SOUTHERN AFRICA
Cape Town, South Africa
Think Big Five game drives in the bushveld of South Africa and Zambia. Raw. Earthy. Elemental. Botswana’s wildlife on waterways and the Okavango Delta. Namibia’s infinite horizons. The vast Namib Desert. Ancient petrified trees and salt pans. Rock engravings. The haunting Skeleton Coast, shipwrecks and trippy abandoned ghost towns framed by old German architecture. Zambia’s Victoria Falls and the mighty Zambezi. Adrenaline sports. Colonial-era lodges and the slow elegance of Rovos Rail. South Africa’s unprecedented location diversity. The Drakensberg. The Karoo’s Boere-chic historic farmhouses. Subtropical Mpumalanga with plunging waterfalls. St Lucia’s wetlands and salt-water estuary. Port cities. Durban’s Art Deco and surf culture. The Garden Route. Bustling Joburg, Soweto, and Africa’s most expensive mile. Amapiano and urban culture. Gold. Iconic mine dumps. The Mother City: Table Mountain, Atlantic coastlines, glittering architecture, soft sandy beaches, fynbos, nightlife, the art scene, and lavish wine routes. Mauritius: luxury resorts, turquoise waters, tropical paradise, rum, sugar tastings and Hindu temples.
It’s all worlds in one in Southern Africa, and it’s production-ready.
South Africa
Africa’s most developed production hub. Diverse, globally versatile
Coastline, mountains, desert, savannah, vineyards, urban density
The bushveld, the Big 5 and The Kruger
Best time to film: Year-round, region dependent
Extensive Pan-African cultures in Joburg
Film permits via provincial film offices / municipal authorities
Drone permits required via South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)
Strongest crew base and equipment supply on the continent
Streamers regularly service from SA; high compliance infrastructure
Gear often sourced from SA to service other African countries
Well-established H&S, security, medics and specialist services available
Best for: global stand-ins, contemporary urban, commercial scale, technical precision.
Namibia
Cinematic minimalism. Second least populated place on the planet. Otherworldly scale
Namib Desert, Skeleton Coast, dunes, salt pans, the Etosha pan
Trippy and atmospheric abandoned ghost towns
Best time to film: Dry season, May-Oct. Not in the sweltering summer, Nov-Feb
Film permits via Namibia Film Commission
Drone permits required via Namibia Civil Aviation Authority
Smaller crew base; key crew and gear often supplemented from South Africa
Remote locations require strong logistical planning
Specialist wildlife and conservation protocols apply
Best for: stark landscapes, epic scale, desert visuals, wildlife, atmospheric beaches, German colonial architecture
Botswana
Premium conservation model. Low-impact, high-end wilderness
Okavango Delta, Chobe, salt pans, wildlife on waterways, river ecosystems
Best time to film: Dry season, May–Oct. Peak wildlife visibility
Film permits via Botswana National Film Commission
National park permissions required for protected areas
Drones sourced locally. Permits via Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana
Limited local crew base and gear
Remote access; fly-in logistics common
Best for: high-end wildlife documentary, untouched wilderness, water-based safari narratives
Zambia
Victoria Falls. Big 5 wildlife, luxury safaris
Zambezi River, floodplains, savannah, national parks
Adventure capital. River rafting. Bungee jumping. The Devil’s Pool
Best time to film: Dry season, May–Oct
Film permits via National Arts Council / relevant authorities
Park permits required for protected areas
Cultural protocol and permissions for certain areas
Drone permits require aviation authority approval
Modest crew and equipment base
Wildlife filming requires experienced rangers and park coordination
Best for: Victoria Falls spectacle, authentic safari storytelling
Mauritius
Indian Ocean resort luxury. Tropical versatility.
Turquoise lagoons, volcanic peaks, rainforest, coastal roads. 7 coloured earth
Sugarcane plantations, rum tastings, creole culture, Hindu temples
Best time to film: Drier, cooler season, May-Nov
Film permits via Mauritius Film Development Corporation
Drone permits via Civil Aviation Department
Good hospitality infrastructure; smaller technical crew and gear base
Stable, business-friendly filming environment
Best for: Luxury island lifestyle, high-end hospitality shoots
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