Filming Lake Bongoria in Kenya
Filming Lake Bongoria in Kenya: Lake Bongoria was gazetted in 1973 as the national Reserve. Lake Bongoria is found on the floor on the Great Rift Valley at an altitude 1000 meter above seas level from which the escarpments form one of the Kenya. Bishop Hannington called the lake “the most beautiful view in Africa” when he first saw it. It is a breathtaking beauty that has always mesmerized visitors, with the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley serving as the backdrop. The area can only be described as nature’s studio due to the contrast in colors between the grasslands and the lake and sky. Its 107 km2 are mostly taken up by Lake Bogoria, a stunning sight reflecting flamingos’ rose-pink feathers and scorching blue skies. It is renowned for the hot springs and geysers that dot the lake’s southern shore. An egg can be boiled and cooked in the steam jets in seven minutes. The ground spews sulphur water, which is known to have medicinal benefits. Natural spas and steam baths can be found at the hot springs. Visitors are advised to use caution around the hot spring water geysers because the water that is gushing out is extremely hot and close to boiling.
Filming Lake Bongoria in Kenya
What to film in Lake Bongoria in Kenya
Filming more than 135 different bird species can be found in Lake Bogoria National Reserve. Similar to Lake Nakuru, the reserve draws tourists in part due to its abundance of flamingos, greater kudu, impala, buffalo, zebras, klipspringer, and leopards. It has recently developed into the lesser flamingo’s most reliable habitat, with a population that is close to two million birds. Due to the hot weather, the majority of animals are spotted in the early morning or late afternoon. Due to the closed drainage system, the water is alkaline and only supports minute amounts of microscopic algae; fish are not present. Due to the hot weather, the majority of animals are spotted in the early morning or late afternoon. Due to the closed drainage system, the water is alkaline and only supports minute amounts of microscopic algae; fish are not present.
Filming wildlife in Kenya; the greater kudu, Africa’s most magnificent antelope, lives in the Lake Bongoria National Reserve along with other savannah animals like the dik dik, buffalo, zebra, impala, Grant’s gazelle, Klipspringer, and Patas monkey. The leopard, cheetah, hyena, mongoose, jackal, and Karakul cat are among the predators.
Where to stay during filming in Lake Bongoria
While filming on Lake Bogoria, there are a variety of lodge and hotel options, ranging from inexpensive to upscale. Depending on your interests and financial situation, you will decide where to stay. To make a reservation, please contact us here. At the lake’s northern end, there are hotels nearby the village of Loboi. At the southern end of the lake, camping is also permitted, but reservations are required.
How to get to Lake Bongoria for filming
. The Lake Bogoria National Reserve has three gates. At the northernmost point of the lake is Loboi Gate, the main entrance. Four kilometers south of Marigat is where the B4 detour heads east. After a 21 km stretch, the E461 paved road leads to Loboi and the gate. The two remaining gates are 59 kilometers south of Marigat, heading south on B4, turning east at Mogotio. About 20 kilometers of this road lead to Mugurin. A kilometer away, the road splits in half. 20 kilometers down the left track, there is a right turn-off that takes you to Maji Moto Gate, which is close to the hot springs. But before reaching Emsos Gate, the reserve’s southernmost gate, at the reserve’s forest area, the track to the right, which is severely damaged and quite steep in places, travels for 14 kilometers. Finally, there is a beautiful route that climbs from the Rift Valley bed up the eastern escarpment before descending back down to Bogoria to get to Emsos Gate from Nakuru. This route is mostly only passable in 4WD vehicles. Take the tarmac B5 road northeast to Nyahururu after leaving Nakuru along the A104 to Nairobi. There are several detours along the way that head north toward Bogoria, using the towns of Subukia and Solai as landmarks. For the paved portion, you can take a bus or matatu if you are not self-driven, but the remaining distance requires walking and can take up to two days.
Filming fees and costs for Lake Bongoria
For any person interested in Lake Bongoria, they will have to pay some costs and fees to be granted permission to do any filming activity. As such, the filming charges for Lake Bongoria 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 film Lake Bongoria.
Press Accreditation
To film Lake Bongoria 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 filming Lake Bongoria
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 filming Lake Bongoria 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 Lake Bongoria 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, 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 the best time to film Lake Bongoria in Kenya?
Filming of the Lakes in Kenya 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 film Lake Bongoria 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 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.
