Filming in Ruma National Park
Filming in Ruma National Park one of Kenya’s best designated national parks for filming along side the variety of national game reserves. Ruma National Park is located in the Nyanza National Park, close to Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake. It is located in the Lambwe Valley, south of the Nyanza province, 425 kilometers from Nairobi, 140 kilometers from Kisumu, and ten kilometers east of Lake Victoria. The Ruma National Park is situated on the ground of the Lambwe valley, which is bounded by the Kanyamwa escarpments to the southeast, Sukua Hill, and the Ruri Hills in the north, and this makes the safari experience. Firstly, Ruma National Park was established as a lambwe valley game reserve to save and protect the population of the rare roan antelope. However, upon the request of the community, the name was changed to Ruma. This was done by the order of the powerful Kenyan wizard, well known as Gor Mahia, who spent most of the time living close to the park.
Ruma National Park is a great safari opportunity for the filming crew as there are several facilities that you can use while filming different species and attractions in Ruma National Park.
What to film in the Ruma National Park
Filming the scenic landscape with rolling savannah and woodlands is a must. Ruma National Park is the home of the rare antelope, which is only found here and nowhere else in Jönya. You will have the opportunity to film this rare roan antelope as well as the other interesting species found in this park, such as buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, Rothschild giraffes, oribis, impalas, serval cats, baboons, bush bigs, and reedbucks. Therefore, your filming adventure safaris in Ruma National Park will include all these great scenes, and you’ll get the best filming adventure safaris.
Filming birds in Ruma National Park: in addition to filming the various wildlife species, visitors will also enjoy filming the bird species. The park has more than 400 species of birds, including the rare intra-African migrant and the blue swallow, among others. The park offers a pristine environment for hunters, bird watchers, historians, and campers. It’s also a fantastic spot for meditation, team building, picnics, and sundowners. The park’s primary entrance is from Kisumu via Homa Bay (140 km) and Kisii (65 km). Visitors can stay at two campsites: Nyati and Fig Tree. Another historical location is the Korlang’o picnic area.
The park is ideal for filming the iconic East African landscape of rolling golden savannah sprinkled with gorgeous acacia trees and backed by steep hills and a majestic escarpment, as well as a mosaic of riverine woodland and baobab trees.
Filming crocodiles in Ruma National Park: Ruma has a thriving reptile population. The African spitting cobra, forest cobra, python, eastern green mamba, black-mouthed mamba, and puff adder are among the most visible species. There are also lizards, skinks, and geckos in the park. All of these are available for you to enjoy and film.
Filming fees and costs for Ruma National Park
For any person interested in filing in Ruma 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 Ruma National Park 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 Ruma National Park.
Press Accreditation
To film in Ruma 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 Ruma 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 Ruma 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 Ruma 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 Ruma 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 USD51.00.
When is the best time to do filming in Ruma National Park?
Filming in Ruma 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 filing at Ruma National Park 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 Ruma National Park for filming
Accessing Ruma National Park by car: The main entrance is 42 kilometers from Homa Bay. Take the major C20 tarmac road in the direction of Rongo from Homa Bay. After 10 kilometers, turn right at Rodi Company and travel 20 kilometers to Mirogi. Follow the directions to the park from Mirogi, entering at the Kamato main gate, which is 12 kilometers away on a muram road from Mirogi.
Where to stay during filming in Ruma National Park
The lodge and hotel options for staying in Ruma National Park Kenya during filming range from budget-friendly to mid-range to luxury. You will decide where to stay based on your interests and budget. For booking information, please contact us here. Among the options are Nyai and Fig Tree Campsites, as well as Korlango, Twiga Lodge, and Oribi Guess House.
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 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.
