Filming in Mombasa marine parks and reserves
Filming in Mombasa marine parks and reserves involves capturing the magnificence of the sun, the sandy beaches, and the adventure trip in the Safari Ocean. Mombasa Marine Reserves Park and reserves were established around 15 years ago as an aquatic park to protect water resources as well as coral reefs. Filming in the Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve is an adventure because it provides the best and most wonderful scenery for the film crew members, and you can enjoy a variety of activities, documentaries, and interesting scenes. You just need to have the right filming equipment to have a successful filming trip in the Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve.
What to film in Mombasa marine parks and reserves
Filming Fish in Mombasa marine parks and reserves: The reef draws a wide variety of fish, most of which are brilliantly marked and nearly iridescent in color. This offers the perfect spot for fish filming. You will watch out for the soup-plate-sized butterfly fish, the striped zebra fish, the multicolored angelfish, and the celestial blue and jade-green parrotfish. Also frequently seen above the branching coral are clouds of tiny damselfish, and beneath deep ledges you might catch a glimpse of the magnificent lionfish with its mane of sharp spikes (a sting from this fish can be very painful). The reef is also hunted by sharks, rays, turtles, and starfish.
Filming turtles and dolphins in Mombasa marine parks and reserves: The endangered green, hawksbill, loggerhead, Ridley, and leatherback sea turtles are also drawn to Kenya’s reef and lagoons. Dolphins (spinner, humpback, and bottle-nosed) also frequently visit the area and this can be filmed either in singular or in schools and thus you don’t need to miss this great filming opportunity.
Filming the beaches at the border of Mombasa Marine Park and Reserves: The beaches that surround Mombasa Marine Park are some of the best in Africa and they are good for filming. They are endless crescents of silver sand that are surrounded by opulent coastal hotels and have easy access to the reef’s coral gardens. The major four beaches that you can film include the Nyali, Bamburi, Shanzu, and Kenyatta Public Beach which ass have got the access to the Mombasa Marine Park. You need also to know that the sea turtles come to Shanzu Beach to lay their eggs, they are very popular activity and probably the best time for filming of these species.
What is the best time to film at Mombasa marine parks and reserves?
Filming in Mombasa marine parks and reserves 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 at Mombasa marine parks and reserves 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).
Where to stay during filming at Mombasa marine parks and reserves
Near the Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve, a variety of opulent, cozy, and culturally diverse hotels and lodges are available. Contact Africa adventure vacations for more information about the accommodation in Mombasa marine parks and reserves. The wonderful news is that you are not required to visit the Mombasa Marine Park during a specific season of the year. The park is open every day of the year. Additionally, snorkeling is enjoyable throughout the entire year in Kenya due to the stunning coastal climate.
Requirements for filming in Mombasa marine parks and reserves.
Filming permits
To film in Mombasa marine parks and reserves, 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 Mombasa marine parks and reserves.
Filming fees and costs for Mombasa marine parks and reserves.
For any person interested in filming in Mombasa marine parks and reserves, they will have to pay some costs and fees to be granted permission to do any filming activity. As such, the filming challenges in Mombasa marine parks and reserves 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
- 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)
- (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.
- 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 Mombasa marine parks and reserves
Press Accreditation
To film in Mombasa marine parks and reserves, 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 Mombasa marine parks and reserves. 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 Mombasa marine parks and reserves 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 Mombasa marine parks and reserves 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 Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve, 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 USD51.0
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 Ol Donyo Sabuk 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.
