WHY THE LION & SAFARI PARK IS AMONGST THE BEST PREDATOR FILMING FACILITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA:
The Lion & Safari Park is an established leader in the film industry as there are many features that distinguish this location from any others:
World renowned predator wranglers.
Our world-renowned animal trainers and wranglers, Alex and Shandor Larenty have a unique and incredible way of handling wild predators. The dedication and determination of this father-son team ought to provide that perfect shot. With their combined experience of many years in the filming and animal training industry; Alex and Shandor have done it all.
Their knowledge has been passed on from generation to generation as Alex’s parents also had vast experience in the circus and zoo environment. With his rich history, Shandor grew up handling animals from a very young age. Today, Shandor is among the best in the world, with his remarkable passion towards his animals and the film industry; he is well respected and admired by millions of followers on social media.
Over the years, our professional team has been involved in international feature films, documentaries, commercials, tv series, photo shoots and live productions. Please see a list below of some productions that we have been involved with.
Close proximity to Johannesburg and Pretoria
The close proximity to the city makes this location accessible for film crews across the world, not to mention the convenience of having Lanseria International Airport only 13km away. We are situated approximately only 40min from JHB city centre.
The diversity
The property itself provides a vast and diverse landscape ranging from riverine forest, mountains to open plains. Furthermore, the Crocodile River offers white sandy beaches with breath-taking cliffs along the 5km river front.
Nestled in the Magalies- and Skurweberg mountains, the 1000ha reserve offers the following backdrops: An East African feel with open rolling plains and mountains, a Kruger National Park feel with a typical untamed African bush flavour and a dense jungle environment close to the river
Vehicle and truck access to almost all areas of the property makes this the perfect playground for any filmmaker.
Over 60 different animal species
We specialize in predator wrangling. We offer close encounters many different prides of Lions (white and tawny). Our lions have starred in many famous full feature films such as White Lion and Blended. Our well-trained lions, cheetahs and hyenas can either work onsite or on any other location or studio.
Other predators available for filming include, black leopards, leopards, wild dogs and striped hyenas.
Besides the starring roles of our predators, our giraffes are stars in their own right! These tame giraffes are always eager to step on-set to provide an extraordinary opportunity to get super-close to them, in fact, nearly all our herbivores are habituated and are very comfortable with close contact to humans and vehicles. Our free roaming herds include zebra, sable, gemsbuck, wildebeest, impala and nyala to mention as few.
With experience in animal VFX sequences, the team can help to coordinate complicated film shots. We can provide the closest of shots in the safety of our purpose built camera cages when filming with predators.
Catering
Catering can be one of the biggest expenses when filming in the bush. Our onsite Wetlands Restaurant can provide an economical and convenient solution. Catering and craft can be provided on-set. This may include breakfast, tea, lunch or dinner. Meals can be served as a buffet or a la carte, anywhere on the property at anytime.
Accommodation
Accommodation for any size crew is available within 500m of the park. The reserve is surrounded with lodges and hotels, some which offer direct access to the property. Special rates are available for film crews from all accommodation venues in the area.
Unbeatable rates
We are committed to provide the best possible rate. We will match or beat any written quote from other facilities. Special agent packages are available.