East Africa has Been a Popular Film Location for More Than 50 Years
Over the years, East Africa has emerged as one of the popular movie shooting destinations in Africa due to its notable diversity and beautiful attractions. From the vibrant multicultural cities, quaint villages to the spectacular landscapes, scenic beaches and wildlife reserves, East Africa has a lot to offer everyone. No wonder the African region has become a muse for scriptwriters and movie producers from around the world. One of the popular movies in 2018 – 7 Days in Entebbe was shot in Uganda. Apart from this movie, several others have been imagined, scripted and shot with East Africa as the backdrop.
Let’s take a look at 14 other movies shot in East Africa including 7 Days in Entebbe.
7 Days in Entebbe
Set in Entebbe, Uganda, this is a film inspired by true events of the hijacking of an Air France plane in 1976. The plane was leaving Tel Aviv for Paris and the hijackers forced it to land in Entebbe. A daring counter-terrorist rescue operation ensues so as to rescue the hostages.
7 Days in Entebbe
The Last King of Scotland
This thriller is set in the East African country of Uganda. It traces the rise of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin who was once president of Uganda and oversaw a bloody and despotic rule during his rule.
The Last King of Scotland
Out of Africa
This is a romance/drama film based on the life of Karen Blixen adapted from her autobiography of the same title. The film was shot on location in different parts of Kenya where Karen used to live. The film went on to scoop several awards in 1986 after its release including a handsome 7 Oscars and gained critical acclaim.
Out of Africa
Queen of Katwe
Set in Uganda, the film Queen of Katwe tells the story of a 10-year-old girl living in the slums of Kampala with her family. She happens to a missionary teacher teaching kids how to play chess and she gains interest. She then goes on to master the game and compete at the highest tournaments transforming her realities in the process. The role of the young girl’s mother was played by LupitaNyongo.
Queen of Katwe
The Constant Gardener
This film is the story of a British diplomat sent to Kenya on assignment. He relocates with his wife and not so soon after his wife is murdered. He then sets off to unravel the mystery and forces behind her murder. The movie is shot in different locations in Kenya.
The Constant Gardener
Hotel Rwanda
One of the most gut-wrenching movies set in East Africa; Hotel Rwanda tells the story of a humanitarian hotelier who saves many lives during the genocide in Rwanda. The UN pulls out during this time and he is forced to harbour the refugees at his hotel. It’s a weighty movie and Don Cheadle delivers well as the lead role.
Hotel Rwanda
The White Maasai
This 2005 movie is about a white businesswoman of Swiss origin who travels to Kenya on vacation and falls in love with a Maasai warrior. A love story and clash of cultures ensue.
The White Maasai
The Snows of Kilimanjaro
This two-time Oscar-nominated film was released in 1952 and set in Tanzania. The story centres around the memories of a writer remembering his days on safari while he lies on what he imagines to be his deathbed suffering from a severe wound.
The Snows of Kilimanjaro
The Ghost and the Darkness
The Ghost and the Darkness is an American historical adventure film that is based on a fictionalized story of two East African lions called the Tsavo Man-Eaters that attacked and killed workers at Tsavo, Kenya, while they were constructing the Uganda-Mombasa Railway in East Africa in 1898. It was shot in Kenya. The film won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing for supervising sound editor Bruce Stambler.
Born Free
Born Free is a movie that talks about Joy and George Adamson, a couple who raised an orphaned lion cub Elsa the Lioness and released into the wild. The movie was shot in Kenya. The story was adapted from Joy Adamson's non-fiction book Born Free. The movie won numerous awards.
Born Free
Nowhere in Africa
Nowhere in Africa is based on an autobiographical novel of the same name. It tells the story of the life in Kenya of a German-Jewish family that immigrated to Kenya in 1938 to escape persecution in Nazi Germany. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, five German Film Prizes (DeutscherFilmpreis), and best feature film of 2001. It was shot in Kenya.
Nowhere in Africa
Machine Gun Preacher
Machine Gun Preacher is a biographical adventure drama film about a former gang biker turned preacher and defender of South Sudanese orphans, Sam Childers. The movie was adapted based on Childers' book Another Man's War. It was shot in Sudan.
Machine Gun Preacher
The Air UpThere
The movie is an American comedy movie about a college assistant coach, Jimmy Dolan (Kevin Bacon) who travelled to Africa to recruit a new star for his basketball team. The scenes in Africa were shot in South Africa and Kenya.
The Air UpThere
The Good Lie
This is a 2014 American-Indian drama film shot in Sudan, Kenya and United States. The movie is about how siblings Mamere escaped the second Sudanese Civil War after their families and village were massacred. It was screened in the Special Presentations section of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and the Greenwich International Film Festival for the benefit of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
The Good Lie
Add These Movies to Your "Must-watch List"
If you haven't watched these movies, make some time to get to them. Not only do they tell tails of our history, but they also show off some of the most beautiful sceneries right on our doorstep! Also, it might be fun to see if you recognise anything!
We'd love to hear from you If you have anything to add to our list or would like to tell us about your experience give us a shout!
Share your experience with us! Tag @Tripindigo on your social posts #EastAfricaRocks or pop us a line on social@tripindigo.com.
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