Zambia Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Zambia? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.

Filming in Zambia

For an introduction to shooting in Zambia see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.

Zambia Film Locations

Zambia is a landlocked country located in southern Africa. The country is blessed with many nature parks that are home to a diversity of wildlife including hippos, giraffes, elephants, crocodiles, zebras, big cats, monkeys, and a variety of birdlife.

Agricultural film locations include plantations of corn, soybean, cassava, cotton, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts, sunflowers, wheat, tobacco, and fresh flowers. Zambia mines copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, coal, gold, emeralds, and beryl. Energy locations include hydroelectric dams.

Zambia has hosted productions such as Amazing Race 27 (2015), and The Amazing Race 1 (2001).

Film locations can be divided by the following provinces: Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, North-Western, Northern, Southern, and Western.

Lusaka is the capital, the largest city, and main entry point by air. Film locations include the National Assembly, State House, High Court, University of Zambia, Lusaka National Museum, Heroes National Stadium, and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.

Located in the west of the country on the Zambezi River, the Victoria Falls are one of the world’s largest and most spectacular waterfalls. The naturally formed “Devil’s Pool” is a popular photographic location where you can sit in the water dangerously close to plunging over the edge of the falls.

The town of Livingstone is a hub for productions filming at the Victoria Falls.

Nearby Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park includes a beautiful section of the Victoria Falls. The park is home to white rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and elephants.

Kariba Dam is located on the Zambezi River.

Liuwa Plain National Park is located in the west of the country. The grassland landscape is home to cheetahs, hyenas, lions, and wildebeest.

Sioma Ngwezi National Park is located in the southwest of the country. Wildlife of note includes elephants, zebras, wild dog, and cheetahs.

Sioma Falls are beautiful waterfalls located in the west of the country.

Located to the east of Lusaka, Lower Zambezi National Park is home to a large elephant population, lion, leopard, wild dog, buffalo, crocodile and hippopotamus.

The centrally located Kafue National Park is home to antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, lions, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, and wild dogs.

Kasanka National Park is also located in the centre of the country. The park is famous for the roughly 10 million fruit bats that migrate thousands of miles from as far away as West Africa to the park’s evergreen swamp forest between October and December each year.

Lochinvar National Park is located in the central part of the country. Wildlife of note include animals such as baboons, monkeys, wildebeest, and birdlife.

South Luangwa National Park is located in the east of the country. Its lagoons support a diversity of wildlife including hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, wild dogs, and a diversity of birdlife.

The centrally located Blue Lagoon National Park is known for its beautiful blue lagoon.

Nsumbu National Park is located in the northeast of the country on the banks of Lake Tanganyika. The park is home to crocodiles, hippos, buffalos, zebras, hyenas, jackals, elephants, lions, leopards, and a diversity of bird and fish life.

Located in the northeast, the Bangweulu Swamps are an important wetlands location home to hundreds of bird species.

Lumangwe Falls, Ntumbachushi Falls, Mumbuluma Falls, and Kabwelume Falls in the north of the country are beautiful film locations.

Copper mines of note include Sentinel Copper Mine, Kansanshi Mine, Lumwana Copper Mine, Nchanga Copper Mine, and Mopani Mine.

Mukobeko Prison is a notorious prison located in Kabwe.

Zambia Film Location Permits

Media Accreditation from the Zambian Ministry of Information serves as a film permit to shoot in public locations across the country. See the visas and work permits section below for more information.

Once Media Accreditation is approved, our Zambian fixer can go ahead and apply for permits to film in national parks. Permits to film in national parks take about 5 days to process and cost USD60 per crew member per day.

Shoots that require control of public space or filming in locations such as public markets require additional permission. Our Zambian fixer will negotiate permission and fees on the local level and make sure the appropriate level of police support is in place for controlling traffic.

There are currently no restrictions to drone filming in Zambia.

Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

Although Zambia is hot all year round, it has three distinct seasons. December to April is the hot, wet season. The end of the wet season is the best time to film the Victoria Falls when the flow is strongest. May to August is the cool, dry season. September to November is the hot, dry season. The best time to film wildlife is at the end of the dry season when animals congregate around remaining water sources. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Zambia is home to several interesting tribal celebrations including:

• Nc’wala Ceremony in February.
• Kuomboka in April.
• Mutomboko in July.
• Kazanga from June to August.
• Kulamba in August.
• Likumbi Lya Mize in August.
• Shimunenga from September to November.

The Kasanka National Park bat migration takes place from October to December.

Victoria Falls experience lunar rainbows around the full moon during high-water season. The best “moonbows” tend to occur between April and August. The best place to photograph them is upstream on the banks of the Zambezi at Tongabezi.

Zambia is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Zambia.

Unique Local Stories

Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.

If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.

If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.

Costs & Tax Incentives

Costs. Zambian locations, local talent and support crew are inexpensive but since little to no filming infrastructure exists all key crew and equipment must be brought in from abroad adding to those costs. Our Zambian fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.

Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Zambia.

Film Crew & Talent

Crews. Zambia has a very small pool of local directors, videographers and stills photographers. Key crew should be brought in from abroad. Some basic film crew exist such as videographers and sound operators who work for the national broadcaster and may be available to assist with your project.

Contact us if you are looking for a director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew for your shoot in Zambia.

Talent day rates and buyouts are very reasonable and negotiated on a personal basis.

English is the official language. Nyanja and Bemba are widely spoken.

Zambia comprises of 73 ethnic groups. The largest groups include the Nyanja-Chewa, Bemba, Tonga, Tumbuka, Lunda, Luvale, Kaonde, Nkoya and Lozi people. All other talent looks need to be brought in from abroad.

Zambia Film Equipment

Equipment. Zambia does not have any equipment rental houses so you will need to bring in all gear from abroad. South Africa is the closest major production centre for standard and specialised camera, grip and lighting equipment. If you are planning to bring in your own equipment and only have a small amount of gear, such as a Canon 5D, you may be able to get away with just bringing it in as personal effects. The moment you start looking like a film shoot (ie: bringing in lenses, heavy tripods, lights, several boxes of gear), your gear will require customs clearance. Our Zambian fixer can arrange gear importation through a customs clearance agent. We will require a full gear list including serial numbers for the application. Gear importation takes about 5 days to process and costs USD800. Our Zambian fixer or the customs agent will meet you at the airport to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.

Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.

For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.

Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production

Art department and set construction is very basic.

Studios and backlots. None exist at present.

Post Production. Post abroad.

Visas & Work Permits

Passport holders from Western countries can obtain visas on arrival.

Each visiting crew member must have Media Accreditation from the Zambian Ministry of Information to film in Zambia. A synopsis, crew passport information pages and photos, gear list, and a completed application must be submitted to our Zambian fixer who will include an invitation letter and lodge the application on behalf of the visiting crew. Once processed, either originals or copies of the Media Accreditation are sent to crew members to present at the port of entry. Originals must be kept on hand during filming. The Media Accreditation costs USD50 per crew member, is valid for 30 days, and takes anywhere from 5 to 10 working days to process.

Transport & Accommodation

Transportation Infrastructure is quite basic. Roads in cities and major roads connecting tourist destinations are paved. Most other roads are unpaved and slower going with many becoming impassable during the wet season. Our Zambian fixer organizes safe and reliable 4WD transportation. Several international airlines service flights to Zambia.

Accommodation. Recommended film friendly hotels in Zambia include:

Southern Sun Ridgeway Lusaka
The Royal Livingstone Hotel

Please contact us for corporate rates.

For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.

Final Notes

Safety. See here for up to date travel advice.

Down Time. Visit the spectacular Victoria Falls. Local cuisine of note includes ifinkubala, kapenta, michopo, ifisashi, kandolo, nshima, samp, tente mushroom, lumanda, bondwe, chibwabwa, katapa, and delele.

Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Zambia, please see below:

Hire Zambia Production Support & Shooting Crew

If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Zambia, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Zambia, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.

We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.