Filming in Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya

Filming in Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya: Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya is one of the best destinations in Kenya that is perfect for filming. The filming crew member can film the wildlife anytime of the year, but filming is best done during the dry season. The Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya offers the best safari experience for all those who are interested in taking filming trips to the Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya. Chyulu National Park is a magical land of black frozen lava studded with blazing red-hot poker trees; of shoals of extinct volcanoes wreathed in dense forest beneath Spanish moss; and of the Chyulu Hills, which coil a sleeping dragon on the lion-gold plains of his treasure. Mount Kilimanjaro, with its pink halo, rises to the west, and all around are mirage miles of Maasai land, dusty and dry, stalked by scarlet-cloaked herders and dust-plumed cattle. The eastern flanks of Chyulu Hills National Park contain approximately half of the forest area. The park boundary runs down the center of the hills, parallel to the peaks. The remaining western portion of the hills is owned by several Maasai Group ranches and is part of the West Chyulu Game Conservation Area, which offers the film crew members a great safari experience.

What to film in Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya

Several attractions and interesting things can be filmed in Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya. These are the things that can be filmed in Chyulu Hills National Park.

Filming the world’s most recent or youngest mountains in Chyulu National Park: The narrowly arching, 80-kilometer-long Chyulu mountain range is one of the world’s newest, with the most recent volcanic peak formed only 500 years ago. They are a fascinating combination of volcanic ash cones and barren lava flows that combine to form a landscape of almost mythical enchantment. This offers the   best filming experience which makes the documents so much amazing.

Filming the rare species of birds in Chyulu Hills National Park:  Bird watching is best in the park’s dense mountain forest, which is home to Hartlaub’s turaco, sunbird, speckled moosebird, and white eared barbet. Various swallos can be seen flying along the forest edges, while deep in the glades, you can see a stripe-cheeked greenbul, a tropical boubou, a white-eyed slaty flycatcher, and a silvery-cheeked hornbill. The hills also serve as a critical stopover for the globally threatened Abbott’s starling, as well as an endemic population of Shelley’s francolin, white starred robin, and orange thrush.

Filming the source of Tsavo West Mzima Springs in Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya:  the filming crew members will be able to film Tsavo’s volcanic convulsion is riddled with lava flows, the most spectacular of which is Shetani flow, a coalesced tide of tar-like lava that spewed down Chyulu Hills as they burst out of the plains only a few hundred years ago. The lava flow is cut by a network of lava tubes and caves, many of which can be explored with caution. Chyulu Hills National Park Kenya was established to protect not only its unique habitat, but also its critical role as a water catchment area for Kenya’s coastal cities. The forested ridges generate their own rainfall, which is absorbed by the porous rock like a sponge and percolates down into fast-flowing subterranean rivers. These eventually join the melt waters of Mount Kilimanjaro and feed 250 million litres of water daily into Tsavo West’s most popular feature, a lush oasis.

Filming Shetani Caves and Lava Flows Exploration: Tsavo’s volcanic convulsion is riddled with lava flows, the most spectacular of which is Shetani flow, a coalesced tide of tar-like lava that spewed down Chyulu Hills as they burst out of the plains only a few hundred years ago. The lava flow is cut by a network of lava tubes and caves, many of which can be explored with caution.

Requirements for filming in Chyulu Hills National Park

Filming permits

To film in Chyulu Hills National Park you will need to secure a filming permit from the Kenya Film Commission and the authorities by writing a letter requesting and filling out an application letter and providing a copy of your screenplay, a summary of your program, and a filming schedule with your application. These will be forwarded to the Kenya Film Commission’s Film Licensing Officer. Permits are issued in minutes for feature films, documentaries, short films, music videos, corporate videos, and commercials. Television series and feature film applications are processed within 48 hours of submission. Contact us at Africa Adventure Vacations and we will assist you in obtaining filming permission from Kenyan officials to ensure successful filming in Chyulu Hills National Park

Filming fees and costs in Chyulu Hills National Park

For any person interested in filming in Chyulu Hills National Park, they will have to pay some costs and fees to be granted permission to do any filming activity. As such, the filming challenges in Chyulu Hills National Park include:

• 8,000 shillings ($80) per person, per week or part-week;
• For six (6) to ten (10) people, the weekly or part-week rate is Ksh 12,000 ($115).
• 20,000 (2.00) for more than ten (10) people for one week or part of the week.

Kenya filming costs

1. a) Kenya Shillings (Kshs/USD) filming rates

• Adverts, documentaries, dramas, short features, still photographs, Khs. 5, 000(50 dollars)
• TV series and feature films in their entirety cost Ksh. 15, 000 ($150).
• Daily filming fees of Ksh. 1,000($10)

1. (b) Liaison officer’s service charges

• The Ministry charges Ksh. 400 ($5) per day to cover the Liaison Officer’s services provided by a government Liaison Officer to be attached to the crew.

