Filming in Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Are you looking for filming opportunities in Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Yes, Lake Kivu is among the African great lakes bordering DR Congo and Rwanda on the Albertine rift in the western branch of the African Rift valley. The river Rusizi drains the water of Lake Kivu and flows into Lake Tanganyika. The lake stenches for 90 kilometers and it is about 50 kilometers wide with more than 50% of its waters found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The lake features several fish species, and it is reported that the lake has more than 28 species of fish and is also home to 4 species of freshwater crabs. The biodiversity of Lake Kivu is threatened on a large scale by deforestation on the lake’s shore, as well as human activities such as urban waste, soil disintegration, ill-advised use of agrochemicals, getting things done, family trash, and a lack of sewage water treatment.
Since the lake features and is bounded by various biodiversity, it is good for the people and the travelers who are interested in filming. You will be able to film a lot of activities and things, and today we look at the activities that you can film on Lake Kivu as well as the requirements that you need to film on the lake and the best time when you can film on Lake Kivu.
Things to film on Lake Kivu
The following are the top activities to do during your filming safari in Lake Kivu of Democratic Republic of Congo;
Filming beaches and the swimming on Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is the fresh water body that has no crocodiles and the lake is also free from the hippos meaning that there is no need for the fear of the bilharzia and a lot of the people can be seen swimming freely without any problem. Still there are a lot of beaches around the Lake Kivu which you can as ell film on the Lake.
Filming Nyamirundu Island on Lake Kivu
This is the island that is known for its plantation farms, especially the coffee growing islands, and thus you will be able to film the coffee plantations on the island. You will get a chance to film how coffee is harvested, processed, packed, and made out of the coffee. This is interesting when the local people on the island engage in the coffee plantations and how they earn money from them.
Film the people biking and hiking on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Lake Kivu offers visitors with wonderful views and the backdrop of the filming walks and other cool breezes from the waves, which will give you spectacular and everlasting experiences. It provides visitors with wonderful performances and experiences, which makes it that much more interesting and wonderful. So there are a lot of spectacular views of the lake and its surroundings.
When is the best time to film on Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Filming on Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo is done throughout the year. However, it has been established that the best time to film on Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo is during the dry season, which lasts from June to October and then from December to February. The Democratic Republic of Congo is covered with tropical rain forest and this has influenced the country to experience the tropical climate, meaning that at times you can also experience certain rains unexpectedly. Therefore, you need to prepare accordingly for the changing weather conditions.
Getting to Lake Kivu in DR Congo for Filming
Lake Kivu can be easily accessed through the Kigali in Rwanda and its approximately that the lake is a about 154 kilometers from and one can get to the park through the roads leading to this town and the road are very clean and tarmacked and you will need juts 3 to 4 hours from the Kigali city and this is very interesting. Private vehicles are also available and can be hired for around $60, excluding gasoline and a driver. However, if you are on a tight budget, you can also take advantage of public transportation.
What do you need to film on Lake Kivu?
The first requirement is to obtain filming permits and clearance.
For any related filming activity to be done in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially filming on Lake Kivu, all the filming crew members must have and possess the filming permits, which are provided with permission by the authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo in order for you to continue with your filming safari on Lake Kivu. Other than the filming permits, you will also need to have your filming equipment cleared at any point of entry in the Democratic Republic of Congo, whether through the international airport or by using the land borders. The filming equipment is supposed to be cleared by the customs department, which is always stationed at the point of entry.
Therefore, as Africa Adventure Vacations, this is where we can help you a lot. By merely informing us of your intentions to film on Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we are very experienced in organizing for you the whole adventure activity, including processing for you the filming permits required, organizing for you the accommodation facilities, transportation, help in obtaining for you the local authorities’ permits, as well as aiding you in clearing your filming equipment with the customs department of the Democratic Republic of Congo at your point of entry.
With the Democratic Republic of Congo filming procedures, there is no formal process for the filming permits allocation, and thus this is handled by negotiations between the parties, and at Africa Adventure Vacations, we are experienced in doing this. Also, the DR. Congo government doesn’t authorize filming in the areas of interest, especially filming the military installation projects, filming of government buildings, as well as filming along the border areas, and this is illegal, and you may be penalized in the courts of law or even have your equipment confiscated. If you want to do filming that will require you to shoot using drones, market filming, or filming alongside the road whereby you will inconvenience traffic, such as filming in the cities or in national parks, then you will also need to get permission from the local authorities. To avoid inconveniences, you will need to contact Africa Adventure Vacations so that we can advise you accordingly when to do filming on Lake Kivu in Congo.
