Photographing Cape Town from Prison to Peak
Southern seas meet a coastline of beaches, bays, and boulders while towering sandstone peaks rise as a backdrop over this South African city.
Of course, I’m talking about Cape Town, a city I’ve longed to visit and finally got the chance to photograph this May while exploring with South Africa Tourism and Adventure World. The light, the fog, the waves, the culture, the penguins, the fynbos…there’s so much to see, experience and photograph and I’m going to share my highlights and the most photogenic experiences I had below.
If you’re visiting Cape Town for the first time, I believe it’s important to have a variety of adventures planned that not only cover the natural wonders and landscapes but also delve into the history.
During my trip, I spent three nights at the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa near Camps Bay, and had two full days to venture all over the city, sea, and coastline. A short, but jam-packed trip that you can replicate if you’re visiting before, or after a safari experience.
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Photographing Sunset Over the Sea
It took me a while to get my bearings as I’d assumed Cape Town, located in southern South Africa, faced south. However, as it sits on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, it faces west, meaning the glow of sunset lingers over the horizon before dipping into the sea.
Photographing the sunset as rolling swell crashed into the rocky shore and sea birds in their hundreds flew low across the ocean was such a delight. I switched between the 40-150mm f2.8 lens and the 12-40mm f2.8 lens to try and capture as many variations of the scene before me, even adding the MC-20 2 X Teleconverter to get a little closer to those sea birds.
When photographing sunset in Cape Town, you can opt for a number of locations, my pick though, is anywhere with some interesting landscape features, like a rocky bay or hiking trail so you can incorporate the scenery into your composition. I photographed from Oudekraal Beach just in front of the hotel and would also recommend giving the trail at Lions Head (amazing views), and Signal Hill a peek if you’re got a few nights in the city.
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Road Trip Along Chapman’s Peak Drive with Cape Sidecar Adventures
Photographing from a sidecar was never on my wish list, nor my radar, and while my partner enjoys motorbikes, I’ve never wanted to don a helmet and join him. Well, sometimes you don’t know what you’re missing, and when I saw ‘Sidecar Adventure’ on our itinerary, I was a little nervous. Spoiler…it was one of the most unexpectedly fun and thrilling things I’ve done in a long time.
Embarking on a road trip along Chapman’s Peak Drive with Cape Sidecar Adventures was an exhilarating blend of views, the elements and a dash of cuteness when we were introduced to the boss man ‘Brody’ (see his Instagram here). This scenic route, affectionately known as “Chappies,” was completed in 1922 and is considered one of the world’s most scenic drives. The road winds along the coast, offering 114 curves that reveal breathtaking views of the rugged shoreline and the Atlantic Ocean.
One of the benefits of riding in a sidecar, is you can sit there and photograph the journey without windows in your way! Because I wasn’t sure what was around each corner, I opted for the combination of my OM-1 MKII + 40-150mm f2.8 lens so I could document the landscapes, street scenes and zoom into Brody when he was ahead…look at those ears.
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Taking the Cable Car Up to Table Mountain
Now, if I had more time I’d be writing ‘Photograph Sunrise/Sunset from Table Mountain’, however, our itinerary didn’t allow for that and so, if you’re visiting soon, please do it and share the photos with me, I’d love to see what you capture as the rolling fog dancing up the mountain must be so photogenic during golden hour!
We ventured up in the morning, and while it started extremely foggy, the type of fog that’s tricky to drive in, once we jumped on the cable car, it began to clear, blue skies were above and once up the top, my mouth dropped open in disbelief. As a photographer, it can feel like you need to only visit scenic viewpoints during the early or later hours of the day, but sometimes it’s just not possible and I’m all for enjoying and witnessing a scene at any time of the day.
The pathways on top of Table Mountain are easy to wander around, venturing right to the edge of the cliff as it takes a dramatic plunge down to the city below. Standing still on the platforms and watching as the clouds whisp and weave through the valleys is an experience everyone should try and have when visiting Cape Town.
Rising 1,085 meters (3,558 feet) above sea level, Cape Town’s skyline, the sprawling coastline, and the vast horizon are all visible from the top and if you’ve got time, I’d encourage you to wait out any bad weather if there’s a lot of wind, it can sweep through quite quickly and you never know what will be revealed once those clouds part.
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A Day Trip to Robben Island
Visiting Robben Island was a profound, insightful and educational experience. While my guides tend to include areas of natural beauty and photogenic experiences, the history here is important to understand when photographing Cape Town and I’d highly recommend a tour of the island to truly understand the why and how, despite being a place of harsh imprisonment, the human connection stood strong.
The island’s rich history as a military base, infirmary and prison adds layers of depth to your Cape Town visit and while I don’t want to take away from the main reason you should visit Robben Island, it also offers incredible views looking back towards the Cape Peninsula with sea birds and penguins.
Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 of his 27 years in captivity and the stories told by our guide, ex-prisoner Sparks, were extremely moving and eye-opening. Sparks told us of the treatment, the conditions, shared how they stayed strong mentally and a story I found most fascinating was how they managed to share messages between inmates while playing tennis once a week.
Robben Island is up to an hour ferry trip from the V&A Waterfront, and you can arrange your tickets via Adventure World, particularly if you’re after a private tour which allows for a more intimate experience.
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Lunch at Steenberg Vineyards
Benefitting from diverse topography, a variation of soils and influenced by both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, the Cape offers some of the best wineries in the world.
Steenberg Vineyards is a feast for the senses and just a 30-minute drive from almost anywhere in Cape Town, including V&A Waterfront or Camps Bay. Established in 1682, this historic estate is the oldest registered farm in the Cape region, featuring a beautiful manor house built in 1740, showcasing classic Cape Dutch architecture.
The sprawling vineyards and historic architecture create a perfect setting for photography, and after placing my order, I did a little dash around the gardens to capture the colours and setting. You can book in for a wine tasting experience, learning about the variations and process from a sommelier, and then enjoy lunch on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. I found the interiors just as photogenic as the scenery here, take a peek below at the décor, gorgeous!
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Nature Walks in Oudekraal Nature Reserve
Oudekraal Nature Reserve is a coastal area where fynbos meets dense salty sea air beneath towering sandstone cliffs, offering a peaceful escape from the city and ideal spot to photograph sunrise and sunset.
Located along Victoria Road between Camps Bay and Llandudno, this part of the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area is home to a variety of indigenous plant species and offers tranquil walks through untouched landscapes, you may even spot a seal or penguin too.
The nature walks through this reserve offer plenty of opportunities to photograph the natural beauty of the area, with views along the coast and flora to include in your image composition. If you’re staying at The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, you can start your walk from the property.
Sunset here is very special, with the warm glow illuminating the rich reds of the protea, and the vibrant green foliage scattered across the scenery. Sunrise can bring a mix of conditions, you may have a pastel palette to work with, or fog could be sweeping beneath the cliffs and across the sea…it’s worth taking a chance on both and seeing what you get dealt to photograph.
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Hello! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs experience as a professional travel and landscape photographer, all advice found on this site is from my personal experience on the road. I hope it’s useful for your own travels and would love to hear in the comments about your trips and experiences around the world.
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