Before going to Africa, learning a little about the continent is essential. One of the best ways to do that before is to watch some movies about Africa! From the lions in the Serengeti to some of the worst civil wars on the continent, here are my favorite African movies to watch before going.
Best Movies About Africa
The Lion King
Set in the Savannah (Likely Kenya or Tanzania)
I grew up in the 90s, and I can’t think of the animals in Africa without thinking of the Lion King. This is easily one of the best movies set in Africa. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, you need to stop reading right this second and get on Amazon, hop on Disney Plus, or go about your usual way of accessing movies and watch this tonight.
I mean, cmon that opening scene? “NA SEE WANG YA” and Simba’s christening! I can’t even watch the first five minutes without a tear in my eye. This movie about Africa is forever loved, and even though it’s animated, it shows the beauty of some of these countries.
Gorillas in the Mist
Set in Rwanda
One of my favorite movies about Africa that is still very relevant today. Seeing the mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda has been high on my list for years (UPDATE: We checked that off), but I never knew the entire story behind these beautiful creatures. So if you’re off gorilla trekking in either Uganda, Rwanda, or DRC we recommend watching this movie first.
Meet Dian Fossey, an American primatologist that dedicated her life to studying the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Gorillas in the Mist, starring the fabulous Sigourney Weaver, is an 80’s movie documenting Dian’s struggles and achievements while in Africa.
Beasts of No Nation
No named setting
A Netflix original movie garnered international recognition and won many awards. Beasts of No Nation takes place in an unnamed West African country and follows a young boy who loses his family to a brutal war.
He is soon adopted as a child soldier into a rising rebel group. Although the film remains ambiguous about the location, it portrays the horrors the military use of children has on young boys’ lives in Africa. To this day, this is not only one of the best movies about Africa on Netflix but one of the best movies on the whole platform.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Set in Malawi
This is one of the best African movies based on actual events in Africa. I recently saw this pop up on my Netflix suggestions, and seeing that it was directed by one of my favorite actors, Chiwetel Ejiofor, I knew I had to watch it. Within the first few minutes, I was completely mesmerized as the scenes brought me back to our time in Malawi.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is based on the same book by William Kamkwamba, who is also the film’s main subject. Kamkwamba lives in a rural Malawian village that is experiencing a significant drought. Wanting to save his family and village from starvation and death, he devises a plan to build a windmill and power a water pump to save the land.
Virunga
Set in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Another Netflix original, this documentary focuses on conserving the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Or at least that’s how the documentary starts until the filmmakers and park rangers find themselves embroiled in a civil war.
The film showcases heart-stopping footage as conservationists work to protect the park, which is home to some of the world’s last mountain gorillas.
Hotel Rwanda
Set in Rwanda
Called the “African Schindler’s List,” this film is an absolute must-watch for anyone wanting to watch movies about Africa. It’s deeply saddening to remember that just 30 years ago, there was a genocide happening in Rwanda, with the ethnic Tutsi being the victims of the Hutu militia, killing off 20% of the Rwandan population!
This is the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, who saved over 1,200 refugees by hiding them in a hotel he managed. If you are off to Rwanda, you will without a doubt be reminded of this genocide and this movie does a great job at setting up the scene of what actually happened.
It’s a shame that Paul Rusesabagina was lured back to Rwanda from the US (where he is a resident), and abducted in 2020. He has since been sentenced to 25 years for terrorism by a Rwandan court. Supporters called a sham trial, and the fight to free him is far from over.
Skin
Set in South Africa
Starring Sophie Okonedo, the female lead in Hotel Rwanda above is a terrific biographical movie about Sandra Laing. One of the best movies based on actual events in Africa.
Sandra is a South African woman born to white parents; she was then classified as “colored” due to atavism during apartheid.
The film follows Sandra and her family, who are divided by the color of their skin. It’s a fascinating story that shows a deeper look at apartheid South Africa.