Visas and work permits are required as part of the second requirement.
As you are aware, it is illegal to enter another country without a visa. It is important that all the film crew members obtain the visa to be allowed into the DR. Congo. For the neighboring Congo countries of Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, you can get the visa immediately on arrival. For the DR Congo Visa, it’s a different story. Rather, you must apply for the visa in advance through your nearby DR Congo Embassy. The single entry visa in Congo costs $100 and is valid for one month. The one valid for two months costs $135, while for the one valid for six months, you will need to pay $400. The important thing to note is that the DR. Congo Visa will need to be applied for in advance, about 3 weeks or a month before your planned dates of travel to Congo for the filming, since this visa cannot be issued on arrival as it is in its neighboring countries. The film crew members will not be allowed to enter the Democratic Republic of Congo to film on Lake Kivu in the DR. Congo without a visa. Another document here is the yellow fever vaccination card, and thus, please contact us at Africa Adventure Vacations for the best filming opportunities in the DR. Congo.
In order to film on Lake Kivu, you must hire vehicles.
Yes, at Africa Adventure Vacations, we make sure that we make transport arrangements for you such that when you are in the Democratic Republic of Congo for filming, you don’t get stranded. We have got our own fleet of cars, and we book and arrange the vehicle services for the film crew members depending on their interests, budgets, and the terrain of the area that is going to be filmed. For the film crew members going to film in the rough terrain, we advise them to use a 4×4-wheel-drive vehicle that will be able to navigate the hilly terrain. We shall be able to tell you how much it cost in terms of the furl and the mileage covered in order to determine how much you will spend on the vehicle per day. Africa Adventure Vacations also organizes both chartered and scheduled flights within the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially for visitors who are interested in flying and do not have the time to drive long distances on the road.
Our hired vehicles will be manned by a well-experienced driver guide who has been to the Democratic Republic of Congo and knows all the corners of the country from the point of arrival up to Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The driver fixer will be able to share with you the basic information about the Democratic Republic of Congo and will give you all the solutions required when it comes to film fixing, so you are lucky to book your Lake Kivu filming safaris with Africa Adventure Vacations.
Is filming on Lake Kivu in DR Congo safe?
It is safe to film on Lake Kivu. Well, we all know that over recent years, DR. Congo has been affected by instabilities that have threatened investors as well as the tourism industry in the country. Such instabilities and disasters have come because of Ebola and other rebellion conflicts that have halted the filming process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, as of recently, the Congo has returned to peace, with only a few cases of insecurity, and the filming industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is safe and thriving, so we can assure you that filming on Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is safe. At Africa Adventure Vacations, we keep tracking and monitoring any security threats from time to time, and we are very cautious in that anytime we feel a threat, we can let you know. This advisory service is always given before filming on Lake Kivu starts. Always contact us at African Adventure Vacations for more information.
Where to stay on Lake Kivu while filming?
There are different lodges where you can stay while you are filming on Lake Kivu in Congo. Some lodges and hotels can be found around Kivu, and the best lodges where you can stay include Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, the Palm Beach resort, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Lake Kivu Hotel, and Lake Kivu Hotel, among other wonderful lodges. This clearly shows that you can stay at any destination of your choice since the lodges are of different sizes; midrange, luxury, and budget lodges and hotels.
What is the best time to do filming on Lake Kivu in Congo?
Filming on Lake Kivu is done throughout the year. However, it has been established that the best time to film on Lake Kivu is during the dry season, which lasts from June to October and then from December to February. The Democratic Republic of Congo is covered with tropical rain forest and this has influenced the country to experience the tropical rain climate, meaning that at times you can also experience certain rains unexpectedly. Therefore, you need to prepare accordingly for the changing weather conditions.
Why should you book Lake Kivu filming safaris in Congo with Africa Adventure Vacations?
Africa Adventure Vacations is a local company based in Uganda but operates in East African countries that include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and South Africa, and we have over 10 years’ experience in aiding filming and production companies, especially those interested in filming African cities, nature-related wildlife and the culture of Africa. We provide services such as booking for the filming permits, clearing of the filming equipment, booking for the accommodation facilities, organizing transportation to the filming companies, all in the shortest period of time. We organize other wildlife packages to all of the above-mentioned countries, including gorilla packages to Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Therefore, you should not hesitate to choose us to be your film fixers in East Africa.
