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African Fixer
Congo DRC

Congo (DRC)

Filming in Congo (DRC)

African Fixer provides guidance and, where feasible and responsible, production support for film, video and stills in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – home to the Nyiragongo lava lake and mountain gorillas of Virunga, the mighty Congo River and the energy of Kinshasa. Given the serious security situation in parts of the country, especially the east, we begin every enquiry with a careful feasibility and safety assessment.

African Fixer connects international production companies, agencies, brands, broadcasters and photographers with trusted local producers, fixers and crew across Congo (DRC).

We support TV commercials, documentaries, feature films, branded content, corporate videos, music videos and still photography campaigns with experienced local teams and reliable on-the-ground production support.

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Congo (DRC)

Why Film in Congo (DRC)?

The DRC holds some of Africa’s most extraordinary locations – the Congo River, active volcanoes, mountain gorillas and vast rainforest – but much of the country, particularly the east, is affected by conflict, so productions must be planned with exceptional care and honesty.

  • The Congo River – the world’s second-largest by volume
  • Nyiragongo’s lava lake and Virunga’s mountain gorillas
  • The vibrant megacity of Kinshasa
  • Congolese rumba and the SAPE dandy culture
  • The vast Congo Basin rainforest
  • Bonobos and rare rainforest wildlife
  • Powerful, singular material
  • Handled responsibly, with careful safety assessment

Production Services

Our Congo (DRC) production services include:

  • Local Producers
  • Film Fixers
  • Production Management
  • Film, Video & Stills Crew
  • Camera Equipment
  • Lighting & Grip
  • Drone Operators
  • Location Scouting
  • Film Permits
  • Casting
  • Transport & Logistics
  • Crew & Cast Accommodation
  • Security
  • Catering

Crew & Equipment

The DRC suits documentary and specialist natural-history productions, subject to a careful assessment of feasibility and safety, with local fixers coordinating permits and logistics.

Local fixers, producers and guides can support where conditions allow; senior technical crew and specialist equipment are generally brought in from abroad.

Productions must plan around significant logistical and security challenges, building in flexibility, contingency and, where relevant, specialist security advice.

Top Filming Locations

The DRC’s most extraordinary locations, from active volcanoes to rainforest and river, are set against a backdrop that must always be assessed for safety.

Best Time to Shoot

  • June to September – The main dry window in the south.
  • Regional patterns vary greatly across this vast country.
  • The equatorial north and centre are wet much of the year.
  • Volcano and gorilla work in the east depends entirely on the security situation.
Visa Requirements

International cast and crew should confirm visa and work permission requirements before travelling. Typical documents may include a valid passport, flight details, accommodation details, invitation letter, crew list and equipment list.

International Crew Accreditation

International productions may require local coordination, film permissions and supporting letters depending on the production type, locations and crew nationality, and should work with an in-country fixer or service company.

  • Required Documentation

    Crew passports, Filming permits, Shooting locations, Filming dates and duration, Topic and title of the shoot, Equipment list with serial numbers, Passport copies and passport-sized photos

  • Timings

    1 week

  • Cost

    $1,100 per crew member

General Film Permit

Filming permits are arranged through the relevant authorities, with Virunga and park permissions via the conservation authority (ICCN) where the security situation allows. In much of the country, access and movement are constrained, so productions must work through experienced local fixers with generous lead time and specialist advice.

Drone Permit

Drone use is restricted and requires authorisation, with sensitivity across much of the country. Any drone filming must be arranged well in advance, and approval is not guaranteed.

Equipment Customs Clearance

Professional equipment can usually be temporarily imported with the correct customs documentation. An ATA Carnet may be used where applicable, and equipment lists should be prepared in advance.

Safety and Security

Important: large parts of the DRC, especially the eastern provinces (North and South Kivu and Ituri), are affected by active armed conflict, and many governments advise against travel there. Kinshasa and some other areas can be worked with careful security planning. Disease risks (including malaria and periodic outbreaks) also apply. African Fixer assesses safety and feasibility carefully for every DRC project.

  • Security Recommendations

    A security guard is recommended for protecting equipment. For high-risk locations, consider hiring local police escorts.

Rebates & Incentives

The DRC does not operate a film cash rebate or incentive scheme for international productions.

The central considerations are feasibility and safety rather than incentives. African Fixer will provide an honest assessment before any commitment, and manage permits and logistics only where responsible.

Hotel Options (Filming Locations & Bases)

  • Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hôtel – Landmark riverside hotel.
  • Fleuve Congo Hotel, Kinshasa – Large city hotel.
  • Kempinski Hotel Fleuve Congo – International-brand luxury.
  • Pullman Lubumbashi Grand Karavia – Southern city base.
  • Kivu-side lodges, Goma (security-dependent) – Eastern bases where feasible.
  • Virunga lodges (security-dependent) – Gorilla and volcano bases.

Crew & Cast Accommodation

Where a shoot is feasible, cast and crew accommodation is available in Kinshasa and regional cities, with lodges in the east only where security allows. All arrangements are subject to the safety assessment.

Luxury (talent, directors, key clients)

  • Pullman or Kempinski, Kinshasa – Premium city bases for talent and clients.

Mid-range (main crew, production team)

  • Kinshasa: Fleuve Congo and city hotels – Reliable capital bases.
  • Lubumbashi: Pullman Grand Karavia – Southern city base.

Budget & serviced options (extended crew, longer shoots)

  • Kinshasa business hotels and guesthouses – Value options where feasible.
  • Regional hotels – Practical bases where shooting proceeds.

Accommodation availability and rates vary by season and should be booked well in advance. African Fixer manages crew and cast bookings, transfers and per-location logistics as part of production support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Permits are arranged through the relevant authorities, with additional permissions for protected and sensitive areas. Work through a local fixer and allow lead time.

Local fixers and guides can be engaged where conditions allow; senior technical crew and specialist equipment are brought in from abroad.

The Congo River and Kinshasa, and – security permitting – Virunga's Nyiragongo lava lake and mountain gorillas.

Hotels in Kinshasa and regional cities, with eastern lodges only where security allows.

Yes, with the correct customs paperwork; an ATA Carnet may be used. Plan to import camera, drone and specialist packages.

Yes. Drone filming requires civil-aviation authorisation, with restrictions near sensitive sites and protected areas.

No. The DRC does not offer a film rebate, and safety and feasibility are the priority considerations.

Its locations are extraordinary, but the current situation, especially in the east, means feasibility and safety must be assessed case by case.

Yes. We provide full production support from planning through to wrap, including permits and logistics.

Did You Know?

The Congo River is the deepest river in the world and the second-largest by discharge, and Virunga’s Nyiragongo holds one of the planet’s few permanent lava lakes – locations of staggering power that also lie in one of Africa’s most challenging security environments.

PRO TIP:

Lead with feasibility: before any scouting or scheduling, obtain an honest, current safety assessment – Kinshasa and select areas may be workable, while the conflict-affected east requires specialist advice and is often not.

want to film in The drc? Contact us Today!

Junior — Congo

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Importing film, broadcast and photographic equipment is handled with an ATA Carnet for temporary admission. African Fixer arranges carnet processing, customs clearance and equipment logistics as part of full production support.