Filming in Vwaza Marsh reserve in Malawi

Filming in Vwasa Marsh Reserve in Malawi. Vwaza marsh is a national game reserve in Malawi located in the north west of mzuzu along the Zambian border making it part of the Malawi Zambia Transfrontier conservation area. The reserve has a low lying flat terrain with a vegetation of mopane and miombo woodlands. This reserve covers an area of 400 sq. miles providing enough space for its wildlife. This reserve also harbors Lake Kazuni which is a water source to the animals,

Wildlife

This reserve has a variety of wildlife ranging from herbivores to predators and these include. Elephants, buffaloes, Hippos, antelopes and elands that are commonly sighted bathing and drinking from the lake. The lions, leopards, hyena, and wild dogs are also in the premises also not as common as the latter.

Birds

The reserve has recorded about 340 species of birds. The notable birds to look out for when filming in this reserve include African fish eagle, African grey hornbill, brown hooded king fisher, golden breasted bunting, palm nut vulture, Senegal lapwig, greater honey guide, bennett’s wood pecker and many more. These birds can be filmed best in the months of November to April.

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 Vwaza marsh reserve

The best time to visit this reserve is during the dry months from June to October. During time, animals gather around water sources which makes it easy to spot them, the roads are also much easy to navigate compared to the wet season. However for those interested in birds, the wet season is a better choice because migratory birds are in plenty

How to get there

The best way is to fly into Lilongwe international airport. And drive to the reserve which is 450km away and approximately 6 hours’ drive. The other way is to fly into Chileka international airport which is near Blyantre and the drive to reserve is 780km which is approximately 10 hours

Where to stay when filming in Vwaza marsh reserve in Malawi

Accommodation options vary when are filming in vwaza marsh. These range from budget, midrange and luxury. Your choice of accommodation depends on your interest and budget. Lodge options include vwaza marsh campsite, Kazuni vwaza chalets and campsite 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.