South Africa has quietly become one of the world’s go-to filming locations. With its breathtaking landscapes, modern infrastructure, and versatile terrain, it’s no wonder major film and TV productions keep setting up camp here. But the best part? Many of the places you’ve seen on screen are open to the public. Here are six filming locations across South Africa that you can actually visit…
1. Cape Town – Black Sails, Blood Diamond, and more
Cape Town is South Africa’s crown jewel when it comes to film production. The city and its surroundings have doubled for 18th-century Caribbean ports, modern African capitals, and even alien planets!
The most iconic example is Black Sails, the pirate drama shot primarily at Cape Town Film Studios. The massive sets included full-size pirate ships and detailed colonial forts. While the sets aren’t always open to the public, you can visit nearby filming locations like Hout Bay, Simon’s Town, and Table Mountain, which have featured in everything from Blood Diamond to Safe House.
2. South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains – The Legend of Tarzan, Warrior
The Drakensberg range is as dramatic as it gets – jagged cliffs, green valleys, and misty peaks. These ancient mountains stood in for the jungles of the Congo in The Legend of Tarzan (2016) and have appeared in period action series like Warrior.
The sweeping shots of wilderness are no CGI trick. That raw, untamed beauty is real – and it’s waiting for you to hike, climb, or simply stare up in awe.
3. Johannesburg – District 9
Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 didn’t shy away from showing Johannesburg’s gritty urban sprawl. The film used real neighbourhoods, scrapyards, and townships to build its sci-fi refugee zones. The visual impact was unforgettable, but so was the social commentary – rooted in real South African history.
You won’t find alien spacecraft hovering over the city, but you can explore the culture-rich neighbourhoods that gave the film its pulse. While you’re there, be sure to visit Maboneng Precinct for local art, food, and design, and stop by the Apartheid Museum for essential context.
4. Tsitsikamma National Park – The Giver
The lush, forested landscapes of The Giver (2014) were filmed in Tsitsikamma, a jewel along South Africa’s Garden Route. The film’s dreamlike setting was no fantasy – this coastal forest is real and teeming with life.
With towering trees, dramatic river gorges, and suspension bridges over crashing waves, it’s one of the most cinematic spots you can experience with your own eyes.
5. South Africa’s Cederberg Mountains – 10,000 BC
Roland Emmerich’s prehistoric epic 10,000 BC used the Cederberg Mountains to portray a wild and ancient world. Though the movie’s accuracy is questionable, the scenery is spot-on.
The Cederberg’s orange rock formations, open desert spaces, and ancient San rock art sites give it an otherworldly feel that’s perfect for explorers. You don’t need a time machine to walk through this prehistoric landscape.
6. Port Edward – Survivor South Africa
Port Edward and its surrounding coastline on the Wild Coast have hosted multiple seasons of Survivor South Africa. With its rough seas, remote beaches, and thick vegetation, it’s the perfect backdrop for survival challenges – and an unforgettable travel destination.
You can walk the same beaches and forests where contestants battled it out, minus the stress of tribal council.
Have you visited any of these top filming locations in South Africa?
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