The Color of Friendship
Set in the USA and South Africa
Another movie is about apartheid in South Africa and its effects. I watched this movie as a young girl on the Disney Channel, and it never left my mind. It paints a picture of apartheid in the 1970s and how it affects two young girls in two separate countries.
Throughout the film, the two must overcome their differences. I love this movie as it’s suitable for children with important messaging. If you have Disney Plus, you’ll be able to find this film there!
The Constant Gardener
Set in Kenya
This was in my Netflix queue forever and is now one of my favorite thriller movies set in Africa. Although I love Ralph Fiennes, I never brought myself to watch it. I recently sat down to watch this political thriller and LOVED it and have since read the book and rewatched the film many times.
Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes are an unlikely couple living and working in Kenya. Tessa (Weisz) is a diehard Amnesty activist who is uncovering big secrets in the pharmaceutical industry. After her death, her husband sets out to discover the truth.
What drew me more in was that this movie was loosely based on a true story in Nigeria.
The English Patient
Set in North Africa
This romantic drama was nominated for 12 Academy Awards in 1996 and featured young Ralph Fiennes in his prime. Did I mention I love Ralph Fiennes? Set during WWII, The English Patient tells the story of a widowed nurse caring for a severely burned patient.
This injured man is known only as “The English Patient” for his distinct English Accent and has an interesting life story. It’s one of the best Hollywood movies based in Africa.
A United Kingdom
Set in Botswana
A United Kingdom is a film based on the true-life story of Seretse Khama, heir to the throne of Bechuanaland (now Botswana), and his romance with Ruth Williams Khama, a white English woman, post-WWII. The film follows their courtship, eventual marriage, and the hardships they endured because of their racial differences in Bechuanaland and Southern Africa.
Seretse Khama became the first president of Botswana and, to this day, is a well-loved figure in Botswana. During his presidency, the country underwent positive social and economic changes. Their son, Ian Khama, was even recently the President of Botswana and was also beloved by the country.
Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom
Set in South Africa
This movie about Africa is based on Mandela’s autobiography. A Long Walk to Freedom lends viewers a deeper understanding of the politics of South Africa.
This African movie does a great job at showcasing historical events but still mixes in a bit of Hollywood to keep viewers engrossed in the story. During our three months in South Africa, we saw images of the anti-apartheid revolutionary everywhere. From statues and important buildings to street names and street art, you can truly see the impact of Mandela.
The Good Lie
Set in Sudan (Get a box of tissues for this African movie!)
A feel-good movie about a group of Sudanese siblings who escape the brutal Second Sudanese Civil War that was a conflict from 1983 to 2005. These brothers win a lottery to relocate in the United States, and the film follows their integration into American culture and takes audiences on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
Tsotsi
Set in South Africa
Set in the Johannesburg slums, this film follows Tsotsi. A young street criminal steals a car, finds a baby in the backseat, and must navigate the night with the newborn. This film received widespread critical acclaim and won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film! It was the first South African film ever to win this award!
I Dreamed of Africa
Set in Kenya
This film didn’t deserve any academy awards, but it managed to get me excited about going to Africa and Kenya. The film tells the true story of Kuki Gallman, an Italian woman who relocates to Africa to run a farm. It’s like Under the Tuscan Sun but set in Africa.
The film is adapted from Kuki’s memoir, I Dreamed of Africa, and is heartbreaking at times and uplifting at others. I recommended reading both her memories, I Dreamed of Africa and Night of the Lions as they are much better than the movie.
Half of a Yellow Sun
Set in Nigeria
Another one of my favorite African movies. Half of the Yellow Sun is a Nigerian film that opens viewers’ eyes to some of the terrifying atrocities of the Nigerian Civil War. Interweaving two love stories, family betrayal, and an undiscovered mystery, this film is based on the 2006 novel by African feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Casablanca
Set in Morocco
This is one of the many movies we watched in film school, and it would be hard for me not to mention it on this “movies about Africa” list. Ranked as one of the greatest American films of all time, this 1942 romance takes place in Casablanca, one of the largest cities in Morocco. Rick and Ilsa are star-crossed lovers during the second world war.
