LOCATION : SENEGAL

Filming in Senegal

With Film Fixers, filming in Senegal has never been smoother. The Republic of Senegal is located on the coastline of West Africa. Neighbored by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, the country is known for its’ cuisine and its status as a mecca of culture in Africa. There is a diversity of landscapes in the country, boasting plains, savannah flats, mountains, marshes and tropical forests. The fauna is just as diverse, with typical African wildlife as well as regional-endemic animals. The population is mostly Muslim, with around 6% practicing indigenous religions. The official language is French, and the national language is Wolof, however there are various other indigenous languages still spoken to a small extent. The capital city is Dakar.

Customs and Equipment

The film industry in Senegal is not known for its’ rigidity or consistency, and for that reason we must recommend that all film equipment should be brought from overseas or imported from nearby film hubs such as Nigeria. As far as talent goes, we would recommend the same, however there are many ethnic and indigenous groups to be filmed in their environment.

The Republic of Senegal happens to be a member of the ATA Carnet System, which makes travelling with equipment a lot easier with regards to duties and customs. We recommend allowing Film Fixers to handle this process on your behalf, as our local agents are able to ensure a smooth process.

Access and Affordability

Like much of western Africa, Senegal employs the West African Franc (CFA Franc) as its’ main currency. Senegal is a lower-middle-income country, and foreign crews wishing to film in Senegal can expect a generally affordable environment. The Senegalese economy has been experiencing continuous growth over the past few years.

The Republic of Senegal has around 20 airports; most notably Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (Dakar), Ziguinchor Airport (Ziguinchor) and Cap Skirring Airport (Cap Skirring), are able to facilitate international flights.

Most of the main roads are passable and in relatively good condition for African standards. During the rainy seasons, especially in the south, the roads tend to become flooded and impassable. It is important to keep this in mind, and we suggest hiring vehicles than can navigate these roads during the wet season.

Weather and climate

The Republic of Senegal is a very warm country all year round, although not truly tropical. With an average of 35 degrees Celsius, the coldest months are from January to may with the lowest temperatures around 17 degrees Celsius. Senegal is characterized by a rainy season from June to September, and a dry season from October to May. The dryer region in the north may receive up to 300 millimeters of rainfall per year, and the southern forested regions can receive around 1200 millimeters per year. The reliable weather makes it easy to film in Senegal, and we at Film Fixers will always strive to make sure crews get exactly what they want.

Why film in Senegal?

Known as a mecca of culture, there is a plethora of ethnological talent.
The diverse natural landscapes can facilitate many production requirements.
There are a few hotels known to be extremely film friendly, and know how to cater to production teams of different sizes.
Not only does Senegal offer the typical standard of African wildlife, but also boasts some extremely rare endemic species found nowhere else.

Top Film Locations

Dakar– The capital city of Senegal is a bustling urban port environment, rich with culture. With museums, mosques and areas featuring old colonial architecture, there is much to capture in this city.

Saint-Louis– A remnant of French power in West Africa, this city features stunning colonial architecture and is also the home to the famous St Louis Jazz Festival if you catch it in the right time of the year.

Lake Retba– Known also as Lake Rose, this lake is extremely photogenic due to it’s waters’ pink appearance. The high content of Dunaliella salina algae is what gives it this appearance. Lake Retba is located just East of Dakar.

Lompoul Desert– Located 145 kilometres outside of St Louis, this desert is known for it’s orange dunes. It serves as an excellent film location as it closely resembles the deserts of the Sahara and Mauritania.

Langue de Barbarie National Park– A sandy peninsula located in western Senegal (close to St Louis), this area is known for it’s diverse landscapes as well as its’ status as an important sea turtle nesting site. There is also ample migratory birds to be seen and filmed.

The Great Mosque of Touba– Built between 1887-1963, this is the site of the annual Grand Magal pilgrimage for the Mouride Brotherhood, for which Touba serves as its’ holy city.

Niokolo-Koba National Park– Boasting a woodland and riverscape environment, this national park is known for its’ stunning flora and fauna. Hosting a diversity of wildlife such as hippos, elephants, lions, leopards, wild dogs, buffaloes, and chimpanzees; this region is also home to the Dindefelo Waterfalls (an excellent film location).

There are a few traditional Serer village locations to film in Senegal- Let us know, and we will get you there!