LOCATION: BOTSWANA
Filming in Botswana
If you are looking for a Botswana location fixer and scout, we are your team. We operate throughout Africa, specializing in the southern-African region.
There are a number of reasons that make Botswana a compelling film location, besides being rated as one of the most stable countries in Africa.
Film Fixers have scouted and filmed in the savanna and bushveld locations through to the arid Kalahari Desert. The unforgettable Makgadikgadi Pans and legendary Okavango Delta are the other two locations we have both scouted, fixed and filmed in Botswana.
Contact us for more information on Botswana as well as details on the required film visas and film permits.
Customs and Equipment
Botswana works with the ATA Carnet system under the Southern African Customs Union. Bringing your equipment through South Africa is seamless and moving it between southern Africa is equally painless.
Botswana does not have relevant production/filming equipment hire companies- so equipment needs to be sourced from South Africa. As a location fixer in Botswana, we will provide the necessary film equipment. Aside from that, most equipment for the general outdoors and ‘bush’ can be sourced from the tourism sector.
Botswana is a very vast country with little infrastructure outside of the city, so it is important that you are self-sustainable if you are going off the beaten track (batteries, food, water, etc.)
Contact us for more information on Botswana
Access and Affordability
The nearest land border is about a 7-hour drive from Johannesburg. The borders do have a closing time, and it varies depending on which border – so you may have to consider an overnight stay on-route.
It is possible to hire busses to move from SA into Botswana, and Film Fixers will help with complying on the regulations – although most hire companies are familiar on the protocols and will provide the necessary paperwork for cross-border access.
Botswana has a US-Dollar based tourism, integrated with the Botswana Pula (closely twinned with the South African Rand) which is a better value for money. Visa and permit costs are generally affordable – the only expense being the vast distances that need to be negotiated!
We are fixers, and we provide all the necessary film location services required in Botswana, and more.
Weather
Weather in Botswana depends on where your film location is, and what it is you want to film. Climate is similar to its neighbouring countries, but with less rainfall. The rainy season is from November to March/April, with typical afternoon thunderstorms. The further West, the less rain as you move into the Kalahari region and up to Namibia.
Winter weather will have sunny days, with temperatures dropping rapidly at night – especially in the desert areas. The dependable days make this the key safari tourism time – with the northerly Okavango Delta and Chobe regions providing more moderate temperatures.
The Okavango Delta floods during the Winter season (it takes a while for the waters to move down from Angola) with animals congregating around the waterways. It also makes filming tricky in the north-west, particularly if access is affected by water.
Why film in Botswana
Easy access
Very affordable
Seamless Customs experience
Easy Visa and Permit System
Diverse location options