We needed to find a shooting location where it never rains, and that’s Namibia. There’s nothing. It’s just one big, wonderful landscape, which was perfect for the world we were trying to create.
George Miller, Director of Mad Max: Fury Road
Filming in Namibia
Namibia’s standout landscapes have attracted productions looking for epic and unique and wilderness settings. It is one of the least densely populated countries and its wide open spaces covering everything from high dunes and rugged mountains to canyons, dense bush and savannah.
The success of the Namib shoot for Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015 pushed Namibia’s production profile which has continued to rise. The critically acclaimed and international box-office success spent 100 days shooting with a production base at Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast. Director George Miller was drawn to the vast dramatic vistas for his post-apocalyptic story. Following Fury Road, The Mummy reboot and Transformers also shot in the Namib Desert.
Most recently, the second season of One Strange Rock from National Geographic and directed by Darren Aronofskys and hosted by Will Smith completed a shoot in the country. MTV’s reality series The Challenge: War of the Worlds and ITV’s Straight Talking with Ant Middleton.
Namibia is a politically stable corner of southern Africa and has a growing crew base. Many local crew members have international experience. Close by, South Africa is one of the continent’s most established production hub in the continent and any additional can be sourced here.
The Namibia Film Commission helps with local permits, national park logistics, making contact with production service companies.
Climate
Namibia’s Namib Desert is one of the driest areas in the world. The annual rainfall here, especially in the Swakopmund region, is virtually zero. Daytime desert temperatures in summer months go up to 40C.
The summer lasts from November until February with a more typical average of 36C in January. The coast is cooler and often foggy. Rain falls exclusively in the summer with an average of up to 78mm.
Winter months, from March to October, are drier and cooler with average temperatures ranging from 18C to 25C in July.
Average daily daylight
Average daily sunlight
Directory
- Desert Ace - Mar 13, 2021
- Joe Vision Production (JVP) - Feb 12, 2020
- New Mission Films - Jun 22, 2018
- Fixing in Africa - SOUTHERN AFRICA - Oct 26, 2017
- Amour Setter Films - Feb 3, 2016
- Lemon Reel Film Services - Sep 4, 2015
- Lemon Reel Film Services - May 6, 2014
- Naankuse Foundation - Apr 16, 2014
- Naankuse Films - Dec 17, 2013
- Paul- Namibia: T A Sandstone Logistics - Nov 14, 2013
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