Filming in Tana River Primate Reserve

Filming in Tana River primate Reserve: This reserve was established in 1976 with the aim of protecting  the remaining forests which existed alongside the  Tana river and other sections of the  remaining population of the critical primates inform of  River red colobus  and the Tana River crested mangabey. These species are only endemic to this region and the forests in the eastern Kenya. These two mammals are among the rarest in Kenya, and they inhabit one of East Africa’s most intricate, distinctive, and scarce habitats. Both subspecies are listed as endangered in the IUCN Red Data Book. This indicates that both subspecies are in danger of going extinct if the causal factors persist because their populations have dropped to a critical level and their habitats have been drastically altered. The crested mangabey and the red colobus are both emblematic species for the preservation of this region. As a result, the reserve’s flora and fauna are unusual for East Africa and show signs of previous connections to the Miocene Congo Basin forests. A safari here will familiarize visitors with the local ecosystem, a stronghold for birdlife with over 200 species recorded in the area, in addition to the endangered primates. As a result, the reserve’s flora and fauna are unusual for East Africa and show signs of previous connections to the Miocene Congo Basin forests. A safari here will familiarize visitors with the local ecosystem, a stronghold for birdlife with over 200 species recorded in the area, in addition to the endangered primates.

What to film in Tana River Primate Reserve

Filming Wildlife in Tana River Primate Reserve: while in this reserve, you will film several animals including primates. The reserve was created to safeguard the red colobus and mangabey monkeys, two endangered primates, as well as the Tana Riverine Forest. The two primate species are the reserve’s main draw for wildlife enthusiasts. Along with these animals, the reserve is also home to zebras, Masai giraffes, oryx, lesser kudu, pythons, Sykes monkeys, yellow baboons, hippos, buffalos, lions, Nile crocodiles, hippos, Sykes monkeys, and yellow baboons. More than 260 different bird species have been identified in the reserve, including the African Open-bill Stork, Martial Eagle, Bat Hawk, African Pygmy-falcon, African Barred Owlet, Scaly Babbler, Black-bellied Glossy-starling, and Golden Pipit. The flora and fauna of the Tana River Primate Reserve are unusual for East Africa and show signs of ancient connections to the Miocene Congo Basin forests. This is due to the fact that they are the final pockets of the Central African Lowland Rainforest, which split off from the rest of the forest as a result of the seismic eruptions that created the Rift Valley. In the floodplain, 39% of the Reserve is located. In the region now occupied by the Reserve, 56% of the forest was lost between 1960 and 1985, primarily as a result of forest clearing by farmers. But the Reserve is of great concern and now it has turned out to be one of the perfect destination for filming in Kenya.

Filming mangabeys in Tana River Primate Reserve: The crested mangabey, one of four varieties of river mangabey found in Africa, resides in the riverine forests that border the Tana River. The name of the crested mangabey, which has a yellow-brown back, white underparts, and dark-grey hands, feet, and tail, comes from the prominent crest on its forehead. The mangabey is a nocturnal, arboreal, but primarily terrestrial animal that spends most of its time low in the forest foraging for food. Similar to the red colobus, Tana River crested mangabeys have a distributional range that stretches from Nkanjonja to Hewani for about 60 KM. It ranks among the top 25 most endangered primates in the world.

Requirements for filming in Tana River Primate Reserve

Filming permits

To film in Tana River Primate Reserve 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 Tana River Primate Reserve.

Filming fees and costs for Tana River Primate Reserve

For any person interested in filming in Tana River Primate Reserve, they will have to pay some costs and fees to be granted permission to do any filming activity. As such, the filming challenges in Tana River Primate Reserve 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

1. 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)

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 Tana River Primate Reserve.

Press Accreditation

To film in Tana River Primate Reserve, 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 Tana River Primate Reserve. 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 Tana River Primate Reserve 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 Tana River Primate Reserve 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 South Turkana National 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 USD51.00.

When is the best time to do filming in Tana River Primate Reserve?

Filming in Tana River Primate Reserve 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 Tana River Primate Reserve -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 Tana River Primate Reserve for filming

Accessing Tana River Primate Reserve by road transport: Near the Krystalline Salt LTD Bus Stop is the Tana River Primate Reserve. The reserve is a 140 km/three hour drive from Mombasa.

Accessing Tana River Primate Reserve by Air transport: Although there are no flights that go directly to the reserve, travelers can fly from Nairobi to Malindi Airport and then connect there. For travelers wondering how to get to Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is where international flights land.

Where to stay during filming in Tana River Primate Reserve

Due to extensive stretches of extremely rough road from the Garissa side, visitors may prefer to access the reserve via Garsen. There is very little lodging available in the reserve, so everyone should bring camping gear. The Kenya Shilling (KES), a small quantity of which should be carried, is advised for use in places where credit cards aren’t accepted to pay for groceries and other smaller purchases. The Institute of Primate Research, a division of the National Museums of Kenya, operates the Mchelelo Research Camp as a research station and is the only place to stay in the Reserve. The camp provides a campsite and a basic self-catering tented camp with 6 tents (showers and WCs).

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 in South Turkana 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.