African Fixer

African Fixer
Menu
Instagram Facebook-f Youtube Linkedin
African Fixer
Madagascar

Madagascar

Filming in Madagascar

African Fixer provides full film, video and stills production services across Madagascar – from the Avenue of the Baobabs and the limestone Tsingy to rainforests full of lemurs, the island beaches of Nosy Be and the canyons of Isalo. We manage local producers, fixers, crew, permits, remote-location logistics and crew accommodation on an island of endemic wildlife and landscapes found nowhere else on Earth.

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

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.

download our location deck

Madagascar

Why Film in Madagascar?

Madagascar is a world apart – a giant island where roughly nine in ten species exist nowhere else, wrapped in baobab avenues, spiny forests, rainforests, tsingy pinnacles and turquoise island coasts, making it a dream for natural-history, travel and character productions.

  • Unique, largely endemic wildlife – lemurs, chameleons and more
  • Iconic imagery – the Avenue of the Baobabs and the Tsingy
  • Rainforests, canyons, spiny forests and island beaches
  • Strong for natural-history, travel, adventure and commercial work
  • Colourful highland culture, markets and terraced rice landscapes
  • Island escapes such as Nosy Be and Île Sainte-Marie
  • Whale watching off Sainte-Marie in season
  • Experienced fixers for remote, logistically demanding shoots

Production Services

Our Madagascar 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

Madagascar suits natural-history, documentary, travel and commercial productions, with local fixers experienced in remote and logistically demanding shoots.

A local base of producers, fixers, guides, drivers and production assistants operates from Antananarivo; senior technical crew and specialist equipment are generally brought in from abroad.

Productions should plan to import camera, drone and specialist packages and to budget for 4×4 transport, internal flights and mobile logistics, as road journeys can be long and slow.

Top Filming Locations

Luxury Lodge & Hotel Options

Madagascar’s island lodges and better hotels suit travel, wildlife and lifestyle productions. Access for filming is subject to approval and availability.

  • Time + Tide Miavana, Nosy Ankao – Ultra-luxury private-island lodge.
  • Constance Tsarabanjina, Nosy Be – Barefoot-luxury island retreat.
  • Anjajavy le Lodge – Remote luxury lodge between forest and sea.
  • Princesse Bora Lodge, Île Sainte-Marie – Beach lodge and whale-watching base.
  • Isalo Rock Lodge – Stone-and-glass lodge over the Isalo canyons.
  • Relais des Plateaux & Spa, Antananarivo – Comfortable base near the capital’s airport.

Crew & Cast Accommodation

Accommodation is strongest in Antananarivo and on Nosy Be, with lodges near the main parks and mobile camps for the most remote locations. We arrange group bookings, internal flights and 4×4 logistics.

  • Luxury (talent, directors, key clients)
    Time + Tide Miavana / Constance Tsarabanjina – Premium island bases for talent and clients.
    Anjajavy le Lodge – Standout remote luxury.
  • Mid-range (main crew, production team)
    Antananarivo: Carlton, Radisson Blu and Relais des Plateaux – Reliable capital hotels.
    Nosy Be: beach resorts and hotels – Comfortable island crew bases.
    Park gateways (Andasibe, Isalo, Ranomafana): lodges and hotels – Practical bases near locations.
  • Budget & serviced options (extended crew, longer shoots)
    Town and gateway guesthouses – Value options for larger crews.
    Mobile tented camps – Arranged for remote locations such as the Tsingy, with catering and logistics.

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.

Best Time to Shoot

  • April to November – Dry season with the most reliable shooting conditions.
  • July to September – Prime months, with whale watching off Île Sainte-Marie.
  • November to April – Hotter, wetter and the east-coast cyclone season, to be planned around carefully.
  • The Tsingy and western routes are best in the dry season, when tracks are passable.
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.

General Film Permit

Filming permits are arranged through the Ministry of Communication and Culture and relevant authorities, with national-park permits via Madagascar National Parks (MNP). Remote regions require additional permissions, local guides and careful logistics. Work through an experienced local fixer and allow generous lead time.

Drone Permit

Commercial drone filming requires authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Madagascar (ACM) and should be arranged in advance, particularly near airports, towns and protected areas.

Equipment Customs Clearance

Madagascar requires a carnet for customs clearance

Safety and Security

Madagascar is generally safe but logistically demanding: roads are often poor and journeys long, so internal flights and 4x4s are essential. Medical facilities are limited outside Antananarivo, malaria is present in many areas, and the east coast has a cyclone season – all of which should be built into planning.

Rebates & Incentives

Madagascar does not currently operate a formal national film rebate or cash incentive scheme for international productions, so budgets should not rely on a rebate.

African Fixer will confirm the latest position on permit fees, park charges and any incentives during planning, and manage the permissions and logistics that make Madagascar’s remote locations accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Permits are arranged through the Ministry of Communication and Culture, with national-park permits via Madagascar National Parks and additional permissions for remote regions.

Madagascar has experienced local fixers, guides and support crew; senior technical crew and specialist equipment are usually brought in from abroad.

The Avenue of the Baobabs, the Tsingy de Bemaraha, the rainforests and lemurs of Andasibe and Ranomafana, and the island beaches of Nosy Be.

Hotels in Antananarivo, island resorts on Nosy Be, lodges near the parks and mobile camps for remote shoots.

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

Yes. Drone filming requires authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Madagascar, arranged in advance.

No. Madagascar does not currently offer a film rebate. We confirm permit fees and any incentives before you budget.

Yes, especially for natural-history, travel and adventure productions needing unique wildlife and landscapes.

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

Did you know?

Madagascar split from other landmasses so long ago that around 90% of its wildlife – including all of the world’s lemurs – evolved here and exists nowhere else, giving natural-history productions a cast of characters they simply cannot film anywhere else on Earth.

PRO TIP:

Distances are deceptive – roads are slow and some routes only passable in the dry season, so build the schedule around internal flights and realistic drive times, and target July to September to combine dry-season access with whale watching off Sainte-Marie.

want to film in Madagascar? Contact us Today!

HARY - Madagascar

Latest Posts

Request Call Back

mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-construction-1
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-construction-2
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-construction-3
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-construction-4
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-construction-5
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-construction-6
Stills
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-construction-8
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-desert-1
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-forest-1
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-forest-2
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-forest-3
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-forest-4
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-forest-5
mitsubishi-triton-african-fixer-forest-6
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.