Filming the Gendi Ruins in Kenya
Filming the Gendi Ruins in Kenya; this is a great historical rich destination that is found on the coastal regions of Kenya just 95 kilometers north of Mombasa and it is known for the historical town and this makes the filming experience which is extremely wonderful. The Gendi ruins is the town which was built only on stones and rocks and you need to come and film this great interesting town in in the people of East Africa with the Swahili culture of people. Large portions of this ancient town, including the pillar tombs, the palace, and a large mosque, are now visible thanks to extensive excavation and preservation work that began after the 44 hectare Gedi historic town was designated a historic monument in 1927. Gedi’s ancient town was surrounded by two walls and covered a sizable area. The wealthy lived inside the inner wall. The outer wall surrounded 18 hectares, which also contained farm and plantation land and a significant number of middle-class homes made of mud and wattle.
 Still, you will be able to film the coral tomb that bears the year 1399 engraved in beautiful Arabic script. The Great Mosque can be seen from the dilapidated tomb. The “Well of the Great Mosque,” a magnificent well that is 50 meters deep and must have been used for ablution, is still clearly visible. The Octagonal Pillar Tomb of the Imam or Priest is located on the opposite side of the mosque. The palace from the 15th century, where the king held court and counseled wives with marital issues, can be seen further into the forest. The noblemen are thought to have kept their gold and jewels in rooms without windows or doors. There was a hidden door on the roof that was the only way to enter.
Filming the Gendi Ruins in Kenya
Accessing Gendi Ruins in Kenya for filming
To get to Malindi Airport, take a flight into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The distance to the ruins is only about an hour by car.
Where to stay during filming Gendi Ruins in Kenya
Budget, mid-range, and luxury lodge and hotel options are available for those who wish to stay during the filming of the Gedi ruins. Depending on your interests and financial situation, you will decide where to stay. To make a reservation, please contact us here. Among the choices are the Turtle Bay Beach Club, Watamu Treehouse, and Medina Palms.
Requirements for Gendi Ruins
Filming permits
To film Gendi Ruins 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 Gendi Ruins
Filming fees and costs for Gendi Ruins
For any person interested in Gendi Ruins, they will have to pay some costs and fees to be granted permission to do any filming activity. As such, the filming charges for Gendi Ruins 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.
Press Accreditation
To film Gendi Ruins 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 Gendi Ruins
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 Gendi Ruins 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 Gendi Ruins  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 Gendi Ruins?
Filming on Gendi Ruins 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 on Gendi Ruins 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.
