🎬 Production Destination

One country.
Every landscape.
All the support.

Kenya offers international and local producers a rare convergence: extraordinary natural locations, a growing professional crew base, competitive financial incentives, and a dedicated production support team — all backed by Kenya Film Commission.

247+
Filming Locations
38
Countries Filmed Here
1,400+
Local Crew & Talent
24hr
Inquiry Response Time

Africa's most compelling production destination

Kenya delivers what no single location typically can: coastal ocean, open savannah, dense equatorial forest, dramatic rift escarpments, highland moorland, and a contemporary East African capital — all within a country that has built a professional infrastructure to support world-class productions.

🌍
Unmatched Landscape Diversity
From the Indian Ocean coast to 5,199m Mt. Kenya, from arid Turkana to dense Kakamega Forest — Kenya's geographic range replaces multiple countries in a single production.
💰
Competitive Financial Incentives
Kenya offers tax exemptions, duty relief on production equipment, and co-funding mechanisms that improve the financial case against comparable destinations in the region.
👥
Growing Professional Crew Base
Over 1,400 registered professionals across all key departments, with internationally trained cinematographers, editors, and production designers at feature film standard.
🤝
Dedicated KFC Production Support
Kenya Film Commission provides complimentary production facilitation — from your first inquiry through to wrap. Location scouting, permit coordination, crew sourcing, and on-ground liaison.
Year-round
filming weather across most of Kenya's landscape categories, with two distinct seasons offering different lighting and atmospheric conditions for different production needs.
47
counties, each with distinct visual character and cultural heritage — from Swahili coast culture in Mombasa to Maasai heritage in Kajiado
54
wildlife species featured in international productions filmed in Kenya in the past decade
Feature
Kenya
Morocco
Rwanda
S. Africa
Wildlife locations
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Coastal / ocean
✓✓
Urban contemporary
✓✓
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✓✓
Tax incentive
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✓✓
English-speaking crew
✓✓
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Digital permit system
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Find your perfect
filming location

View full database Request Scouting Support
247 filming locations
Sort by:
Wildlife Savannah
Amboseli National Park
📍 Kajiado County · South Kenya
🐘 Big Five 🏔 Kilimanjaro backdrop ✈ 3hr from Nairobi
Historical Coastal
Mombasa Old Town
📍 Mombasa County · Coast
🏛 Swahili architecture 🚢 Harbour access ✈ 30min from Moi Airport
Urban Commercial
Nairobi CBD & Upper Hill
📍 Nairobi County · Nairobi
🏢 Modern skyline 🌆 Contrast streets ✈ 30min from JKIA
Lakeside Flamingos
Lake Naivasha
📍 Nakuru County · Rift Valley
🦛 Hippos & flamingos 🌿 Papyrus wetlands ✈ 1.5hr from Nairobi
Arid Wildlife
Tsavo East & West
📍 Taita-Taveta County · SE Kenya
🦁 Red-dust savannah 🐘 Large elephant herds 🏔 Chyulu Hills
Beach Coral Reef
Diani Beach & Reef
📍 Kwale County · Coast
🏄 White sand, turquoise water 🤿 Coral reef diving ✈ 30min from Ukunda
Wildlife Great Migration
Maasai Mara National Reserve
📍 Narok County · SW Kenya
🦁 Big Five daily 🦬 Great Migration Jul–Oct 🌅 Open plains, drama
Mountain Moorland
Mount Kenya Region
📍 Nyeri County · Central Kenya
🏔 5,199m peak 🌿 Moorland & forest ❄ Snow-capped summit
UNESCO Island
Lamu Old Town
📍 Lamu County · North Coast
🏛 UNESCO World Heritage 🚢 No cars — donkeys only 🕌 Ancient Swahili town
Wildlife & Savannah ✓ KFC Verified

Amboseli National Park

Africa's most iconic filming backdrop: vast open plains dotted with acacia trees, elephant herds in their thousands, and the perpetual white cone of Mt. Kilimanjaro rising behind. Amboseli has hosted some of the most celebrated wildlife cinematography in documentary history. The flat terrain, predictable wildlife density, and proximity to the mountain create a cinematic composition that is virtually impossible to replicate elsewhere on the continent.

