February 26, 2024by Sasha Ella

Sunsets in Africa

Proof that endings can be beautiful too

I’m that person who sees the sunset every day
and is still amazed by it every time – Unknown

If you have been to Africa, you will know that the sunsets are spectacular. The large amount of dust in the atmosphere refracts light from the sun and paints the sky a kaleidoscope of colours. Watch mesmerised as the sun sinks below the horizon … silhouetting different backdrops in a hue of vivid red, bright orange, yellow or pink.

Every evening nature puts on a show that captivates, whether you’re watching day turn into night across vast savannahs, serene beaches or a lake. Some of the most glorious sunsets are when clouds are scattered in the sky.

Don’t forget: Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies – Paulo Coelho

Rippled reflections

Sunsets across water are always special. Seeing the palette of colours mirrored on the shimmery surface can be dramatic, creating an evening ritual never to be forgotten.

As you cruise the Chobe River, sitting on the communal deck or your private balcony on board the Zambezi Queen by Mantis, you will see pods of hippo or a herd of elephant at the water’s edge. Birds, silhouetted in flight by the warm orange glow of the sun, sinking below the water create the perfect touch to a magic experience.

At Kivu Lake in Rwanda, the dusk light dips and reflects across the 250 small islands dotted around the 2 700km² crystal clear lake. It backlights the fisherman as they head out on their traditional dhows with their oil lanterns twinkling like stars. The Mantis Kivu Queen uBuranga is able to navigate to the best vantage points to watch the sun set and the moon rise, while the melodious sound of ancestral songs sung by the fisherfolk echo across the night sky.

Sunset at Victoria Falls is a very different, multi-sensory experience. It is a thunderous applause and farewell to the day as 550 000 cubic metres of water cascades down the Zambezi River and falls over 100m into the gorge below. Known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), Victoria Falls captivates by its sheer grandeur.

Four kilometres away is the Mbano Manor Hotel Victoria Falls by Mantis. A cruise on the Zambezi River allows you to take in the surrounding beauty at twilight – with one of the Seven Wonders of the World as your stage. Or enjoy a cultural sunset dinner, as the sun edges over the horizon.

A sunset is the sun’s fiery kiss to the night – Crystal Woods

Island Paradise

The Sky Bar at Nungwi Dreams by Mantis in Zanzibar is one of the highest vantage points on the island, with wide vistas across palm trees, the beach and ocean – the perfect stage for a sunset display.

The infinity pool overlooking the ocean at Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa in Madagascar is another ideal setting for a picturesque, postcard-perfect sunset. Take a stroll along the white sands, toes dipping in the warm water, as you watch the sun sink slowing into the ocean.

Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Endless savannahs

In stark contrast are the sunsets on endless wilderness plains when you are on safari at Mantis Founders Lodge. Time it right and you’ll be lucky enough to see a tower of giraffe, a herd of buffalo or a dazzle of zebra etched against a spectacular brilliant red sky. The wide-open plains stretch for kilometres as dusk turns to night and the sun makes way for the moon and stars.

If you aren’t around at the same time as the herds, you can still enjoy a sundowner with a single acacia tree beautifully framed by the sinking crimson-orange sun. The only sound: The stillness and the rustling of animals preparing for the night.

Mantis Akagera Game Lodge in Rwanda stands proud on a hill at the southern tip of the Akagera National Park, elevated above the savannah with exceptional views of Lake Ihema. A sunset departure for a guided night drive adventure is an ideal way to end your day and catch a glimpse of nocturnal wildlife. As is a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, with the sunset shimmering off the water and a backdrop incorporating abundant birdlife, including African fish eagles nesting in the trees.

It’s not just a sunset; it’s a moonrise to – PC Cast

Starry nights

In the desert, sunsets take on a different charm. Across the sands of the Kalahari in Botswana the clean air allows the sun’s vivid colours to shine through as the fading light casts long shadows, highlighting the simple beauty of the arid landscape.

At Feline Fields Lodge or Feline Fields Vintage Camp you can dine under the African sky as you watch the sun go down and the sky transform from dusk to night. Experience falling asleep on a star bed, with the night sky and stars your ‘ceiling’.

Remote splendour

St Helena Island is one of the remotest islands on Earth but, with its changing typography, hills and mountains it offers many vantage points to take in beautiful sunsets. Feeling energetic? A coastal walk to Mundens will allow you to view the sun setting from old fortifications above the town.

A leisurely cruise along the spectacular, jagged coastline offers amazing birdlife, seasonal humpback whales and you’re almost guaranteed to see dolphins swimming off into the sunset. Anywhere along the north-western side of the island is a perfect front row seat to see the sun gently sliding into the South Atlantic Ocean.

I can count on my fingers the number of sunsets I have left
and I don’t want to miss any of them – Suzanne Collins

Another day

After a safari observing animals and birdlife in their natural habitat, there’s no better way to end the day than with a sundowner, watching the sun set. It’s romantic. It’s beautiful. And, beyond the magical visuals, there are numerous stress-relieving benefits too. The shifting vivid, bright colours somehow bring a sense of calm.

No two sunsets are the same. The beauty of an African sunset leaves a lasting impression that stays with you long after the sun has dipped below the horizon.

Sunsets are proof that endings can often be beautiful too – Beau Taplin