Explore Some of Africa’s Best Film Locations/African Countries for Wildlife Documentaries

Africa has through the years been an ideal ground for fill locations and different films. Below are the common safari films shot and their wildlife locations.

“Out of Africa” – Kenya

The movie was created in 1985 and it was the first Academy award winning film with its major strength being the cinematics.

It tells the stories of Karen Blixen, her husband Baron Blixen, and the life that she lived with a passion for the place and people that became family.  There are locations today in Kenya that reveal the works of Karen Blixen and her conservation and charity work in Kenya and the wildlife around it.

Inspiration for “Out of Africa”

The movie is an inspiration by the Danish author Blixen Karen’s memoir of the same title which was first published in 1937 as an introductory article.

Karen was born in 1885, left her family back home, and came to Kenya in 1914 to marry her half-cousin Baron Bror Von Blixen. They agreed to start a dairy farm at the foot of Ngong Hills but her husband decided on starting a coffee plantation.

After being married for many years, she divorced and got married to Denys Finch Hatton an English aristocrat. Other stories are recorded in her book “Shadows on the Grass”.

Film Locations for “Out of Africa”

The film will allow visitors to discover the different protected areas and wildlife located in the country as they watch the show.

The film was produced in Kenyan different regions like the foot of Ngong Hills with the scenery of the Great Rift Valley, Maasai Mara Game Reserve which connects to Serengeti, Shaba National Game Reserve (a former place to hunt), and the Karen Blixen Museum.

How Did They Film “Out of Africa”?

Directed by Sydney Pollack had various characters with Meryl Streep playing the role of Karen Blixen, Robert Redford playing Finch, and Klaus Maria Brandauer as Bror Blixen. It was however quite unsettling for Robert Redford, an American actor to play Finch an English man and a man who loved to hunt on safaris. Before Karen’s role was given to Meryl Streep, it was first offered to Audrey Hepburn.

The descendants of different people who were named in the book were also used in the film. For example, the grandson of Chief Kinyanjui in the book took the role of his grandfather.

Many scenes were produced from the Lang’ata/Karen area which is at the foot of Ngong Hills, Karen’s first house Mbogani which is now a dairy farm, and her real house called the “Mbagathi” (now the Karen Blixen Museum). Apart from the beautiful wildlife or game regions, other scenes were shot at the Scott House and Nairobi School which relayed the Nairobi School and the Chyulu Hills which represented the Ngong Hills which had less attractive scenery.

Born Free – Kenya

The inspirational wildlife movie, “Born Free” (1965) follows the true stories of George and Joy Adamson and the young Lion Elsa who they adopt as their own. Elsa however struggles with going back to the wild to join the other Lions to hunt and fend for themselves.

The wildlife/game movie was shot from different beautiful regions on the coast and other amazing locations like the breathtaking landscapes of Meru National Park. Discover Meru NP and stay in a camp to fully explore this filming destination.

The African Queen – Tanzania

Although this movie was produced in Uganda and Congo, it is set in the German East (now Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania). Sibling missionaries Rose and Samuel Sayer who do missionary work in a local African village are attacked by Germans during World War 1 who kill the native women and children and abduct men.

A frustrated Samuel Sayer kills himself from the shock he just witnessed and Rose who is his only family is left alone. Mr. Charlie Allnut, a mailman who travels by an old boat called the “African Queen” comes and helps Rose to bury her brother Rev Samuel Sayer, and takes her on the “African Queen”. While Rose is determined to avenge her brother’s death, she realizes that her relationship with Mr. Charlie Allnut grows into a love story.

Visitors will discover the amazing beauty of the destination through this beautiful wildlife movie. There are different camp accommodations for you to stay in as you do tourism for this movie production place in Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Other captivating movies that were shot in different countries embrace wildlife and they include The United Kingdom and The Gods Must Be Crazy which were shot in Botswana, The Lion King (Kenya), Invictus (South Africa), Gorillas in the Mist (Rwanda), Madagascar and Madagascar Escape to Africa (Madagascar), with an exotic feeling.

Wildlife Filming Safari in the Luangwa Valley

Game/Wildlife filming at the Luangwa region provides one of the richest experiences for wildlife enthusiasts on their safari. Wildlife filming in the park has featured “Wild Babies” the stories of Lions by the Humblebee Films.

This beautiful safari wildlife destination is still available for amazing wildlife filming.

Top 10 African Film Studios and Locations

As you go to your filming destination with your friends, you may need to choose a studio, camp, or any other exclusive place for shooting. We look at some of the best places below.

1. Atlas Studios, Ouarzazate, Morocco

This is considered the biggest film studio located in Africa. It is located in Ouarzazate City in Morocco. It is the biggest safari destination for the majority of Hollywood film projects including producing and editing, thus pulling different movies for example Passion of Christ, the Jewel of the Nile, Prince of Persia, Mummy, and many others.

2. Cape Town Film Studios

This is a Hollywood-style studio in Cape Town South Africa, and it is custom-built with one of the best filming facilities. Some of the movies produced by the studio include Black Beauty, Bloodshot, Doctor Who, and Deep Blue Sea, among others.

Cape Town is considered the “little Hollywood” as it brings a natural beauty to filming.

3. EbonyLife TV

Located in Nigeria, EbonyLife TV is among the best studios in the African region, breathing essence to many African movies and selling them both to the local and the world markets.

4. Kap Film Village

The Kap Film Village is a new studio owned by Kunle Afolayan a Nigerian film maker. The studio sitting on a 40-acre plot of land has collaborated with Netflix in the production of an African beauty in visuals.