Region Kajiado County, South Kenya
GPS Coordinates 2°38'S, 37°15'E
Access 3hr road from Nairobi / 30min light aircraft from Wilson Airport
Permit Type Kenya Wildlife Service + KFC filming permit
Best Season Year-round; clearest Kilimanjaro views Jan–Feb, Jun–Oct
Previously Filmed National Geographic (multiple), BBC Natural World, several feature films
Interested in this location?
Tell us about your production and our location team will send you a full location pack within 24 hours.
Inquire About This Location
Quick Information
📍 Kajiado County
✈ Wilson Airport: 30min flight
🏨 Lodges on-site available
🎬 Virtual tour available
⚡ Generator power only
🚁 Aerial filming: permitted
Apply for Permit

The financial case
for filming in Kenya

Kenya's incentive framework is designed to make the financial model work for international productions. Combined with lower base production costs than comparable markets, Kenya delivers strong value.

🏛
Tax Incentive
Customs Duty Relief
Production equipment imported temporarily for qualifying productions is exempt from customs duty under Kenya's investment incentive framework. Equipment must depart post-production.
Equipment Temporary Import All Productions
💼
Co-Funding
Co-Production Funds
KFC facilitates access to international co-production funding for projects with Kenyan creative elements. Bilateral co-production agreements open access to partner country funding bodies.
Feature Film Documentary Animation
📋
Fee Reduction
Reduced Permit Costs
KFC-facilitated productions accessing official channels benefit from streamlined permitting and reduced permit fees compared to self-managed applications. Volume discounts apply for large productions.
KFC-Facilitated Large Productions

Production Savings Calculator

Estimate your savings from filming in Kenya vs. comparable markets
Interactive Tool

Your Production Details

20% 60% 100%
10% 70% 100%
Estimated Total Saving vs. Comparable Market
USD 240,000
Estimated saving across all categories
Equipment Import Relief (est.) USD 60,000
Local Crew Rate Differential USD 110,000
Location & Permit Savings USD 40,000
Accommodation & Logistics USD 30,000

Estimates based on published rate comparisons vs. South Africa and Morocco. Actual savings will vary. This tool is for indicative planning only. Contact KFC for a formal production estimate.

Get a Formal Estimate →

Kenya's growing
professional crew base

Over 1,400 registered screen professionals across all key departments — from cinematographers with international credits to editors, production designers, and VFX artists trained to feature film standard.

1,400+
Registered Professionals
24
Crew Departments
84%
of international productions used local crew in past 3 years

Featured Professionals

👁
James Kamau
Director of Photography
ARRI RED Wildlife Documentary
● Available · Nairobi
🎬
Aisha Omondi
Director / Writer
Drama Documentary Short Film
● Available · Nairobi
🎵
Peter Otieno
Sound Recordist
Nagra Boom Op Field Mix
● On Project · Mombasa
Grace Wanjiku
Picture Editor
Avid Premiere DaVinci
● Available · Nairobi
🎨
Dominic Mwangi
Production Designer
Period Contemporary Set Build
● Available · Nairobi
Amina Hassan
Drone Operator / Pilot
KCAA Licensed DJI Inspire Cinema
● Available · Nationwide
💡
Samuel Kipkoech
Gaffer / Lighting
Large Scale LED Natural Light
● Available · Nairobi
💄
Fatima Ali
Hair & Makeup
SFX Makeup Period African hair
● Available · Nairobi

All Departments

Permits made straightforward

Kenya's digital permit system handles most permit types online. KFC coordinates across agencies so you don't have to. Apply once — we do the rest.

The Permit Process

1
Submit Your Application Online
Complete the digital permit application with your production details, locations, dates, and special requirements. Upload supporting documents (insurance, schedule, company registration).
⏱ 20–30 minutes to complete 📱 Available on mobile
2
KFC Review & Routing
KFC reviews your application and routes to relevant agencies (KWS, County Governments, NEMA, Police) on your behalf. You receive a tracking number and timeline estimate.
⏱ 1–3 business days 📧 Email updates at each stage
3
Fee Payment
Receive a consolidated fee invoice for all permits. Pay online via bank transfer or card. Fee is calculated based on location type, duration, and production scale.
💳 Online payment 📄 Tax receipt issued
4
Permit Issued
Approved permit delivered digitally. KFC provides a production liaison contact for any on-ground questions during your shoot.
✓ Digital permit delivery 📞 Dedicated liaison contact

