Filming Mwea National Reserve in Kenya

Filming Mwea National Reserve in Kenya: Mwea National Reserve is a game reserve in Kenya that covers 42 square kilometers and is located in the Makimba sub-location of Mwea in Mbeere, Embu County. The reserve is located at the confluence of the Tana and Thika rivers, north-west of the Kamburu dam. It is located in the foothills of Mount Kenya, and on clear days, the snow-capped summit may be seen to the north.

The Mwea National Reserve is managed in collaboration with the Embu County by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). The reserve’s geography consists of gradually rolling plains covered in savannah grasslands with bushy flora and scattered trees. Acacia species and cammiphora are the most prominent trees and plants. Along the water’s edge, there are dense plants and trees. Elephant, lesser kudu, Nile crocodile, hippo, giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, buffalo, leopard, grey duiker, black-backed jackal, bushbuck, waterbuck, olive baboon, sykes’ monkey, serval cat, spotted hyena, warthog, rock hyrax, bush pig, impala, and hartebeest are all found in Mwea National Reserve. There are also some rare creatures like the stripped ground squirrel, Genet cat, black-backed jackal, and yellow baboon. Various species of birds and several reptiles are also found in Mwea National Reserve.

Filming Mwea National Reserve in Kenya

What to film in Mwea National Reserve

There are several wildlife species in Mwea National Reserve that you can film, and this makes for an interesting safari experience. Filming in Mwea National Reserve is a great opportunity for you to film different animal species, and the three wild dog species that you can film include

Filming wildlife in Mwea National Reserve: The elephant, Rothschild giraffe, zebra, lesser kudu, buffalo, water and bush bucks, impala, vervet monkeys, yellow baboons, and Grant’s gazelle are among the major animal attractions. Other people are dik dik. Cape hare, wart-hog, black-backed jackal, duiker, sykes monkey, Genet cat, slender mongoose, striped ground squirrel, dwarf mongoose, crested porcupine, rock and tree hyrax, and tortoise are some of the animals found in South Africa. Hippos and crocodiles have also been spotted in dams and rivers.

Filming different bird species in Mwea National Reserve: There are different species of birds that you can film during the wildlife species. The reserve has been home to a variety of birds and reptiles. Mwea is known for its water birds and waders, which number over 200 species. The endangered Hindes babbler can only be found in this protected region. Other rare species found in the reserve are the Pel’s fishing owl and the white-backed night heron.

Requirements for filming in Mwea National Reserve

Filming permits

To film in Mwea National Reserve, 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 Mwea National Reserve.

Filming fees and costs for Mwea National Reserve

For any person interested in filing in Mwea National 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 Mwea National Reserve 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 in Mwea National Reserve.

Press Accreditation

To film in Mwea National 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 Mwea National 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 Mwea National 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 Tanzania, 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 Tanzania. We are available 24 hours a day to be able to help you with all the information relating to filming in Mwea National 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 Mwea 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 Mwea National Reserve?

Filming Kenya 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 Mwea National Reserve 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 Mwea National Reserve for filming

By Road: From Nairobi, take the Thika-Matuu-Masinga Dam route (160 km). This route is surfaced to Masinga Dam Bridge, after which a 10-kilometer dirt road leads to Makima Gate. Access can also be obtained via Embu-Machanga. It is accessible by road from Nairobi via the Thika-Matuu-Masinga Dam (160km). This route is surfaced to the Masinga Dam Bridge, after which a 10-kilometer dirt road leads to Makima Gate. Access is also available via Embu-Machanga. The park can be reached by air via Masinga Airstrip, which is located near Masinga Lodge. Mwea reserve does not use the safari card system, so all visitors must pay cash.

By air transport, you can also use air transport using the Masinga airstrip near Masinga Lodge.

Where to stay during filming in Ruma National Park

Mwea Reserve has no lodges, tented camps, or self-catering lodging. Masinga Lodge is located outside the reserve at Masinga Dam. Camping is accessible in Mbogo, Silvester, Mavuria, Kyangosi, Hippo Point, Kanyonga, and Githechu. The reserve’s main attractions are game viewing, boat trips on the Kamburu Dam, and Hippo Point.

Why should you book your Tanzania 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.