Cape Town is home to some of South Africa’s most spectacular scenery and iconic locations. Whether you’re a tourist or local, there’s a multitude of hot spots to inspire a lifetime of photography. In no particular order, here’s our ten favorite photo opportunities in the Cape Town area…
Table Mountain
A no-brainier, Table Mountain and it’s unmistakable silhouette is deservedly one of the world’s new natural wonders. Trekking to the top is a feat unto itself (or you can always take the easy way with a quick trip on the cable car), and offers photographers panoramic views of the city bowl below and horizons beyond. However, if you’re looking for that iconic shot of the mountain itself, we recommend heading north to Bloubergstrand.
The Penguins at Boulder’s Beach
No trip to Cape Town is complete without visiting Boulder’s Beach in Simon’s town. With it’s white sand, big grey rocks and clear blue sea, this tightly cropped beach is rich with photo opportunities – and teeming with hundreds of African Penguins. Take note, this has become a popular tourist destination, so time your trip to try avoid the crowds.
Bo-Kaap
Cape Town’s historic Malay Quarter is also the city’s most colorful, with it’s rainbow hued houses forming an iconic part of the city’s visual identity. Nestled under Signal Hill in the City Bowl, this is a favorite spot for tourists and photo hunters alike!
St. James Beach Huts
For another flash of Cape Town colour, visit St. James Beach on the Cape Peninsula’s eastern coast. Unmistakable for its multicolored Victorian beach huts, St. James is another iconic location and photographer’s dream.
Lion’s Head & Signal Hill
Whether taking the drive up to Signal Hill, or hiking further to the peak of Lion’s Head, this peak neighboring Table Mountain might not rival its height, but may outclass it in sheer panorama. From this vantage point, the ocean, mountain, and both City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard is all presented before you. It’s really just a challenge of how wide your lens can go!
The Company’s Garden
The centerpiece of Cape Town’s colonial past, the Company’s Garden is home to a number of museums and historical landmarks, with manicured lawns and botanical gardens providing a popular hangout for both locals and tourists. Besides these numerous features, it also offers an up-close and unhindered view of the imposing Table Mountain.
Chapman’s Peak Drive
The most scenic drive in the Cape – and possibly one of the most beautiful drives in the world – Chapman’s Peak Drive offers kilometers of narrow bends and curves along the mountainous Atlantic coastline, and countless photo opportunities.
Cape Point
Where two oceans meet, Cape Point or the Cape of Good Hope is the southernmost tip of the peninsula. With stunning coastal cliffs surrounded by water on nearly all sides, and a couple of lighthouses old and new, Cape Point is one of the region’s prime tourist destinations offering unmatched views.
West Coast Flower Route
If you’re lucky enough to be in the Cape during August and September, a must-see attraction is definitely the West Coast National Park with its endless fields of wildflowers coming into bloom. While 100km outside of Cape Town, this is definitely worth the trek for photographers and nature-lovers alike.
Cape Wine-lands
Regarded as one of the best wine routes in the world, the Cape Winelands of Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and beyond offers more than just a drink, with idyllic vineyards set against the magnificent backdrop of the Cape Fold Mountains. Just arrange a designated driver, and don’t forget your camera bag behind!
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