8 Top Locations in Southern Africa for Nature Photography
Southern Africa is a paradise for nature photography, offering a plethora of stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife.
Its vast wilderness areas are home to diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes that are a feast for any photographer looking to capture amazing imagery.
With so many incredible locations to choose from, it can be challenging to decide where to visit. I’ve been exploring Southern Africa my whole life, and I’ve narrowed down my top 8 locations for landscape and wildlife photography.
From the vast arid wilderness of the Namib Desert to the rugged beauty of the Drakensberg Escarpment, these locations are sure to leave you in awe.
You’ll have the opportunity to capture the iconic Big Five, as well as many other species found nowhere else on Earth.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an amateur photographer looking for inspiration, these top 8 locations are sure to satisfy your quest to capture amazing photographs.
1. The Blyde River Canyon, South Africa
The Blyde River Canyon in South Africa is an extraordinary geological masterpiece, spanning over 26 kilometers in length and plunging to depths of around 800 meters, making it the largest green canyon in the world.
Located in Mpumalanga province, it’s a popular destination for tourists and photographers seeking a unique blend of scenic beauty, geology, and wildlife.
The best time to visit the Blyde River Canyon for landscape photography is during the summer season, which runs from November to April.
During this period, the skies offer dramatic cloud formations and even occasional rain, creating ideal photographic conditions. Sunrise and sunset over the canyon are particularly enchanting.
The Blyde River Canyon is packed with photographic highlights, with the most prominent being the awe-inspiring views across the canyon, especially from the Forever Resort located on the southern edge of the canyon.
The Three Rondavels, a trio of towering peaks named after the traditional round huts of the indigenous peoples, offer the main attraction in the canyon and are best viewed from the tourist viewpoint on the R532 road near the Forever Resort.
Moreover, the Forever Resort Blyde Canyon provides access to numerous great walking trails, including thick forests, waterfalls, and awe-inspiring views from the lower parts of the canyon.
To capture the beauty of the Blyde River Canyon, it’s recommended to bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a wide-angle lens (16-35mm), a tripod, and a polarizing filter.
A polarizing filter can help to enhance colors and eliminate reflections off water and green foliage inside the forests.
Sunrise and sunset offer the best moments to capture incredible colors over the canyon, and don’t be afraid of dramatic weather; some of the best images are captured when the weather is dynamic!
Read more: The Essential Filters for Landscape Photographers
2. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa and Botswana
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is an extraordinary destination for wildlife photography enthusiasts, spanning the borders of South Africa and Botswana.
It offers a unique and rewarding experience in a vast arid wilderness area. The Kgalagadi is best explored as a self-drive trip, allowing you a lot of time to explore this massive park.
While each season has its own unique attractions, one of the best times to visit Kgalagadi is during early summer (November/December), when the first rains arrive, and the park is filled with new life.
Witnessing the Kgalagadi covered in green grass is an incredible sight. Another great time to visit is in February after good rains, when the park is at its lushest.
However, winter provides the chance to see the park in its drier stages, and animals tend to congregate around waterholes more.
The park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and a variety of antelope species.
The iconic red sand dunes provide a striking backdrop for wildlife photography, creating a unique and stunning contrast with the wildlife. Look out for the incredible black-maned lion, which is a highlight for many wildlife photographers.
To capture the wildlife in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, a telephoto lens is essential for shooting from a safe distance.
A wide-angle lens can also be used to capture the expansive landscape. A camera that can shoot many frames per second and with good autofocus will help capture action shots and stunning shots of birds in flights.
When photographing in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, it’s essential to be patient and observe the wildlife’s behavior to anticipate their movements and actions.
Early mornings and late afternoons provide the best lighting conditions for photography, with the low sun casting dramatic shadows across the landscape.
It’s also essential to bring extra camera batteries and memory cards, as well as a dust blower or cleaning kit, as the dry and dusty conditions can affect camera equipment.
Read more: Top Tips for Photographing Wildlife From a Car
3. Table Mountain from Bloubergstrand, South Africa
Bloubergstrand is one of the most picturesque locations in South Africa, offering a stunning view of Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town across the ocean. If you’re visiting Cape Town, this is a must-visit spot for any photography enthusiast.
