Photography Permits in Africa

[5 Eyes]

Hi Folks

I am wondering about the need for a permit to take pictures while I'm travelling through Africa. Are any countries are very strict.
I will Travelling through
South Africa
Botswana
Namibia
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Mozambique
Malawai
Tanzania
Kenya
Ethiopia
Sudan
Egypt

Grateful for any help as I dont want to annoy and authorities and loose some of my camera gear

[bikerz]

don't take photo's of army bases or instalations, prisons, police or border guards or anything like that.ask individuals first and you'll be fine!

[AliBaba]

You need a permit for Sudan, nothing else.
Yes, I know that people have taken pictures in Sudan without the permit, and it might work well - if you are lucky!

[jeff_watts]

great advice above...ive just returned and have taken thousands of photos..mostly individuals love to be photographed but always always ask..unless you do what i do occasionally and have digital camera round your neck and click and hope..which of course is extremely bad manners..but thats the kind of guy I am!!!

as has been said never never photo anything official and just in case always save your pics at every opportunity in case someone stops you and demands yu delete

jeff watts

Gone wandering

[5 Eyes]

Originally Posted by AliBaba

You need a permit for Sudan, nothing else.
Yes, I know that people have taken pictures in Sudan without the permit, and it might work well - if you are lucky!

Thanks for the Info. Do you know where we get the permit to take photos for Sudan,,, should we get it when we are getting our visa's

[AliBaba]

Originally Posted by 5 Eyes

Thanks for the Info. Do you know where we get the permit to take photos for Sudan,,, should we get it when we are getting our visa's

No, you get the permit in Khartoum. Can't remember the addres but if you ask at Blue Nile Sailing Club they will send you in the right direction.

[5 Eyes]

HI
Wont I have any trouble getting across the border with all my camera gear and no permit???
Is there anyway I can get it before I go.

And I know this is a different thread, but have you heard that they now issue a 3 month visa with a 30 day stay ??

[AliBaba]

Originally Posted by 5 Eyes

HI
Wont I have any trouble getting across the border with all my camera gear and no permit???
Is there anyway I can get it before I go.

No you will not have any problems to cross the border with your gear. You don’t need a permit to bring the gear, just to use it.
It’s not possible to get the permit before you are in Khartoum, but probably no one will ask before you are there…

[5 Eyes]

thanks a lot for the help

[Terje L. R.]

As other people has mentioned here, always ask for permition before taking a picture of any persons. One thing to remember is to be careful when taking pictures in public places to.

I was arrested in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for taking pictures.

The story was me, sitting in the back seat of a car, taking photos on the main road in to Dar es Salaam. Unfortunately a police truck was passing us and someone spotted my camera. Even thoug I was not taking pictures at that moment they stopped the car, pulled me out, and took me to the police station in Dar es Salaam. There I had to stay for one hour beeing questioned by the police captain. I was free to go after somewhere around one hour, but had to delete ALL the pictures on my camera. I was told it was not legal to take any pictures of roads, buildings, offical vehicles, and so on. It was my duty to know the law of Tanzania when entering the country... What could I say? He was right, I was wrong.

In a situation like that it's always vice wo be very sorry, regret what you have done and delete your pictures with out any fuzz, never argue.

Terje