1. C) Other charges

• Before participating in any filming, each guest must pay Ksh. 2,000($20) to the Department of Immigration Services for a special pass. While the filming special permission is being processed, artists may enter Kenya on a visitor’s pass.
• On presentation of a film license, a small non-refundable fee of 1% of the equipment’s worth or Ksh 30, 000 ($300) (whichever is less) is payable to the Customs Department.

In addition to the above, you will need to pay for press accreditation, lodging, and transportation to successfully shoot the video in Chyulu Hills National Park.

Press Accreditation

To film in Chyulu Hills National Park all film crew members must be accredited by the Kenya Film Commission. Local filming agencies and private production companies or individuals must apply through a local agent registered with the Ministry. This is a prerequisite for all applications to make feature films and documentaries. Each crew member must fill out the Kenya Film License Form (which we normally send), scan it, and return it to us along with a copy of their passport and one photo for the filming license. We will then require a letter from the filming company specifying the name of the filming company, the reason for filming, the location of filming, and the film crew’s contact information. This letter is subsequently forwarded to the Kenya Film Commission for the film license to be processed. A film license is usually awarded within 2-3 business days.

Vehicle hiring services

You need a 4×4 vehicle when going to do filming in Chyulu Hills National Park. When you trust Africa Adventure Vacations as your film fixer, then you will get the opportunity to book for yourself a strong vehicle that will transport the crew members to and from Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya. We offer the vehicle based on the preferences of our clients and their budget, but also the location where you are going to film, because it may also determine the kind of vehicle that you might need. Because of the nature of the terrain, which might make you travel long distances, we kindly urge you to book our customized tour.

Daily, these cost about $200 to $250 per vehicle, and this price includes the fuel and the driver. You can also opt for our 4×4 safari van, which is available for $200 daily. By contacting us, we shall make sure that we calculate everything, and thus we shall inform you and give you the inclusive price. Each of our vehicles is accompanied by drivers who work as area fixers, and many of them have traveled to nearly every part of Kenya, so they are familiar with the local conditions and can provide critical information and resolve any situation on the ground. While in Kenya, these serve as intermediaries between you and our office. And please contact us for any film fixers in Kenya. We are available 24 hours a day to be able to help you with all the information relating to filming in Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya.

All of our vehicles include a driver who serves as the location fixer. Most of them have visited practically every section of Kenya and are thus familiar with local conditions and can provide relevant information and resolve any local issues. While on location at Chyulu Hills National Park, they work as liaisons between our clients and our office.

Visa recommendation

You’ll need to get a tourist visa. Many film crews choose to get a visa before visiting Kenya. Visas, on the other hand, are easily obtained upon admission into the country. In this situation, you can obtain a tourist visa at the Nairobi International Airport for USD51

best time for Filming in Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya

When is the best time to do filming in Chyulu Hills National Park?

Filming in Chyulu Hills National Park is an adventure that is done all year round, but the best time for filming is during December and then from June to October. This time, weather conditions are dry and this makes filming activities so much more fantastic. However, the best time to do filming in Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya is during the rainy season, when the green vegetation blooms and provides an amazing scenic view (November to May), while the dry season offers the best photo opportunities, both on short and long hikes (May to October).

How to get to Chyulu Hills National Park for filming

By Road: From Kibwezi, turn right off the Mombasa Road (coming from Nairobi) onto a signposted road that leads to Kithasyo Gate and Park Headquarters after 9 kilometers. The park can be accessed from Tsavo West.

By Air: There are two airstrips in the park.

Where to stay during filming in Chyulu Hills National Park

 The lodge and hotel options for staying in Chyulu Hills National Park during filming range from budget to mid-range to luxury. You will decide where to stay based on your interests and budget. For booking information, please contact us here. Camping is done at Kiboko Campsite, which is located near the Park headquarters.

Why should you book your Kenya filming safari with Africa Adventure Vacations?

Africa Adventure Vacations is a popular tourist company based in Uganda that operates in East African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and South Africa. We have more than ten years of experience assisting filming and production companies and individual travelers who are interested in filming Central Island National Park, nature-related wildlife and African culture. We offer services such as obtaining filming permission, clearing filming equipment, reserving lodging, and arranging transportation to filming businesses, all in the shortest amount of time possible. Other wildlife tours are available in all of the countries mentioned above, including gorilla tours in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As a result, you should not hesitate to choose us as your East African film fixers, especially in Kenya for your Kenyan filming experience.