The First Grader
Set in Kenya
If you’re looking for a tear-jerker movie that takes place in Africa, I recommend this one. I can’t count the number of times I cried from sadness and joy in The First Grader.
Telling the true story of Kimani Maruge, an 84-year-old Kenyan farmer that enrolled in elementary school in 2003 after the Kenyan government granted citizens free universal primary education. Today, Maruge still holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest pupil in primary school.
Madagascar
Set in Madagascar
If you’re looking for African movies available to stream, one of the Madagascar films is always bound to be there. I had to throw this one in with so many serious films on this list! Madagascar 1, 2, and 3 are some of the funniest animated films I have seen and feature some brilliant song and dance scenes from some very cheeky lemurs (I Like to Move it Move it!).
Madagascar tells the story of four zoo animals who escape Central Park and get stranded on the island of…Madagascar! You will laugh your way through this 90-minute film with an all-star comedic cast.
Sembene!
Set in Senegal
This is a great documentary movie about Africa from a celebrated African filmmaker. Ousmane Sembene is considered the “father of African cinema,” has made many fantastic movies like Ceddo, Camp de Thiaroye, and Guelwaar. This documentary is about the story of his life and is heartwarming and intriguing.
Last King of Scotland
Set in Uganda
One of the more critically acclaimed films on this list, The Last King of Scotland, is an intense thriller set in 1970s Uganda (not Scotland).
Forrest Whitaker gives a stellar performance as Idi Amin, the third Ugandan president, was heavily criticized for human rights abuse. The film shows Amin’s harsh ruling from the eyes of his personal physician.
Blood Diamond
Set in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone went through an atrocious civil war just 20 years ago. This film, featuring my boy Leo, follows one local fisherman’s gut-wrenching hardship during the conflict. It’s an excellent African war movie with a compelling storyline. Blood Diamond primarily focuses on just that, a “blood diamond.”
Blood diamonds are the harvesting and mining of diamonds in war zones, sold by warlords to intermediaries to finance their wars. The diamonds are then worked into the legal circulation of diamonds through several middlemen, and could eventually end up on someones ring finger. Thankfully, the diamond industry is set to stricter standards now, but that still doesn’t mean the Blood Diamonds have been eliminated.
District 9
Set in South Africa
Movies about Africa don’t get much more entertaining than District 9. An alien species makes contact in Johannesburg and must remain there until they can fix their craft. The aliens, “prawns,” are then subjected to living in terrible conditions and ghettos, and face daily discrimination. The film may seem like your typical Alien film, but District 9 holds a much deeper meaning than a bunch of invasive “Prawns.”
The South African director draws on much of South Africa’s apartheid history, including the infamous clearing of District Six in Cape Town. The narrative extends to current issues facing South Africa today. It manages to do all of this while making a hugely entertaining alien thriller.
Born Free
Set in Kenya
Born Free is possibly one of the best African movies of all time. This is the true story of the lives of Joy and George Adamson, who raised Elsa the Lionness after she was orphaned as a cub.
They raised her to adulthood and released her into the wild. The 1966 movie set in Africa is based on Joy Adamson’s 1960 book under the same name, Born Free. If you want an inspiring feel-good story, this movie is for you!
Out of Africa
Set in Kenya
Oh, Merryl Streep and Robert Redford, you both produced one great African safari movie together when you were young. Out of Africa is a film set in colonial Africa and garnered seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film follows the life of Karen Blixen, who establishes a coffee plantation in Africa.
This is one of the movies on this list that portrays parts of an African safari and is based on an autobiographical book of the same name that shows Karen’s complicated life in Kenya, with a side twist of a young love affair with Robbie Red.
