South Africa has long been a favourite among filmmakers, thanks to its diverse landscapes.
The country has provided the backdrop for some of cinema’s most iconic moments. It has doubled as deserts, battlefields, rural villages and so much more.
The Gods Must Be Crazy
Released in 1980, The Gods Must Be Crazy became a cult comedy classic. While it’s remembered for its Kalahari desert scenes, parts of the film were also shot in the Drakensberg Mountains. Their sweeping valleys and jagged cliffs provided a dramatic backdrop for the film’s quirky narrative of a Bushman encountering the modern world. The Drakensberg, stretching across KwaZulu-Natal, remains one of South Africa’s most striking travel destinations. Visitors can hike the famous Amphitheatre, trek to Tugela Falls (one of the highest waterfalls in the world), or simply stay in cosy mountain lodges where the views from your window rival anything you’ll see on screen. It’s the kind of landscape that feels cinematic even without a film crew in sight.
South African Tourism/Unsplash
Mad Max: Fury Road
When George Miller revived the Mad Max franchise with Fury Road (2015), the spotlight fell on Namibia’s desert. But much of the movie magic actually happened in South Africa. The production was based at Cape Town Film Studios, with outdoor shots filmed in the rugged Cederberg Mountains just a few hours north of Cape Town.
The Cederberg is a place that feels tailor-made for a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Towering sandstone formations, jagged cliffs, and vast, empty valleys stretch in every direction. At night, the sky is lit with countless stars. Travellers can explore this cinematic landscape by hiking to the famous Wolfberg Arch or tackling the Maltese Cross trail. For those who want a more relaxed pace, there are eco-lodges and campsites where the silence of the desert is part of the experience.
Clayton Cardinalli/Unsplash
Blood Diamond
Set during Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war, Blood Diamond (2006) starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou, used South Africa as a stand-in for West Africa. Two of these locations are easy for travellers to visit today.
The first is Cape Point, inside the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. With its dramatic sea cliffs and wind-whipped coastline, it provided the perfect double for Sierra Leone’s rugged shores. A hike up to the old lighthouse rewards visitors with sweeping ocean views, the same vistas that gave the film its raw, adventurous feel.
The second location is Paarl Rock, a massive granite outcrop in the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve. Its wild, rocky backdrop added grit to some of the film’s chase sequences. Paarl itself is wine country, so you can easily combine a visit to this natural landmark with tastings at surrounding estates. For movie buffs, it’s a perfect balance of blockbuster scenery followed by a glass of wine.
adriaan venner scheepers/Unsplash
The Power of One
Bryce Courtenay’s novel The Power of One was brought to life on screen in 1992, with South Africa playing itself. The film tells the story of a young boy growing up during apartheid, and it used two memorable locations: the Hex River Valley and Matjiesfontein.
The Hex River Valley, with its vineyards framed by rugged peaks, offered lush and dramatic scenery for key sequences. Matjiesfontein, with its well-preserved Victorian streets, gave the film its period authenticity. Today, the village feels like a time capsule. Visitors can stay at the Lord Milner Hotel, ride an old red double-decker bus for a quirky tour, or wander its museum-filled streets. It’s an experience that feels both cinematic and deeply South African.
Travelling through these locations lets you experience South Africa as a living film set where stories play out against our landscapes that are so widely loved in the film world.
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
ALSO READ: Villages in Africa where you can learn traditional dance