To capture the iconic view of Table Mountain and Cape Town, it’s best to visit Bloubergstrand during the change of seasons, from April to May and August to September. During these times, the clouds create dramatic and dynamic photographic conditions.
Avoiding the south-east wind during these periods also makes photography easier and helps avoid issues with sea spray.
For the best lighting conditions, plan your visit during sunrise or sunset, when the low sun casts a warm glow on the landscape and the sky is filled with rich colors.
To capture the vast landscape and stunning details of Bloubergstrand, a wide-angle lens (16-35mm) is essential.
Longer shutter speeds can create beautiful, blurred effects in the water, so be sure to use a ND-filters and tripod to keep your camera stable during longer exposures. A good lens cloth is also recommended to keep your lens clean and free from sea spray.
Experiment with different compositions and angles to find the best shot, and don’t be afraid to explore different perspectives.
Read more: Golden Hour Photography – A Landscape Photographer’s Guide
4. Dead Vlei, Namibia
Dead Vlei in Namibia is an awe-inspiring and iconic landscape featuring dead Camel Thorn trees standing tall on a white clay pan, surrounded by towering red sand dunes.
These trees have been cut off from the Tsaucheb River by the ever-changing sand dunes, ending their supply of flowing water, and because of the incredibly dry environment, the trees do not decompose.
The striking contrast between the red dunes, white pan, and dark dead trees creates an incredible mix for dramatic photographs.
To capture the best photos at Dead Vlei, it’s recommended to visit early in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower to the horizon.
Although the park gates only open at sunrise, those staying at the campsite or lodges at Sesriem get an extra hour before sunrise and after sunset to stay inside the park.
It’s best to avoid visiting during the scorching summer months from November to February and opt for cooler months from May to September.
However, if you are after dramatic weather, summer can yield some amazing rainy and stormy conditions if you are lucky.
A wide-angle or medium telephoto lens is recommended for capturing different photo opportunities. You are allowed to walk on Dead Vlei, which allows you to get up close to the trees, but please don’t climb or touch them as it is strictly prohibited.
It’s important to bring water to this location as the walk from the car park is about 1.1 km, and a 4×4 vehicle is necessary to access the Dead Vlei parking lot.
Additionally, bring a good lens cloth to keep your lens clean and sand-free. Experiment with different compositions and angles to find the best shot and take advantage of the incredible landscape at Dead Vlei.
Read more: How to Create Drama and Mood in Landscape Photography
5. Namib Rand, Namibia
The Namib Rand in Namibia is an awe-inspiring destination for landscape photography, showcasing breathtaking desert panoramas and unmatched opportunities for astrophotography.
Covering over 200,000 hectares of pristine desert wilderness, the Namib Rand Nature Reserve offers a range of photographic possibilities, from stunning dune fields to dramatic mountain ranges and vast grasslands.
One of the unique features of the Namib Rand is its designation as a dark sky reserve, providing ideal conditions for capturing the brilliance of the Milky Way and other celestial objects in astrophotography.
The best time to visit the Namib Rand for photography is during the cooler months from May to September. The summer months from November to February can be extremely hot and are best avoided unless you are after dramatic weather conditions such as rainstorms.
To capture the expansive vistas of the Namib Rand, it’s recommended to bring both a wide-angle and medium telephoto lens.
A 400mm lens may also come in handy for capturing wildlife that occasionally appears. For astrophotography, a sturdy tripod and a fast wide-angle lens are crucial for capturing the night sky.
When photographing the Namib Rand, scouting the location and exploring the area is essential for finding the best vantage points.
Early morning and late afternoon light provides the best lighting conditions for landscape photography, while clear views of the sky are crucial for capturing the Milky Way.
Don’t forget to bring a lens cloth to keep your equipment free of dust, as the environment here can be quite dusty.
Read more: The Best Lenses for Astrophotography
6. Kruger National Park, South Africa
Kruger National Park is a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Its vast landscapes and diverse wildlife offer unparalleled opportunities for capturing stunning photographs.
However, the time of year you visit will significantly impact your experience, as the park has two distinct seasons: the wet summer and the dry winter.
During the dry winter season (May-October), the bush becomes more barren, and visibility improves as the vegetation thins out, making game viewing easier.
Wildlife concentrates around waterholes as temporary water sources dry up, increasing your chances of seeing more animals and possible interactions between different species.
