Filming the Chogoni rock art area
Filming the Chogoni rock art area. This area is located in the central part of Malawi and has 127 sites that are situated in the hills of the Malawi plateau. The sites have the depictions of rock are paintings that were drawn by the communities of the people during the periods of the last stone age and the Iron Age period. The rock art in these sites is categorized under 4 different traditions namely the batwa that had two parts (hunter gatherers and agriculturalists), the ngoni invaders and the colonizers. The rock art is very important to the local people and is a symbol of the chewa society and most times used for traditional ceremonies and rituals. This area is also on the UNESCO world heritage list and was added as a site in 2006.
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 the Chogoni rock art area
The best time to visit this place is during the months of May to October when the weather is dry. It is much better compared to the wet season.
How to get there
The best way is to fly into Lilongwe international airport and drive 80 km south east of Lilongwe. The area is located on the plateau close to the town of Dedza.
Where to stay when filming the Chogoni rock art area in Malawi
Accommodation options vary when are filming in the area. These range from budget, midrange and luxury. Your choice of accommodation depends on your interest and budget. Lodge options include Mapri country lodge, dedza pottery and lodge, executive Isomelha lodge 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.
