Orccha temples sunset, India
Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania

The best sunsets in the world

Straying into the realms of self indulgent travel blogging … with unabashed pleasure I’ve explored my travel archives to share my favourite sunset moments from travelling around the world:

Sunsets in Africa

Starting off in Africa, the best sunsets were definitely in Namibia. In the heart of Etosha National Park the campgrounds have fenced waterholes where you can spend long evenings watching the animals coming to drink at dusk – this photo shows one of those waterholes and my best Africa sunset.

Etosha sunset, Namibia

Also in Namibia, in the middle of the Namib Nakluft desert, there’s a tiny place called Solitaire. Nothing more than a general store and a few other buildings, the emptiness and dryness of the desert is palpable here. But the sunset, and the apple pie, were wonderful.

Solitaire sunset, Namibia

On a mokoro tour in the Okavango Delta we camped on an island among the reeds. After a walking tour spotting wildlife we returned to camp as the thunderclouds rolled in. A storm was about to bring the rains for which Botswana had been waiting for weeks. The sunset and the approaching storm was powerful.

Okavango Delta sunset, Botswana

The best Asia sunsets

Now for Asia and India is first up. Varanasi has of course a deeply unique (some way weird) atmosphere but the sunset over Mother Ganga is as beautiful as any I’ve seen, with the waters turned to molten gold.

Varanasi sunset, India

In central India the ruined temples and palaces of Orccha are highly mysterious in their jungly environment. This photo of the temple domes was taken from the rooftops of the palace.

Orccha temples sunset, India

Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal we stayed in the village of Ghorepani, from where you can see the misty peaks of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range. Endless shades of blue receded into the distance.

Annapurna trek sunset, Nepal

Returning up the Bosphorus on the ferry heading towards Istanbul the sun was setting behind one of the mighty bridges just as the domes and minarets of the Golden Horn came into view.

Bosphorus Cruise sunset, Istanbul, Turkey

An incredibly famous place to watch the sunset in Asia is from one of the temples in the World Heritage Site of Bagan. This historic kingdom is in present-day Myanmar and must be on ever traveller’s bucket list!

Bagan sunset, Myanmar

The Caribbean

When we travelled in Cuba, we spent an evening strolling along the Malecon waterfront promenade in Havana after a delicious lobster dinner (with mojitos on the side), looking back is the tower of El Moro, looking forward the sunset turns the broken paving stones into a sea of clouds.

Havana sunset, Cuba

Sunsets in Europe

The Greek Island of Santorini must have one of the most famous sunsets in the world and the evening light at Oia is very beautiful… although crowded with tourists.

Santorini sunset, Greece

You should remember that at different times of year the sunset can be better in other parts of the island, like Fira or the lighthouse at Akotheri.

Santorini sunset, Greece

Sunsets in Australia

Finally to Australia, where the Wandering Kiwi family spent two years. There are several sunsets in Australia that are extremely famous, the first being at Uluru (Ayers Rock) where the setting sun bathes the great monolith with intense colours.

Ayers Rock sunset, Uluru

And then the 12 Apostles rock stacks near Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road. The sun doesn’t cast its setting light on the cliffs but the long shadows of the rocks and the softness of the glow is very atmospheric.

12 Apostles sunset, Great Ocean Road

The final Australian sunset that is completely mesmerising is at the viewpoint of Ubirr in Kakadu National Park, looking out towards Arnhem Land.

Ubirr sunset in Kakadu National Park www.worldwanderingkiwi.com Natasha von Geldern

By Natasha von Geldern

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10 Comments

  1. Beautiful. My favourite sunset so far was the one at Pura Tanah Lot, Bali

  2. Sunsets are my favorite things to photograph. Mostly because of their vivid colors, but also because of the improbability of taking a bad shot. What an awesome collection you have here! No doubt you been to some interesting and beautiful places to see the sun set.

    • Natasha von Geldern

      Yes it’s unusual to let a trip go by without at least one sunset shot, they are so mesmerising and romantic.

  3. have traveled all over the world and experienced many amazing sunsets but I must say that Herne Bay in Kent, UK is up there with the best. The most spectacular sunset occur in the mid summer when the tide is out, absolutely breath taking.
    Check out some photos here: http://bayguide.co.uk/wp/index.php/sunset-image/

  4. The pics with the sunset cast entirely in reflections are the most interesting, especially the Havana photo.

  5. Wow.. just wow.. I always wanted to do something like this. I wish you could do more in future. Those pictures are really amazing and tell stories that I can perceive in my own way..

    Raj
    Adventure Bound Nepal
    http://www.adventureboundnepal.com

  6. I have to say that my favourite sunset is from Kakadu National Park as well, probably from the same view point you’ve got there in your photo

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