Botswana Film Permit
The Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism is the agency responsible for approving and processing Botswana film permits. Botswana is one of our favorite locations, however there is currently an embargo on the issuing of Botswana film permits. Fortunately, Film Fixers has the network and know-how to address and navigate these issues.
We have well established relationships with service providers in Botswana, and have completed several projects very successfully. Film Fixers Africa will not only assist your application for Botswana film permits, but we can help you with general information on Botswana as a location, so give us a call!
Filming in Botswana requires multiple engagements at Government level, and despite being a simple process, it can be time consuming. The Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism is the agency responsible for processing the permits, and we maintain a good relationship with them to this day.
This mutual cooperation means that we can expedite the process as well as engage and negotiate on the conditions. Costs are dependent on where the shoot is taking place, as well as the scale of the shoot and crew. Shooting in National Parks is generally more expensive with more pre-conditions, therefore crews should keep this in mind in their preparation.
The Botswana film permit is one thin, meanwhile there is a separate guideline for radios. The use of two-way radios is regulated due to security concerns, and two-way radios entering Botswana have to be pre-licensed with the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA). There are two solutions:
Local Operator – The obvious solution is to use a local (Botswana) supplier/operator. The costs can be quite prohibitive unfortunately, due to monopoly.
License your own – our radios are supplied through our preferred partner and are already approved by BOCRA. We have built up a relationship with BOCRA over the years which makes the acquiring of licenses and frequencies quick and affordable.
The use of drones is restricted for security reasons, therefore resulting in a more complex process. Registration of both the craft and operator is required, as well as the physical presence of both parties. Film Fixers Africa will manage the process and make it as painless as possible, albeit our drones are already pre-approved and registered for operation in Botswana.