Predators tend to stay around water to hunt prey, and the dustier and duller landscape creates beautiful conditions for photography and stunning African sunsets.
On the other hand, the wet summer season (November-April) brings migratory bird species to the park, transforming the landscape from dull and grey to lush and green. If you’re a bird enthusiast, this season is definitely for you.
Kruger National Park is home to a staggering variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, and numerous bird species.
With its diverse landscapes, from savannas and grasslands to forests and rivers, the park offers endless opportunities for capturing stunning images.
To capture excellent wildlife photographs in Kruger, a telephoto lens with a focal length of at least 300mm is essential.
Patience and observation are also vital to observe the behavior of your subjects, and early mornings and late afternoons provide the best lighting conditions for photography.
Remember to respect the wildlife in the park and give them space when viewing them.
You can explore the park through self-drive, organized tours, or lodges within the park. Self-drive is a popular method as it allows maximum time to explore the park at your own pace.
Read more: Kruger National Park Photography Guide
7. Kubu Island, Botswana
Kubu Island in Botswana is a breathtaking and unique destination that offers extraordinary opportunities for landscape photography.
Located in the heart of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, this granite outcrop creates a surreal and dramatic location for photographers.
With ancient baobab trees scattered across the island, the barren landscape is transformed into a striking and unforgettable sight. The seemingly endless salt pans also offer a unique and captivating photographic opportunity.
The best time to visit Kubu Island for photography is during the dry season from May to October.
During this time, the skies are clear and the water levels are low, making the island easily accessible. It is important to use a reliable 4×4 vehicle with sufficient recovery gear and to travel in a group of two or more vehicles when visiting Kubu Island.
To capture the vast and expansive landscape of Kubu Island, a wide-angle lens is essential. Additionally, a polarizing filter can be helpful in reducing glare and increasing color saturation.
A tripod can also be beneficial for stability when capturing long exposures. Although light pollution surrounds the Makgadikgadi pans, night photography is still a remarkable attraction of Kubu Island.
Before beginning any photography, explore the entire island to get acquainted with the terrain and identify the best angles and compositions for your shots.
With only a few hours needed to explore the island, taking time to scout out your locations can make all the difference in capturing stunning and unforgettable images.
The great advantage of Kubu Island and the campsite you stay at is that there are no gate times. You are allowed to explore at any time of the day.
Read more: 8 Best Lenses for Landscape Photography
8. Tugela Falls, Drakensberg Escarpment, South Africa
The Tugela Falls on the Drakensberg Escarpment, the tallest waterfall on Earth, is an incredible destination for landscape photography and mountain lovers.
With a staggering 983-meter drop, this natural wonder offers endless opportunities for photographers to capture stunning images.
To truly explore the beauty of the Drakensberg, hiking and overnight stays are essential. This allows you to access preferred locations at the optimal times of day.
The hike to Tugela Falls is relatively easy, just 6km from the Sentinel Car Park near Witsieshoek in South Africa’s Freestate province.
However, it’s crucial to come prepared with appropriate hiking gear and use a mountain guide as this destination can be dangerous for novice hikers without Drakensberg experience.
Summer is the best season to photograph Tugela Falls, as plenty of rainfall is required for the falls to flow, given its small catchment area. After a heavy downpour, the waterfall floods and creates an incredible spectacle.
At an altitude of nearly 3000 meters, you’ll often find yourself inside or above the clouds, adding a remarkable atmosphere to your photography. The ideal time for photographing Tugela Falls is at sunrise.
To capture the sweeping landscapes and vast vistas of Tugela Falls and the Drakensberg escarpment, a wide-angle lens is essential, and a sturdy tripod is recommended for stability in the windy conditions.
Long exposures of the falls can be achieved using an ND filter to slow down the exposure time.
Read more: 6 Tips for Photographing Waterfalls
In conclusion
In conclusion, Southern Africa is a nature photographer’s dream destination, with a diverse range of landscapes and wildlife that offer endless opportunities to capture stunning photographs.
With the right equipment and preparation, any photographer, whether a professional or an amateur, can capture incredible imagery in these stunning locations.
So grab your camera, pack your bags, and get ready for an unforgettable photography adventure in Southern Africa!
