Palm trees, white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, picturesque streets and a mild tropical climate, Zanzibar is a stunning destination for photo productions of all kinds. It’s the perfect location for swimwear and lingerie shoots, and also suits any production that needs a summery island feel.

So how easy is it to organize a film or stills production in Zanzibar?

Trip

There are very few direct long-haul flights to Zanzibar, but several airlines fly direct from Europe to Dar-es-Salaam on the Tanzania mainland with a short connecting flight to Zanzibar. It is a journey of approximately 10 to 15 hours, including layovers from major European cities. It is better to obtain a visa in advance; they are available on arrival, but it can be a slow process.

Local transportation

The local roads are not in a very good condition, so you should have enough time to travel between the places on the island. The rental of minivans and 4×4 vehicles with or without a driver is not a problem.

Accommodation

There are some truly fantastic hotels in Zanzibar, as it caters to those adding a luxury island break to a safari holiday on the mainland. There are also many hotels and resorts that cater to more moderate budgets.

permissions

Filming permits are easy to obtain with the help of a production company that has established local connections, it usually only takes about three days. If you are also filming in mainland Tanzania, you will need a separate permit.

Equipment

There’s very little in the way of professional equipment hire on Zanzibar, so you’ll need to bring it along with the crew. However, there is no problem clearing customs as long as a detailed equipment list with serial numbers is presented along with the film permit prior to arrival. Your production company will take care of all those details for you.

Crew

It will be necessary to bring in qualified staff, but there are many hard-working, albeit less experienced, people who can be recruited locally.

rentals

The locations are varied and unspoiled: long white sandy beaches, palm trees, picturesque dhows, forests, the winding streets of Stonetown with interesting carved doorways, balconies and fascinating architectural details and interiors too. For a dash of grandeur and history, the Sultan’s Palace is available for rent.

When to go

The best time to visit Zanzibar is between June and October and then again from December to March – these are the driest times with even temperatures and plenty of sunshine.

Currently, Zanzibar is more popular for photographic than film productions, but there is no reason not to go there for film productions as well. There is growing interest in cinema with an annual international film festival now in its 16th year and local production companies are actively working to open up the island archipelago to more film productions.