Filming in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
Filming in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary: Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is part and parcel of the Shimba Hills national Reserve ecosystem and this is a dispersal area for the elephants especially those elephants coming for the Mwaluganje forests. This was project aimed to stop the continued wildlife conflicts and it has since become a home to several wildlife species such as the elephants, the warthogs, bushbucks, zebras and several reptile’s and species of birds. The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is the best destination for filming of the wildlife in their natural habitat and the film crew members will find it easy to do filming here because it is accessible and the animals can be easily got. In Kwale County, Kenya, the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary (MES) is a community-owned elephant park and a protected area for Encephalartos cycads. The Born Free Foundation, the Eden Wildlife Trust, the United States Agency for International Development, and members of the nearby Mwaluganje community came together to create the sanctuary in the early 1990s. The region is on the migratory path leading to Tsavo East National Reserve and is located off the Shimba Hills escarpment in Kwale County.
There are a lot of filming adventures and the safari attractions that you can film in Mwaluganje and these among others include Elephant Sanctuary. According to reports, the Mwaluganje Forest Reserve is home to over 150 elephants, making it a popular destination for those who are interested in filming elephants. During the rainy season, elephants are frequently seen migrating in large herds from Mwaluganje to the Shimba Hills. Along with the magnificent elephants, other animals that you can film here include leopards, baboons, zebras, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks, bush babies, porcupines, mongooses, birds, insects, and various kinds of reptiles. You will also be able to film different species of birds which are found in the sanctuary and some of these bird species include the palm nut vulture and the crowned eagle, which eats monkeys. There are only two places in Kenya where you can see the endangered and native sokoke scops owl, and Mwaluganje is one of those places.
How to access Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary for filming
The Mwaluganje Elephant sanctuary is located in the scenic Mwaluganje hills in the Kwale District of Kenya’s Coastal Province, 45 minutes from the Diani Beaches and 90 minutes from Moi International Airport.
Where to stay during filming at Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
The Ocean Village Club, Shimba Hills Lodge, Shimba Hills Green Safari Lodge, The Villa Luxury Suites, Stilts Backpackers, and Water Lovers Beach Resort are a few of the lodging options.
Requirements for filming in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
Filming permits
To film in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary 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 Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
Filming fees and costs for Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
For any person interested in filming in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, they will have to pay some costs and fees to be granted permission to do any filming activity. As such, the filming challenges in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary include:
- Ksh 8,000 ($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 expenses
- a) Filming rates in Kenya Shillings (Kshs/USD)
- 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 Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary.
Press Accreditation
To film in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, 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 Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. 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 Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary 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 Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary  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 Mamba village, 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 USD51.00.
When is the best time to do filming in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary?
Filming in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary 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 Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary -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)
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 Buffalo Springs National Reserve 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.
