Best Photography Spots in Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa is a very photogenic city as well as a popular destination. If you’re excited about photographing mountain ranges, coastlines, and beautiful beaches, this is just the place for you. There are endless photo opportunities here whether they’re planned or stumbled upon. Here is a list of spots you should include on your list if you’re really looking to get the full experience of the city.



Booking.com

The Gear

The gear we recommend is a good camera and the holy trinity.  A wide-angle lens.  14-24mm or something similar.  A 24-70mm or something similar and, of course, a 70-200mm or something similar.

If you do not have these particular lenses, do not worry; something similar will be just fine. It would be best if you also had a tripod.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa

  1. Table Mountain

This is probably the most recognizable spot in the city. Many people hike or take the cable car to the top each year to catch the view and it is well worth it. It is a flat topped mountain that gives you an amazing look at the city below.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa Table Mountain

  1. Lion’s Head

image3This is a popular mountain peak that people hike in order to get a beautiful perspective of the skyline along with Table Mountain. The hike doesn’t take too long and you’ll come across views of hills, the ocean, and the city on your trip.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa Lions head

  1. Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden

The botanical gardens were created in 1913 to help preserve the native plants of South Africa. It is at the eastern side of Table Mountain and houses lots of beautiful, tropical plants and scenic views.

  1. Kalk Bay Harbour

This is a popular location for whale watchers, just make sure you are ready to be patient. If you don’t happen upon a whale, you’ll still walk away with beautiful photos of the area as well as some great Cape Town seafood.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa Kalk Bay Harbour

  1. Muizenberg Beach

image7Muizenberg Beach is located northeast of St. James and along the shore of the Cape Peninsula. The beach houses on the sand all come in fun and different colors and the beach itself is known for the colored houses that serve as bathing boxes. It’s also a great place to get some surfing in.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa Muizenberg Beach

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa

  1. Bo-Kaap

image1This is a popular place for people to visit and is an area of Cape Town that is really well-known for its bright colored houses. This was originally a township known as the Malay Quarter and so there are lots of aspects of it that still highlight Malay culture. These pastel homes really brighten photos.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa Bo-Kaap

  1. Chapman’s Peak Drive

image4If you are less into hiking and more into driving, this is the place for you. This is a beautiful drive you take along the coast and it gives you a great perspective of the Atlantic Ocean. The drive hugs the peak and runs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek so expect to see some really great views.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa Capmans peak drive

  1. Kloof Corner

Kloof Corner is a commonly visited hiking spot located at Table Mountain. The trailhead is located just before you get to the cable car and is characterized by its steep climb. You can get great views whether or not you make it all the way to the top. It’s popular for rock climbers but you can find really expansive city views anywhere along the way.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa Kloof Corner

  1. Signal Hill

Signal Hill is a good sunrise or sunset location. It is a popular place for people to capture great angles of Lion’s Head and Table Mountain as well as the landscape. Here you will find postcard ready shots and panoramic views of Cape Town.

  1. Bloubergstrand

Located about 20 minutes outside of Cape Town, this is a seaside area that gives you a gorgeous view of the city as well as the nature elements that come with it. It can be a bit difficult to shoot with the water and wind crashing about so pack some extra microfiber cloths and a tripod and take your time capturing the perfect shot.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa

  1. Camps Bay

Camps Bay is a suburb that has the best beach town vibes. There is a large tidal pool that is located at the end of the beach and gives you the best views of Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles. For those that have some experience with drone photography, this is a great place to test out your equipment and grab some cool aerial shots.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa Camps Bay

  1. Maiden’s Cove

This is a good place to take pictures of the sunset and is actually a hidden spot that many don’t know about. This means you can take your time photographing the tidal pools, rocks, and water without worrying about being too crowded.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa

  1. Boulders Beach

image6Boulders Beach is a fun photo spot to visit if you’re interested in the wildlife that live in the area. This is a pretty photogenic beach all on its own due to the blue waters and big boulders that sit along the shores. But, you also get a chance to see penguins in their natural habitat.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa Boulders Beach

  1. Robben Island

This is a world heritage site where the most iconic picture of Nelson Mandela was taken. There’s lots to explore and ponder over while you are here from different views of the area to the political prison site and museum.

  1. Stellenbosch

This is an absolutely breathtaking place to take photos. While this location isn’t directly in the city, it is within an hour of city limits. Another spot for nature lovers, you will find lots of valleys, mountains, and wildflowers at Stellenbosch. You can get some truly beautiful shots of light peeking through the clouds and over the ridges and slopes.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa

  1. Two Oceans Aquarium

The aquarium is located at the V&A Waterfront and is a great place to learn about life under the sea. There are so many viewing tanks to explore as well as a long tunnel and jellyfish gallery where you could spend time admiring fish and other marine life.

  1. Cape Point

image2Cape Point is the southernmost point in Africa and is famous for the mountain views and landscapes. You’ll find there is plenty of sun, ocean, beach, mountains, and forest when you visit.

Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa Cape point

  1. Oudeschip Shipwreck

You can find this shipwreck on a hike over to Oudeschip Point. There are two wrecks you can find along this way although the second wreck is more difficult for many to reach. These are really interesting to see up close and also serve as interesting subjects in photos.

  1. Woodstock

The Woodstock area is east of the city center and is great for those looking for the urban flair in the city. You can find lots of street art here because many of the walls in the area are covered in graffiti and pictures. There are some really vibrant and cool paintings that you can find to photograph.

  1. Rhodes Memorial

This memorial is located on Devil’s Peak and gives you fantastic views. There are lots of lion statues that line the stairs which are interesting to center or frame in any shot. There’s always varying angles you can capture the memorial from that showcase different aspects of it.

These are the Best Photography Spots in Cape Town South Africa

If you enjoyed the list, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends. Don’t forget to check out the other guides. Please remember to check back as we are continually updating our guides.

Tours you might like: