Filming in the Danakil Desert Djibouti
The Danakil Desert is a desert located in northeast Ethiopia, southern Eritrea, and northwestern Djibouti. It is situated in the Afar Triangle home to Afar people whose main activity is mining. It covers an area of 136,956 square kilometers (52,879 sq mi) of arid terrain.
Filming in the Danakil Desert will give you an opportunity to shoot various Lakes formed by lava flows that dammed up several valleys. These include Lake Afrera, which has thick saline crusts on its banks. Other features to include in your shooting series are the Afar people who mainly mine salt in the desert and can be filmed loading each of their camels with up to thirty salt bricks weighing four kilograms each to transport it to a nearest town for sale.
Requirements and fees to film in the Danakil Desert
You will need to get permission to be allowed to film in the Danakil Desert in Djibouti. Contact us here and we will help you secure a filming permit for filming in Djibouti.
Unauthorized filming, photography or any other recording of government buildings, military installations and key infrastructure such as airports and border controls, bridges, and public buildings, as well as of religious sites such as mosques is illegal while filming in Djibouti. Penalties may include arrest, fines and confiscation of your filming equipment. Please contact us here for more information on filming in the Danakil Desert.
On top of the above you will need to cover accommodation, Visas and work permits, fixer fees and transport for a successful shoot in the Danakil Desert as below;
Djibouti Visa and work permit Advice
You will need to purchase the tourist visa or business visa to allow you entry in Djibouti. Crew of all nationalities travelling to Djibouti can obtain a visa on arrival. The visa must be applied for at your closest Djiboutian embassy prior to travelling. The visa is valid for up to 30 days. US passport holders see here for more information.
Journalists require a letter of accreditation approved in advance by the Ministry of Communication and Culture Djibouti. U.S. journalists and other journalists working for U.S.-based media institutions should contact the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs section at least two weeks prior to travel to facilitate this accreditation process. Journalists who fail to receive an accreditation letter risk arrest, seizure of equipment and/or expulsion. 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 contact your local South Sudan embassy or Contact us here for the latest travel information to Djibouti.
Vehicle Hire Services in Djibouti
Film Crew Fixers Ethiopia will help you organize transport for film crews to film in the Danakil Desert depending on their interest, budget and the nature of roads in such selected locations to film. We recommend Customized 4x4WD Land Cruisers. 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 travelled.
Film Fixers in Djibouti to help you film in the Danakil Desert
All our vehicles come with drivers who act as location fixers and most of them have been to almost all parts of Djibouti and are thus conversant with the local situations and are able to provide relevant information and fix any situation on ground. These act as intermediaries between you and our office while on location in Djibouti. Contact us here if you are in need of a Film fixer in Djibouti to help you film in the Danakil Desert.
Where to Stay during filming in the Danakil Desert
Lodge options to stay in during filming in the Danakil Desert 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 booking and reservation details
What is the best time to film in the Danakil Desert
Filming in the Danakil Desert is done throughout the year and the best time is during the dry season between June to September.
Why use Film crew fixers?
Film crew Fixers is a local fixer company in East Africa. We assist filming companies and Production agencies in Ethiopia and Djibouti. 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 in Djibouti to make sure that accreditation and filming permits for filming in Djibouti are processed in the shortest time possible. Contact us for details and all relevant information you would like to know for successful filming in the Danakil Desert.
