WHAT WE CAN DO
With the backing of 30 years of running safari expeditions in Zambia Tafika Travel is well equipped to provide logistical support and solid advice for filming groups in Zambia. Tafika Travel is a full-support film outfitter. Tafika Travel is well equipped to take care of all filming logistics. We can make all necessary bookings and provide fully functioning camps, as well as providing rugged 4WD vehicles, cooks, charter planes, translators and local guides.
Tafika Travel has their own fleet of 5-seater and 7-seater Land Cruisers, rugged Land Rovers with custom-made filming balconies as well as pick-ups that can be used to move camps into remote locations or carry excess equipment. African Environments have film specific vehicle accessories such as high hat and bowl in the camera cars. We can supply generators for charging batteries if required on larger shoots otherwise all of our vehicles are fitted with an inverter that can be used when you are on the road or in camp. Camera Equipment is not readily available in Zambia so we find it is best if crews arrive with their own equipment. Tafika Travel has a number of experienced camera assistants, translators and walking guides for remote filming locations.
Zambia is a stunning country of breath-taking views ideal for filming. Vast open savannas teaming with wildlife, mountainous regions and the world famous Victoria Falls, beautiful National Parks and culture in Zambia, not to mention over a huge tribes that provide a myriad of indigenous people to film. African Environments has been running expeditions around the country for three decades and therefore can provide invaluable information in location scouting.
If your filming project requires film sets, props or wardrobe Tafika Travel has experience in providing all of these. We have access to carpenters, metal workers and sewing experts who can create the backdrop to sets or accessories to suit the production. We also have in the past providing casting for productions, accessing agents in Arusha or Dar es Salaam who can find appropriate talent if required.
When to Shoot? Although Zambia is hot all year round, it has three distinct seasons. December to April is the hot, wet season. The end of the wet season is the best time to film the Victoria Falls when the flow is strongest. May to August is the cool, dry season. September to November is the hot, dry season. The best time to film wildlife is at the end of the dry season when animals congregate around remaining water sources. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Zambia is home to several interesting tribal celebrations including:
- Nc’wala Ceremony in February.
- Kuomboka in April.
- Mutomboko in July.
- Kazanga from June to August.
- Kulamba in August.
- Likumbi Lya Mize in August.
- Shimunenga from September to November.
The Kasanka National Park bat migration takes place from October to December. Victoria Falls experience lunar rainbows around the full moon during high-water season. The best “moonbows” tend to occur between April and August. The best place to photograph them is upstream on the banks of the Zambezi at Tongabezi. Zambia is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed. Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Zambia.