19 of the Best Photo Opportunities in Africa

Africa is a land of incredible beauty and intrigue, a place where even the everyday sight is a thing of wonder. Accordingly, it is also a place where travellers get weak at the knees with all the photo opps and are overcome by snap-happy emotion. Keen to get the lowdown we’ve uncovered the top 19 photo opportunities in Africa (in no particularly order) – a continent designed for fun with cameras.

So, whether you’re a photography buff, or a mobile phone shutterbug, snag our free flight search app, and jet set to one of these snap-tastic African locales.

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1. Cape Town Waterfront, South Africa

Located at the very tip of the African landmass, Cape Town is gateway to the great continent to the north. But before you go off exploring, take some time to point your lens around the waterfront district of South Africa’s second biggest city.

Get all artistic with the reflections of yachts in the harbour water, hanging round long enough to capture the gentle pinks of dusk.

2. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Home to over 1000 species of animals, Ngorongoro is a wildlife photographer’s fantasy.

Not only does the massive crater host every one of the Big Five (African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard and rhinoceros), but with somewhere around 25,000 of them wandering across these sweeping grasslands, your camera will be spoiled for choice.

3. Johannesburg Lion Park, Johannesburg, South Africa

Alternatively, if safari isn’t your thing, make a pilgrimage to Johannesburg Lion Park to photograph lions and giraffes in a much cozier setting. But don’t be fooled; it may be smaller than the bush, but that doesn’t make the animals any less wild.

4. Banana Island, Lagos, Nigeria

Want something a little different? Head for the Nigerian capital and soak your film in the cool buildings spread the length and breadth of this manmade island.

5. Le Morne, Mauritius

Everyone deserves a little touch of paradise now and again, and in Le Morne you and your camera will certainly find it. Crystal clear waters, white sands and dazzling sun, Mauritius has it all. It even has a healthy population of sharks for those hardy underwater photographers wanting their own close encounter with Jaws.

6. Marrakesh, Morocco

Marrakesh is one of the most vibrant cities in North Africa with exciting photo opportunities lurking around each corner. Whether the grand old medina, the frenzy of the markets or the colourful mosaic tiling favored by many of the city’s buildings, even the pickiest shutterbug will find something to tickle their fancy.

7. Namib Desert, Namibia

Meaning, ‘Vast Place’ in the Nama language, this coastal desert is a land of extremes and as striking a sight as you’ll see anywhere. Be sure to snap the Namib’s famous sand dunes, some of which are among the biggest on earth, and if you’re lucky, you might just see the odd scuttling bug, the desert’s only inhabitants.

8. Fish River Canyon, Namibia

And while you’re in the area (loosely speaking), pop on over to Fish River Canyon and marvel at one the world’s largest potholes; you and your SLR won’t be disappointed. Top tip: use an ND filter to reduce the intensity of bright sunlight hitting your camera’s sensor.

9. Mandela Square, Johannesburg, South Africa

No visit to South Africa would be complete without a meeting with Madiba. The man himself may have passed on, but the legacy of Nelson Mandela lives on and the square named is in his honour is one of the capital city’s most photographed sites.

10. Sharm el-Sheikh Coral Reef, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

Make a splash as you dive into one of the Red Sea’s most active coral reefs. Be at the ready to snap portraits of an aquatic population that includes trigger fish, octopus and manta rays, as well as reef and white-tipped sharks. And if you’re very lucky, you might even see a mermaid.

11. Chapungu Sculpture Park, Harare, Zimbabwe

Further your appreciation of Zimbabwean modern art with a visit to Harare’s famous Chapungu Sculpture Park. Be sure to explore all the angles when shooting this unique collection, using macro settings to pull out the fine detail on some of the more intricate pieces.

12. Beaches, Reunion Island

You’ll enjoy this one. First, pick a prime spot on a beach of your choosing before settling in for a day of relaxation. In fact, the only time you’ll need to move will be to grab your camera just before the sun sets. Be prepared for a giddy kaleidoscope of colour, so ensure you pack the right filters for the job.

13. City Hall, Durban, South Africa

Of all the cool buildings in Durban, the City Hall provides some of the best photo opportunities. You might want to pop down during the day and take a shot in all the glory of the midday sun, or wait until after dusk when the building is uplit by spotlights beneath the velvet cloak of evening.

14. Okavango Delta, Botswana

This vast inland delta truly is a marvel. Indeed, due to its immense size many photographers take to the skies in order to get panoramic aerial shots. Back down on the ground, you might just be lucky enough to make the acquaintance of a hippopotamus. But remember; they don’t appreciate up-close flash photography.

15. Shark Rock Pier, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

An attractive strip jutting into the Indian Ocean, Shark Rock Pier offers all manner of opportunity for colorful shots of surf, salt-battered wood and pastel sunsets.

16. Serengeti, Tanzania

Spanning approximately 31,080 square km, the Serengeti is a vast plain that lies just to the equator. It also might just be the best place on earth to see the huge desert sunsets that central Africa is famous for.

17. Great Pyramids, Giza, Egypt

This most ancient of sites is a favourite of photographers everywhere and the challenge to come away from Giza with your own unique shot is one of the site’s most alluring draws. Give it a go!

18. Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa

Few views in the world are as striking as that from the top of Table Mountain. Take your camera for a hike to the summit and indulge it in breathtaking views of city, ocean and plunging steppes.

19. Mount Kilimanjaro and Victoria Falls, Tanzania

Again, Tanzania finds itself in our list, and again, not without reason. On the one hand you’ve got Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free standing mountain, while on the other you’ve got the heartstopping beauty of the Victoria Falls. Just be sure to pack an extra battery and memory card for these two, phew!

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Featured image by Jamie McCaffrey