5. Morocco

Morocco has since 1900 been host for shooting Hollywood movies because of the best filming skills located in the country. Some of the movies shot in the location include Mission Impossible, among others.

6. Uganda

Being a location for various movies like Black Panther, Queen of Katwe, Escape from Uganda, and the wildlife piece, Chimp Empire (a safari movie) among others, Uganda is a beauty for filming exclusive movies and camera work.

7. Johannesburg

Johannesburg is another beautiful land for filming as it has beautiful metropolitan buildings and skyscrapers to help in film production.

8. Kenya

This has been one of the most common African destinations located in the Great Rift Valley that has pulled African filming as different films are covered by National Geographic and BBC. Common safari films like “Out of Africa”, Cradle of Life, and Hell’s Gate were produced from this destination. The country has scenic camp accommodations for friends that are eco-friendly for conservation while filming.

9. The Namib Desert in Namibia

The Namib Desert in Namibia is a vast uninhabited land that has acted as a host for shooting various films. Examples of these productions shot in Namibia cover “10,000”, and “The Hunter and Mummy”, among others.

10. Egypt

Egypt is a unique and ancient destination in the north for your safaris, with lots of Hollywood movies and different stories that have been produced in the country. Some of them include Malcolm X, Transformers, and The Ten Commandments, among others.

What to Expect when you Film your African Hunting Safari?

If you hire a production crew for a hunt safari, they will meet and welcome you at the airport and then drive you to your accommodation facility. Expect to work with experienced videographers and photographers who have passion are experienced in the craft and are well conversant with wildlife behavior.

They will enable guests professionally and with the passion to capture the game/wildlife stories on camera during a game drive or while you hunt, your camping grounds, nature, and the beautiful moments in the environment among others.

Itinerary of Wildlife Filming Safari Day by Day

Depending on your wildlife filming project leading you to about 3 to 15 days or more, you will be given an exclusive itinerary by your tour operator or have one designed for your comfort during tourism.

On day one of your wildlife filming itinerary, a guide will pick you up from the airport and then accompany you to your lodge/lodges or camp where you can have a campfire and rest for your night.

On the following day, your guide will accompany you to the shooting location and other areas during other days.

You may move with your binoculars, a camera, an iPhone, or any Android phone with a good camera to help you capture extra videos or take picture shots of animals and other wildlife.

You May Also Like These Related Safaris

Below are some of the tours that you can add to your movie shooting holidays.

1. Photographic safaris
2. Historical safari
3. Religious safari
4. Archeological safari
5. Game/Wildlife Safaris

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Africa Have a Film Industry?

Yes, there are various film industries in different countries, and it has been growing tremendously, with exclusive capturing of both local and world audiences, especially during a safari.

What is the Largest Film Studio in Africa?

Morocco, North of the continent has the largest film studio in the African region, called Atlas in Ouarzazate, covering 20,000 hectares. Various world films were shot in the studio for example “Mission Impossible”, “Prison Break”, and “The Amazing Race”, among others.

What is the Best Film Industry in Africa?

Nollywood is considered the best film industry in the continent, producing an average of 2,500 films every year with an average revenue of $ 15.32 million.

What is the Most Famous Film Industry in Africa?

Nollywood, the Nigerian Film Industry is the most famous in the African continent.

Why are so Many Movies Filmed in South Africa?

The South African country attracts many film makers because of the well-experienced people in the industry, the good infrastructure/lodges and camp accommodations, an abundance of game/wildlife, and the availability of various shooting locations in the country. Also, shooting movies in the country is considered much cheaper than filming in Hollywood.

Is the Story of “Out of Africa” True?

The movie is inspired by true events about the life of Karen Blixen and her life in Kenya, one of the most inspiring movies in the world.

What Part of Africa Was “Out of Africa” Filmed?

The movie was shot in Kenya and the region is great for creating other outstanding movies.

Was “Out of Africa” Filmed at Karen Blixen’s House?

The film was produced from different locations but one of them was the Karen Blixen House.

What is Being Filmed in Cape Town?

Various films have been produced in Cape Town and some of them cover “One Piece” (2023), “Outlander” (2014), “Black Mirror” (2011), and many others.

Did They Film 1923 in Africa?

The series “1923” was shot in different locations which were Europe, South Africa, and the United States (Montana).  However, major shooting locations were Butte, Anaconda, and Whitehall.

Is the House in 1923 Real?

The house in the series 1923 is real as it was shot at the Daly Mansion in Montana.

What is the New African Safari Movie?

There has been a round of many new African safari movies to watch and some of them include “Beast” (2022), “African Safari” (2013), “Love on Safari” (2018), “Meet the Malawas” 2019, “An Elephants Journey”2017

Was the Movie “Love on Safari” Shot in Africa?

Yes, “Love on Safari” was shot in South Africa’s locations and was released in 2013.

Why is Africa Safari so Expensive?

Various reasons make African safaris quite expensive but most importantly the cost of conserving wildlife, managing the protected areas, and paying workers. Additionally, other factors that make an African safari expensive include the level of luxury, transportation costs, park entrance fees, and the number of days spent on the safari.

What is the Best Country in Africa to Go on Safari?

The destination boasts a list of countries that you can visit for your authentic African safari, especially for wildlife. Some of the best wildlife destinations to go to for a safari cover Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

We are thrilled to help you plan your perfect safari holiday.

Talk to us today in planning your wildlife, documentary of fiction filming safari in Africa so you can be able to capture the best of memories by film locations scouting for the best site for storytelling. Get your camera and let’s discover the beauty in this tourism sector during your safari.

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