Permit Types

🏞
National Park & Reserve Filming
KWS administered — KFC coordinated
Processing Time
5–10 business days
Fee Range
KSh 30K – 500K
Valid For
Up to 30 days
Insurance Required
Yes — wildlife liability
🏙
Urban & Street Filming
County Government + Police
Processing Time
3–5 business days
Fee Range
KSh 5K – 80K
Valid For
Per day / per location
Road Closure
Additional application
Drone / Aerial Filming Permit
KCAA — Kenya Civil Aviation Authority
Processing Time
7–14 business days
Fee Range
KSh 15K – 50K
Pilot Requirement
KCAA licensed pilot
Park Zones
Separate KWS approval
🌊
Marine & Coastal Filming
Kenya Maritime Authority + County
Processing Time
5–8 business days
Fee Range
KSh 10K – 120K
Vessel Requirement
Licensed charter only
Reef / MPA
NEMA permit required
KFC coordinates permit applications across all agencies for productions working through us. You submit once — we manage the rest.

Everything you need
to make it happen

Request Production Support
🎥
Equipment Rental
Kenya's equipment rental market has expanded significantly. Camera, lighting, grip, and sound packages are available in Nairobi, with equipment transport to locations.
ARRI Alexa, RED, Sony FX series Full grip and lighting packages Location power — generators, solar Transport to any location
Browse Equipment Directory
🏗
Studios & Facilities
Nairobi's studio infrastructure supports controlled environment productions — from commercial shoots to TV drama and animation. Several studios offer full post-production facilities.
Sound stages up to 800m² Green screen and cyc walls Post-production suites Production office space
Browse Studio Directory
🚐
Vendors & Services
Kenya's production services ecosystem covers transport, accommodation, catering, security, local fixers, legal services, insurance, and medical support for on-location productions.
Production transport fleet Crew accommodation coordination Production catering nationwide Security and medical on-set
Browse Vendor Directory
🏥
Post-Production
Nairobi's post-production infrastructure has grown rapidly. Several facilities offer professional colour grading, sound mixing, VFX, and finishing for international delivery specs.
4K colour grading suites Dolby-approved audio mixing VFX and compositing Digital deliverables
Browse Post Facilities
📋
Legal & Insurance
Kenya has established legal and insurance infrastructure for international productions. KFC maintains a directory of film-specialist attorneys and brokers familiar with international production requirements.
Film production insurance brokers Entertainment law firms Location agreement templates IP and co-production advice
Access Legal Resources
🤝
KFC On-Ground Support
Our most important service. Every production working through KFC gets a dedicated liaison — a real person who knows Kenya and knows production. They're your partner from inquiry to wrap.
Dedicated production liaison assigned 24hr response during production Government and agency mediation Emergency escalation protocols
Start Production Inquiry

Productions that chose Kenya

Add your production
🎬
Feature Film — French-Kenyan Co-Production
Mabingwa wa Pwani (Champions of the Coast)
Mombasa, Lamu · 45 shoot days · KSh 12M local spend
📺
Commercial Campaign — Global Brand
Safari Motor Company Global Brand Campaign
Amboseli, Rift Valley · 12 shoot days · 48 crew
🎤
Music Video — International Artist
Nairobi Nights — Global Music Video Production
Nairobi CBD, Karen · 5 shoot days · 100% local crew

Talk to our
production team

Whether you're in early development or ready to move into pre-production, KFC's production team is here to help. Tell us about your project and we'll respond within 24 hours with a tailored briefing.

Our Production Promise
Response within 24 hours — every inquiry, every time
Dedicated production liaison assigned to your project
Complimentary location scouting support for qualified productions
All KFC production facilitation services are provided at no charge
📧 production@kenyafilmcommission.go.ke
📞 +254 20 271 4073
📍 KFC Offices, Nairobi — Mon–Fri 08:00–17:30 EAT

Production Inquiry

We respond within 24 hours. All information is held in confidence.

By submitting, you agree to KFC's privacy policy. Your information is used only to respond to this inquiry.