Filming in Kenya: How to Film Successfully

Kenya's Popular Locations

Kenya is a country full of different and beautiful places ideal for filming. It has beaches on the coast with palm trees, white sand, coral reefs, and swampy river areas. Then there’s Tsavo, a huge wild place with flat grasslands, hills, volcanoes, and awesome waterfalls called Lugard Falls.

See a list of our filming locations in Kenya

Is Filming in Kenya Safe?

The production must follow the law to keep everyone safe and healthy by taking practical steps, following rules like The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 (OSHA). A medic or someone trained in first aid must always be on set during filming. The production needs to provide proper protective clothing for the cast and crew when needed. If explosives are used, they must be supervised by the Directorate of Mines, Explosives Inspectorate. If fire is used, it must be managed by the Disaster Management Departments in the local County Governments.

Filming Wildlife in Kenya

To film wildlife in Kenya’s National Parks, you need a permit from the Kenya Film Commission, submit a letter, form, script, and schedule. It costs Ksh. 5,000 ($50) for small projects or Ksh. 15,000 ($150) for bigger ones, processed in a few days.

You also need a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) permit:

• Ksh. 8,000 ($80) for up to 5 people,
• Ksh. 12,000 ($115) for 6-10, or
• Ksh. 20,000 ($200) for over 10, for a week.

Foreign crew require an Immigration special pass, around Ksh. 2,000 ($20) each.

Park entry fees are about $70/day per person, plus Ksh. 400 ($4) daily for a liaison officer.

Equipment fees are 1% of its value or Ksh. 30,000 ($300), whichever is less. Apply online or in person and pay the fees.

Filming with Drones in Kenya

Under Civil Aviation regulations, you must first receive operation approval from the Ministry of Defence. Once approved, you must apply to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority by emailing rpas@kcaa.or.ke to obtain the appropriate importation and registration application form.

More About Visas and Work Permits

Foreigners planning to visit Kenya need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before they arrive, unless they’re from an East African Community country. You do this online at www.etakenya.go.ke.

You need a passport valid for at least 6 months, your flight details, and where you’re staying (like a hotel booking or an invitation letter if with friends). It costs $30, paid by card, and takes about 3 days to get approved, so don’t leave it to the last minute. If you’re coming from a place with yellow fever risk, you’ll also need a certificate showing you’re vaccinated. Once you get the eTA, print it or keep it on your phone to show when you land.

Filming in Public Places

Kenya’s making it simpler to film in public by getting rid of fees for shooting in places like the Central Business District (CBD) and towns. You don’t have to pay anything extra to use your camera on streets or in open public areas now. It’s a move to help filmmakers, whether local or from outside, so they can record everyday life in Kenya.

You still need a filming license from the Kenya Film Commission (KFC) and will handle safety yourself. Think of hiring private security if there’s a crowd to keep things under control.

Kenya's Unique Weather

Kenya’s weather is pretty varied because of its geography, and that’s what makes it stand out for filming. It sits on the equator, so it's just wet and dry seasons.

The coast, like Mombasa, is hot and humid all year, with temperatures around 25-30°C (77-86°F), perfect for beach shoots with steady sunlight. Inland, places like Nairobi sit higher up at 1,700 meters (5,577 feet), so it’s cooler, averaging 20-25°C (68-77°F), and feels mild most days.

The dry season (June to October) brings clear skies and less rain, while the wet seasons (March to May and October to December) can mean muddy roads but lush, green landscapes.

Up north, it’s arid and hot, hitting 35°C (95°F) or more, and in the highlands like Mount Kenya, it drops to 10-15°C (50-59°F) with even some snow at the top.