Cape Town is home to several magnificent dams of varying sizes and with differing surroundings, providing excellent choice and variety for film shoot locations.
The Theewaterskloof dam is one of the Western Cape’s most famous dams. About an hour and a half’s drive from the mother city, it is located close to Villiersdorp. This sprawling water mass is the largest dam supplying water to Cape Town. It boasts natural surroundings, mountain backdrops, and a road bridge across a portion of it. Dead tree skeletons sticking out some of its banks makes for dramatic imagery.
Inside the Table Mountain National Park is the popular Silvermine Reservoir Dam. Surrounded by indigenous fynbos vegetation, this beautiful dam is frequented by hikers who enjoy taking a dip in it during the summer months.
There are five dams on the top, back side of Table Mountain, and these also fall within the national park. The Woodhead, Hely-Hutchinson, Victoria, Alexandra and De Villiers Reservoirs, built between 1893 and 1907, were the first dams built to provide water to the city. Each dam offers unique scenery.
The Upper and Lower Steenbras Dams, near Gordon’s Bay, are nestled between two mountain ranges. Certain sections are flanked by pine tree plantations if you’re looking for a Cape Town film location that features a dam and woods. The lower dam’s wall is long and curved.
For a film location with a marshier look, head to the Zeekoevlei freshwater lake and wetlands in the False Bay Nature Reserve on the Cape Flats. You will need to obtain a permit to film in any of these locations and must commit to adhere to regulations protecting the environment.
Other Cape Town dams that are suitable film shoot locations are the Berg River, Voelvlei, Wemmershoek, and Kleinplaas Dams. Alternatively, contact a local location scout to find the best location for your filming needs.
