LOCATION: RWANDA

Filming in Rwanda

Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is one of the smallest countries on the African continent. Due to its turbulent history, Rwanda is unfortunately often overlooked as a production location option, but that would be a huge mistake! The days of war are happily long behind this incredible country and today this gem of a location is known for being one of the safest countries in Africa to visit. This small country is a perfect location for filming with its easy access, low-cost local production costs, and incredible diversity of shoot options.

Think Rwanda production, think Gorilla trekking, unbelievable volcanoes, spectacular national parks, beautiful clean cities, lush green vegetation, a major agricultural sector, wonderful music & dance, a strong sports ethic, wonderful and warm people, and fantastic festivals.

Film Fixers is your perfect partner if you are looking for a Rwandan fixer. With our knowledge and familiarity, you can count on us to assist with access to top locations as well as some of the lesser-known and unique hidden gems this fascinating country has to offer. We will provide you with full production support throughout your filming to ensure that you get the shots that you need.

Contact us for more information on Rwanda as well as details on the required film visas and film permits.

Customs and Equipment

Bring in your equipment – Rwanda currently does not have a large selection of film equipment, so it makes sense to bring in your equipment on a temporary import permit, which is a relatively inexpensive process. FilmFixers will help you through this process, so you just need to focus on the production!

Hiring equipment – We have relationships with most major equipment hire companies in South Africa, so accessing the equipment and getting it across the border into and out of Rwanda is relatively simple. Pricing is relatively competitive – something we monitor and manage on your behalf – and is more than offset by the savings incurred through overweight baggage, insurance, etc.

Access and Affordability

Kigali international airport is the main hub of international travel in and out of Rwanda, however, there is also Kamembe international airport in the South West of the country. Scheduled flights fly regularly within Africa, Asia, Europe, the USA, and the Middle East.

The Rwanda government is continuously investing in roads, water transport, and rail transport. Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, is a rapidly developing modern city with good road links with the rest of the country.

Diversity

Film Fixers has spent over 16 years producing content in South Africa, from travel, adventure, and reality to documentaries and still shoots. When it comes to locations in South Africa, there are very few who can match our level of knowledge and relationships, and when it comes to assisting television crews, there are very few South African Fixers who can match our depth of experience and skills. Cape Town and Johannesburg as locations are just the tips of the iceberg – let us show you exactly how versatile this country is when it comes to locations.

Why film in Rwanda

Early Access
Very Affordable
Seamless customs experience
Easy visa and permit system
Diverse location options

Top Film Locations

Volcanoes National Park – Six extinct and 3 active volcanoes, a crater lake, bamboo forest, rain forest, grasslands, swamps and home of the endangered mountain gorilla and the rare golden monkey as well as the 62 million year old Musanze Caves, and Diane Fossey’s grave. There is plenty production value here, and FilmFixers will help you sort out all the necessary permits and permissions.

Kigali Memorial Centre Genocide Memorial – Built on a mass gravesite in Kigali where over 250 000 people are buried, the Kigali Genocide Memorial is an important place of remembrance and learning about the Genocide against the Tutsi in particular, and it looks too at the history of genocidal violence across the world. There is great opportunity to meet with the outreach workers who interact with the many Rwanda communities through storytelling. Talking with some survivors would be harrowing, but incredible material for a very insightful and poignant story on reconciliation and human survival. Filmfixers will help to put you in touch with the storytellers and the survivors.

Lake Kivu – Looking for old colonial mansions or vibey cocktail bars in what looks like a beach resort setting? You will find exactly that in Rubavu (also known as Gisenyi), on the northern edge of Lake Kivu. Need an authentic shot of local fishermen singing as they paddle there way home after a successful day’s fishing? Need Pine or Eucalyptus forests? You will find both at Karongi, which is about midway along the lake. Just needing some cycling and kayaking action shots? All to be found on this gorgeous lake, the 6th largest in Africa covering a surface area of 2700km2.

Akagera National Park – This is the location you need if you are wanting a typical “Out of Africa” savanna location with black rhino and lion recently introduced behind a predator-proof fence which has reduced the wildlife-human conflict that once prevailed just after the Tutsi genocide when the survivors, battling for survival, hunted for food, replaced the park’s wildlife with cattle, and emptied the forests. Today, there are lodges and bush camps for the many tourists who visit the park.

Nyungwe Forest National Park – in southwest Rwanda. Spectacular mountain rainforest, home to chimpanzees, colobus monkeys and much more. Amazing Canopy Walkway on the Igishigishigi Trail looking out over the valley and surrounding forests.