15 Stunning South African Sunsets and Where to Find Them

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South African sunsets are like nothing else. Maybe it’s the light (orange in the bush, pink over the ocean, purple mountains in the distance), or maybe it’s that satisfying feeling of the sunset matching the colour of your glass of rosé.

These are my favourite South African sunset photos, taken over the years everywhere from Cape Town to safari lodges. Use this as your cheat sheet for where to see a perfect South African sunset.

Where to See the Best Sunsets in Cape Town

Cape Town is almost ridiculously beautiful (honestly, when I go home, I sometimes can’t believe I lived there all my life – how did 8-year-old me not appreciate it?!), and the sunsets over the ocean are stunning.

Camps Bay Sunset

The sunset over the Atlantic Ocean, taken from Camps Bay drive in Cape Town. Camps Bay is one of the best spots for stunning South African sunsets. — Sunset in Camps Bay, Cape Town

What! A Camps Bay sunset so vivid, the whole sky looks like it’s on fire! One of my friends took this at the top of Camps Bay Drive, looking down on Camps Bay, in Cape Town.

You can stop along the road for views like this at the Kloof Nek Guns (pull off safely just across the road) or at the Camps Bay Viewpoint. If you want mountain elevation, you can get similar views on Kloof Corner (a short, 20-minute hike) or at Signal Hill, which is a very popular sunset picnic spot.

For a casual sunset dinner in Camps Bay, go to the Lawns at the Roundhouse. Alternatively, watching the sunset at Camps Bay Beach is spectacular. There’s nothing better than the triple indulgence of eating pizza on the beach, watching the sunset – call Col’Cacchio across the road and they will deliver your pizza to the beach!

Table Mountain Sunset

Table Mountain at sunset, taken from the Waterfront, with the harbour in the foreground, and orange and pink skies in the background. Table Moutain has amazing Cape Town sunsets. — Table Mountain at sunset

Iconic Table Mountain is one of the things you must see when in Cape Town.

This photo was taken at the Waterfront, outside the Timeout Market, but you can get great sunset views of Table Mountain from Coy at the Waterfront, or if you sit outside at Bascule, a favourite Cape Town whisky bar attached to the Cape Grace Hotel (they serve everything – I don’t love whisky, but I do love Bascule).

Clifton Sunset

The sunset over the Atlantic Ocean in Clifton, South Africa. Clifton has stunning South African sunsets. — Sunset at Clifton in Cape Town

Clifton is known for its amazing sunsets over the ocean, and this photo was taken near the Biskop Steps. During the summer, it is very easy to stay at Clifton Beach (Clifton 4th beach is the best one) until dinner time, and you can get photos just like this.

For better elevation for your sunset shots, go to the top of the Biskop Steps, or to The Rock at the end of Ocean View Drive, a favourite local sunset spot which overlooks Clifton. For sunset drinks in Clifton, you can’t beat the Bungalow.

Oudekraal/Llandudno Sunset

The sunset in Cape Town, on Victoria Road, between Oudekraal and Llandudno. — Sunset at Oudekraal, in Cape Town

This was taken on Victoria Road, between Oudekraal Beach and Llandudno Beach – the best place to stop along Victoria Road at sunset is the Llandudno Lookout Point, where you can pull off safely.

As far as the beaches go, Oudekraal is a paid beach, which is unusual in South Africa, and it closes before the sun sets in summertime. Llandudno is a normal (free) beach, with no “closing time”, where you can get great sunset views, although it is slightly further along the coast.

The best smaller “secret” beach, beloved by locals, is Bakoven, which has a lot of big boulders, but I prefer that to sitting on the sand for an evening picnic. Saunders Rocks Beach, which has a tidal pool (perfect for a morning Wim Hoff moment!) and is also very popular for sunset picnics.

Keep in mind, it is illegal to drink alcohol on the beach in South Africa. Also, the parking situation at Cape Town beaches can be disastrous in the summer months, so love yourself enough to take an Uber.

If you want a dinner or drinks spot along Victoria Road which has elevation for your sunset shots, the absolute best place is the Twelve Apostles Hotel. Have dinner at Azure Restaurant, or drinks on the outdoor terrace of the Leopard Bar, for sunset perfection.

Scarborough Sunset

Sunset at Scarborough in Cape Town. — Sunset in Scarborough, Cape Town

Look at those cotton candy clouds! This was taken in Scarborough on a Cape Town girls’ weekend just before my wedding.

We stayed at Namaste, where this photo was taken, but you can get photos like this at Scarborough Beach, or anywhere which faces the beach and has good elevation – there are a lot of restaurants along the main road, although I can’t vouch for the sunset views!

Western Cape Winelands Sunsets

McGregor Sunset

Perfectly rosé coloured skies for sunset during a winelands weekend away in McGregor. McGregor is a small town which neighbours Robertson, one of the lesser-known South African wine routes, but two of my favourite estates are there:

Graham Beck, which makes excellent Méthode Cap Classique, or MCC. MCC is South Africa’s own sparkling wine, which is made using the traditional Champagne method.

