Filming in Ndere Island National Park

Filming in Ndere Island National Park: This is one of the small but outstanding places in Kenya where you can go and rest. Filming in Ndere Island National Park is important because visitors and film crew members will enjoy the beach and relaxing environment on this beautiful island. This park is found off the north shore of Lake Victoria in Kisumu, and it is believed that the mother of the community called Kit Mikayi rested here after trekking the long journey in the Nile valley. It features a lot of not only history but also several attractions, which you can capitalize on to make a very good and outstanding documentary. When on a safari in Kenya, the park’s variety of wildlife, reptiles, birds, and unique types of vegetation are all worth exploring. Ndere Island National Park stands out in its own right, while other protected areas boast of having all five big game animals. For a variety of reasons, this magnificent national park is truly an island of tranquility and beauty. The 4.2-square-kilometer protected area is located on Lake Victoria and provides visitors with a breath of fresh air that truly removes them from their everyday surroundings. This park is a haven for bird watchers because of its gorgeous grass, butterflies, and flowers. Additionally, this enchanted conservation area offers stunning views of the Homa Hills to the south.

What to film in Ndere Island National Park

Filming vegetation in in Ndere Island National Park; Grassland, or a pure stand of the tall grass loudentia natalensis, makes up the majority of the island’s vegetation. The top of the island is brownish (“Chula rabuor” in Dholou), as this grass turns brown when it blooms. Native tree and shrub species, such as dovyalisx, macro calyx, euclea divinorum, and Carissa adulis, are scattered throughout the island.

Filming the wildlife occupants of Ndere Island National Park: Hippopotamus, monitor lizards, Nile crocodiles, various fish species, snakes, particularly pythons, puff adders, aardvarks, butterflies, and vipers are among the inhabitants of lake shores. We also have baboon, monkey, impala, waterbuck, zebra, and warthog troops, as well as the endangered sitatunga antelope. Over 100 different bird species can be found here, including the African fish eagle, black-headed gonolek, Hammerkop, and grey-headed kingfisher.

Ndere Island National Park is dotted with walking paths, the area offers stunning scenery with distant views of Homa Hill on the South, its sister island Magere Island, Lake Victoria, and Kampala’s imagined future in the southwest. One will feel so buoyant and fresh from the air and lake breeze that they will think they are on top of the world. Many tourists visit Ndere Island for the scenic views, hiking, team-building activities, bird watching, customary boat rides in the local fishing boats, picnics, and other outdoor activities.

Where to stay during filming in Ndere Island National Park

Ndere Island National Park has few lodging options, but camping is an option if you want to spend the night there while on a safari in Kenya. The Boa campsite is one of the two (two) Kenya Wildlife Service campgrounds in the park. Kisumu Resort, Hexagon Mbili Farm Lodge, Kisindi Lodge, Kisumu City Central Resort, Parkview Safari Hotel, apartments, Lakewood Hotel Dunga Hotel, Spa Homa Bay Lodge, Kisian Self Catering, Rock Resort Hotel, Sunset Hotel, Kiboko Bay Resort, Dunga Resort, and many other notable lodges are among those that are conveniently accessible from the park.

Requirements for filming in Ndere Island National Park.

Filming permits

To film in Ndere Island 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 Ndere Island National Park.

Filming fees and costs for Ndere Island National Park.

For any person interested in filming in Ndere Island 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 Ndere Island 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 of Ndere Island National Park

Press Accreditation

To film in Ndere Island 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 Ndere Island 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 Ndere Island 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 Ndere Island 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 Ndere Island 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 USD51.0

When is the best time to do filming in Ndere Island National Park?

Filming in Ndere Island 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 at Ndere Island 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 Ndere Island National Park for filming

Both by road and by air, Ndere Island National Park is 432 kilometers away from Nairobi. Visitors can travel to the park headquarters, which are located between Bao and Asat beaches, via the Kisumu-Bondo route, which branches off to the left after Holo market or to the left at Kombewa shopping center. The distance to the park headquarters on a tarmac road is 12 kilometers. As an alternative, tourists planning a safari in Kenya can take a boat from Kisumu, and it will take them about 45 minutes to get there by speed boat from Kisumu city to Ndere Island National Park. If you decide to take a boat through Kisumu, you are advised to bring an umbrella, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat along with you. You should also confirm that the boat you plan to use is fully furnished with life jackets.

You can travel by air to Kisumu Airport, which is located about 60 kilometers from the main office of Ndere Island Park.

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 Rahole 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.