capital city of Malawi and is located in the central region. Lilongwe was first set up as a boma in1902 and evolved to an administrative centre in 1904. By 1970, it had gained recognition as a city. It is a commercial, industrial, political, economic and social centre of the country. It has several administration offices it also harbors the Lilongwe international airport. The city has several places that can be filmed and these include.

Lilongwe wildlife centre

The only wildlife sanctuary of its kind in Malawi. The centre is in Lilongwe city. It was established in 2007 with the aim and mission to protect Malawi’s wildlife. This was to be done by helping the vulnerable wild animals and put a stop to wildlife crimes while advocating for wildlife law enforcement and promoting wildlife research. Most of the animals that have been rescued by the centre are orphans or victims of illegal pet trade and bush treatment. After receiving rehabilitation, the animals are released back into their natural habitats. Filming of the rehabilitation process and volunteering activities can be done in this centre.

Lizulu Market

This market is situated in the central part of the country in the city of Lilongwe. Lizulu market is the busiest market for farm produce in Malawi. It should be known that the market is along the roadsides and this where vendors display their products for people to see and buy. The market is split in two sections with one section having the farm produce while the other has products like clothes, African crafts and many more. This local experience is good for filming.

Old Town Mall

This is a shopping mall that you can visit while in the city. It has some good restaurants, shopping places and craft shops for those interested in buying African crafts.

Kumbali cultural village

This village showcases arts, music, crafts, and cuisines of Malawi. The place is great for cultural enthusiasts and it can be found near the presidential palace.

Requirements to film in Malawi

In order to film in Malawi You will need to acquire permission. The process of securing a filming permit in Malawi can be time-consuming so it needs enough time before the filming in order to complete the necessary process and secure the filming permit. National park fees and charges are also required of you if you intend to film in national parks

Media accreditation is also vital for filming in Malawi and the application is made to the media council of Malawi. Once applied for, and payment given the media cards are then processed. Contact film crew fixers to help you will filming permits and media accreditation

Drones can also be used while filming and can be imported but you need to have acquired permission from Malawi’s department of civil aviation. Key factors to note if you’re planning to use a drone

Permission is needed for each flight
Do not fly near aircrafts airports, and airfields. if operating near these spaces stay 10 kilometers away
Do not fly near groups of people, social gatherings, private property , schools and road races unless you have been given permission
You’re not allowed to fly the drone vertically higher than 45 meters
The drone should be registered with the department of civil aviation
The operator should obtain an operator certificate from the department of civil aviation

Filming equipment also needs to be cleared and this can be done through a bonded agent or securing a 5% percent of the value of equipment, however this is not advisable and the preferred procedure is that of using a bonded agent. Film crew fixers has all the necessary connections with a number of bonded agents that can clear your equipment on entry and exit. Contact us for any help with kit clearing.

Malawi visa and work permit advice

A tourist visa or business visa can work for your entry into the country. Film crews prefer getting there visa before coming into the countries and this is possible through the evisa system of Malawi. Proof of yellow fever and vaccination and a Covid 19 free negative certificate are necessary for entry. The prices of visas and work permits change regularly. For updated information regarding travel to Zimbabwe, you can contact us or your embassy.

A passport is required for all foreign visitors and has to be valid for at least six months
Passports must have at least three empty pages
Citizens of most countries require a visa, which can be obtained at arrival
A list of countries who don’t require visa here https://visaindex.com/visa-requirement/malawi-passport-visa-free-countries-list/ .
A list of countries who need a visa can be found here https://www.onlinevisa.com/visa-policy/malawi/ the application can be made online.
When arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required

Malawi transport services

Film crew fixers organizes transportation for film crews to film. Depending on their interest and Budget and the nature of roads to the destination. We organize both road and air transport for film crews. We recommend customized 4×4 safari land cruisers for vehicles because of the nature of roads in Malawi. These land cruisers cost USD200-250 per vehicle per day. Fuel is estimated on the number of days that are scheduled by the filming schedule. We will need to look at it for establishing the mileage and distance to be traveled.

Film fixers in Malawi to help you film

All our vehicles come with drivers who act as location fixers and most of them have been to most of the parts in Malawi and are very conversant with the local situations .they provide relevant information and fix any situation on ground. They also act as intermediaries between you and our office while on location. Contact us if you need a film fixer in Malawi.

What is the best time to film in Lilongwe City

The best time to visit this place is during the dry months from June to October. During this time the traveling conditions are better than those in the wet season.

How to get there

The best way is to fly into Lilongwe international airport where the city is located

Where to stay when filming in Lilongwe City in Malawi

Accommodation options vary when are filming in the city. These range from budget, midrange and luxury. Your choice of accommodation depends on your interest and budget. Lodge options include golden peacock hotel, bamboo boutique hotel, adlib executive lodge and many others .contact us for help with reservation and more information on accommodation.

Why use film crew fixers to film in Malawi

Film crew fixers is a company based in Uganda that assists production agencies and filming companies in South, central and East African countries as a whole. We handle all fixer services required with our professional team of local fixers and driver guides. We have all the relevant connections with other service providers and government agencies to make sure that accreditation and filming permits are processed in a short time. Contact us for details and all relevant information you would like to know for successful filming in Malawi.