Springfield Estate, which makes my favourite Life from Stone Sauvignon Blanc.

We stayed at the Stone House in McGregor, where this photo was taken. The sunsets from the walking trail next to the house were spectacular.

Caledon Sunset

Ok, so Caledon is not actually in the winelands, but the Hemel en Aarde Valley is close enough.

This multicoloured sunset was such a lovely surprise when we stepped out from our accommodation during a wedding weekend away in Caledon. The house is not available to rent, but they have a sister property called Caledon Grace slightly further along the road, where you would get similar views.

Alternatively, there are fabulous sunset views at the Caledon Hotel and Spa.

Riebeek-Kasteel Sunset

Sunset in Riebeek Kasteel, South Africa, with vineyards and mountains in the distance, and a swimming pool in the foreground.

Serene pink skies in Riebeek-Kasteel, on another wedding weekend away. I am absolutely obsessed with vineyard swimming pools (indulgence on indulgence), and the soft sunset makes it even better.

This photo was taken at the Obiekwa Country House, where we stayed, but you can also get amazing Riebeek-Kasteel sunset views on the terrace at the Royal Hotel, or anywhere which faces the Kasteelberg Nature Reserve.

Garden Route Sunsets

Cape St Francis Sunset

Sunset views from the Pig and Rooster Bar in Cape St Francis, in South Africa. This is the best spot to watch the sunset in Cape St Francis. — Sunset views in Cape St Francis

A rural Eastern Cape sunset in Cape St Francis, from the deck at the Pig and Rooster Bar, at the Seal Point Lighthouse. You can also get stunning sunset shots from their more formal restaurant, Never Mind, which is easily the best restaurant on the Garden Route.

Another Cape St Francis Sunset

Views just after sunset from the Pig and Rooster Bar in Cape St Francis, in South Africa. This is the best spot to watch the sunset in Cape St Francis. — Sunset views in Cape St Francis

This photo was taken just after sunset on the same evening, also from the Pig and Rooster Bar.

Johannesburg Sunsets

Johannesburg is not known the world over for its sunsets, but it should be! It is on the Highveld, a high-altitude plateau which is known for its fiery sunsets.

Sandton Sunset

This photo was taken at a housing estate in Sandton, but you can get views like this anywhere which has a good elevation (think rooftop bars). I used to love the sunsets at San Deck in Sandton, and the sunset at Flames Restaurant at the Four Seasons Westcliff is also spectacular. See my full review of the Westcliff here.

Delta Park Sunset

Johannesburg’s favourite dog walking spot! You can get a sunset shot like this from the top of Delta Park in Johannesburg.

Stunning Safari Sunsets in South Africa

Saving the best for last, there is absolutely nothing like a bush sunset in South Africa. The light is famously warm and golden-orange at sunset, and the lack of city lights means everything around you glows from the sunset. Think of a mashup between the Wildest Dreams music video and Simba walking up Pride Rock.

Dinokeng Game Reserve Sunset

Sunset at the Little Mongena Tented Camp in the Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa. Safari lodges have amazing South African sunsets. — Sunset at the Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa

A lockdown sunset! This was taken at the Little Mongena Tented Camp in the Dinokeng Game Reserve. Towards the end of 2020, when we were living in Johannesburg, our lockdown restrictions eased up slightly, and we were allowed to travel, but only within the province where we lived.

We chose Dinokeng because it is the only Big 5 game reserve in Gauteng, and we had a fabulous weekend in the luxury tented camp.

Amohela Ho Spitskop Sunset

Sunset at Amohela Ho Spitskop in the Free State. — Sunset at Amohela Ho Spitskop in the Free State

A stunning sunset on a birthday weekend away at Amohela Ho Spitskop in the Free State, which feels like the middle of nowhere (because it is!). What made this place special was that they let us bring our dog, Riley, with us for the weekend.

Since this is a nature conservation area in the bush, we were warned to be very careful with her, and that dogs shouldn’t be outside at all unless on a lead. We had one terrifying moment when she dashed outside after a springhare, so don’t mess around with that.

Welgevonden Game Reserve Sunset

Sunset at Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway in South Africa. All the suites at Clifftop have decks with private plunge pools, so you can get sunset shots from your room. — Sunset at Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway in South Africa

Another birthday weekend, another safari sunset. This was taken at Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway in the Welgevonden Game Reserve, where my husband took me for my 30th birthday – definitely the most luxurious safari weekend I’ve had.

This was taken on a game drive, but Clifftop has great elevation. There are only eight suites, and they all have decks with private plunge pools, so you can get really great sunset shots from your deck.

Plan Your Trip to South Africa

The best thing about South Africa is its diversity, and the fact that it has absolutely everything you could want in a holiday. Its sunsets are no exception – you can watch the sunset from a rooftop bar in the city, a white sand beach in Cape Town, a game drive on safari, or a wine farm terrace.