The Burial of Kojo
Set in Ghana
Wow! The Burial of Kojo is a fantastic African movie shot entirely in Ghana on a small budget. Even some of the actors are first-timers! (But you would never be able to tell.
The film follows Kojo, who is left to die in an abandoned gold mine while his family must find him. It received nine nominations at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, winning two! The African film is available on Netflix and is one of the only Ghanian films on the streaming service.
Queen of Katwe
Set in Uganda
Chess is the escape from poverty for a young Ugandan woman living in Kampala. This movie is based on actual events in Africa and tells of a girl defying the odds and her story of becoming a top chess champion. This is a must-watch movie about Africa before heading to Uganda!
Into the Okavango
Set in Botswana and Angola
This visually beautiful Nat Geo documentary uncovers the truth about the Okavango Delta water shortage. This is one of the planet’s last wetlands and diverse wildlife areas.
The expedition takes them 1500 miles across three African nations over four months. Besides fantastic truthful storytelling, you’ll also get stunning visuals of Angola, Botswana, and Namibia.
The Gods Must be Crazy
Set in South Africa
The Gods Must be Crazy is the top South African film of all time. Although the story is set in Botswana, this movie tells the tale of a rural village with little knowledge of the outside world. One day a glass bottle of coke falls from the sky, and the villagers take it as a sign from god. Only a comedy can ensue from there!
7 Days in Entebbe
Set in Uganda
I had no idea about this historical event until watching this movie about Africa. 7 Days in Entebbe is about the true story of Operation Entebbe.
In 1976 terrorists hijacked Air France Flight 139 from Tel Aviv to Paris and held the passengers and crew hostage in Entebbe while demanding a ransom end release of 53 Palestinian prisoners. The government steps in, and well, unless you know the story, I can’t share anymore!
Tarzan
Set in Possibly Cameroon
We’re not entirely sure where Tarzan takes place, but it is assumed it is in Cameroon’s lush rainforests. There are many renditions of Tarzan, but my personal favorite is the Disney version with all the Phil Collins jams.
The Woman King
Set in Benin
In the 1820s, this historical action-adventure African movie unfolds, narrating the inspiring tale of the Agojie, an all-female warrior unit that valiantly defended the esteemed West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries.
At the heart of this epic, Viola Davis portrays a remarkable general, entrusted with the pivotal task of training the next generation of warriors to bravely confront their adversaries on the battlefield. It gives a glimpse into what tribal West Africa was like, and of course, shows the courageous stories of the only female army in modern history.
Escape from Pretoria
Set in South Africa
The true life story of Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee – two white South Africans who are arrested for carrying out anti-apartheid missions in the 70s. They are given harsh prison sentences at Pretoria Prison and attempt an elaborate escape.
The Red Sea Diving Resort
Set in Sudan
It’s certainly not the best Africa movie on this list or going to win any Oscars, but it certainly is entertaining.
The Red Sea Diving Resort is loosely based on the events of Israel’s Operation Moses and Operation Joshua in 1984-1985. This is where the Mossad (national intelligence agency of Israel) rescued Jewish-Ethiopian refugees who suffered from persecution in Sudan. They were smuggled to Israeli using an abandoned dive resort off the Sudanese Red Sea.
Beast
Set in South Africa
Perhaps not the most realistic of the Africa movies, but certainly an entertaining one with heartthrob Idris Elba as the lead man.
The story revolves around a father who has lost his spouse and his two adolescent daughters on a trip to a game reserve in South Africa. Their excursion takes a dangerous turn when they are pursued and assaulted by a fierce, rogue lion with a history of attacking humans. This survival tale is a thriller safari movie, as long as you remember that is a Hollywood movie, and not indicative of how a real-life safari would go.
Movies About Africa on IMDB
To learn more about these Africa movies, check them out on IMDB. It’s probably our favorite site unrelated to travel. Pretty much the bread and butter of any die-hard movie fan.
