Wikipedia

Google Street View in Africa

Presently, in Africa, Google Street View can be seen in parts of Botswana,[1] Uganda,[2] South Africa,[3] Kenya,[4] Eswatini,[5] Lesotho,[6] São Tomé and Príncipe,[7] Senegal, Ghana, Tunisia, Nigeria, Rwanda, the Canary Islands of Spain, and Egypt's landmarks.[8]

Background

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On September 1, 2009, Google announced that it started collecting images in South Africa for Google Maps Street View.[9] Google is currently driving around South Africa in Toyota Priuses, taking photographs of locations in the cities of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and East London. Google Trikes are also being used for the first time to map popular tourist destinations, such as the scenic Chapman's Peak Drive and Table Mountain in Cape Town, Soccer City in Johannesburg, and the new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Images of South Africa were made available on Google Street View on June 8, 2010.

On December 8, 2010, more locations in South Africa were added. These were mostly rural and main roads, as well as a much larger coverage of the Limpopo province. After the update, the borders of South Africa's neighboring countries could be reached.

On November 27, 2012, Botswana was added.

On March 18, 2013, Tanzania was added.

On April 23, 2013, Lesotho was added.

On September 20, 2013, Eswatini was added.

On April 21, 2014, more locations in Lesotho and Botswana were added.

On September 9, 2014, landmarks in Egypt were added.

On February 18, 2014, more locations in South Africa were added.

On May 6, 2015, Madagascar was added.

On September 15, 2015, landmarks in Kenya were added.

On October 8, 2015, Uganda was added.

On February 8, 2017, Ghana, Senegal and landmarks in Uganda were added.

On March 18, 2017, Tunisia was added.

On July 27, 2017, Nigeria was added.

On July 25, 2018, landmarks in Nigeria were added.

On October 4, 2018, Kenya was added.

On July 24, 2019, more locations in Nigeria were added.

In October 2022, more locations in Kenya were added.[10] More locations were also added in Senegal and Nigeria. Later in the same month, the first official footage was added for Rwanda was added, this can be only be found in the capital Kigali for now. All four of these countries used a generation four camera to take the footage with.

Introductions by year

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2009   Islands of Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Spain
2010   South Africa: Johannesburg, Soweto, Roodepoort, Krugersdorp, Randfontein, Kempton Park, Benoni, Vosloorus, Katlehong, Centurion, Pretoria, Bronkhorstspruit, Midrand, Middelburg, Vanderbijlpark, Sasolburg, Heidelberg, Kroonstad, Welkom, Kimberley, Pietermaritzburg, Mbombela, Ermelo, Pinetown, Kingsburgh, Mdantsane, King William's Town, Port Alfred, Grahamstown, Cape Town, Kuils River, Mitchells Plain, Fish Hoek, Somerset West, Durbanville, Kraaifontein, Stellenbosch, Melkbosstrand, Kleinmond, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein, Polokwane, Nelspruit, Rustenburg, Johannesburg Zoo, Apartheid Museum, Boulders Beach, Company's Gardens, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, World Cup 2010 Venues
2011   La Gomera, El Hierro islands in Spain
2012   Botswana: Gaborone, Francistown, Maun, Molepolole, Kasane, Serowe, Lobatse, Tlokweng, Ramotswa, Kanye, Selebi-Phikwe, Mahalapye, Bobonong, Thamaga, Letlhakane, Palapye
2013   Eswatini: Mbabane, Manzini, Mhlume, Big Bend and other locations in Eswatini
  Teyateyaneng, Butha-Buthe, Hlotse, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek and more locations in Lesotho
  Tanzania:Uhuru Peak, Lava Tower, Moir hut, Arrow Glacier camp, Lemosho-clearings, Shira Camp & Gombe National Park
2014   Egypt: Landmarks including Pyramids of Giza, Cairo Citadel, Saqqara, Monastery of Saint Mina, Citadel of Qaitbay and more
  Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania
2015   Landmarks and water views of Barren Isles, Nosy Komba, Sambirano River, Ambalahonko, Velondriake[11]
  Samburu National Reserve, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Marania Farm and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Kenya
  Kampala, Entebbe and more locations in Uganda.
  Robben Island Museum, in South Africa[12]
2016   Saint-Denis and more locations in Réunion[13]
  Kruger National Park in South Africa[14]
2017   Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Obuasi, Tamale, Wa in Ghana
  Dakar, Thies, Saint-Louis, Touba, Diourbel in Senegal
  Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Semuliki National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Mount Elgon National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park, in Uganda
  Tunis*, Bizerte*, Nabeul*, Hammamet*, Sousse*, Monastir*, Al-Qayrawan* El Jem*, Sfax*, Gabes* Djerba* and more locations in Tunisia
  Lagos, Ikeja, Ojo, Lekki, Ikorodu*, Epe, Badagry and more locations in Lagos State, Nigeria[15][16]
  Albertinia  
2018   Lekki Conservation Centre, Abuja Millennium Park, Freedom Park, Royal Niger Company Flag, National Museum of Lagos, Olumo Rock, National Children's Park and Zoo, Tinubu Square, Mount Patti and Abuja Panoramic View, in Nigeria
  Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Naivasha, Nakuru, Eldoret, Ruiru, Malindi, Mariakani, Kisili and more locations in Kenya
2019   Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu,and Benin city were extensively covered in Nigeria
  Nairobi National Museum, Nairobi Gallery, Malindi Museum, Meru Museum, Nyeri Museum,[17] Fort Jesus
2020   Wits University Origins Centre[18]
  Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art,[18] Rele Art Gallery, Terra Kulture & African Artists' Foundation[19]

Areas included

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Click on the Google Street View icon   to view a specific location such as a tourist site or landmark.

Reference:[20]

  Botswana

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District Most coverage[a] Some coverage[b] Very limited coverage[c]
Central Letlhakane, Palapye Bobonong, Mahalapye, Selibe Phikwe, Serowe
Kweneng Gabane Molepolole, Thamaga
North-East Francistown
North-West Maun
Southern Jwaneng, Kanye
South-East Gaborone, Ramotswa, Tlokweng Lobatse

  Egypt

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Landmarks in Egypt including Pyramids of Giza, Cairo Citadel, Saqqara, Monastery of Saint Mina, Citadel of Qaitbay and more.

  Eswatini

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Most cities and roads.

  France

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Most roads in Réunion.

  Ghana

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Main roads and several cities throughout the country

  Kenya

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District Most coverage[a] Some coverage[b] Very limited coverage[c]
Central Nairobi, Thika Machakos, Athi River
Coast Mombasa Kilifi, Malindi
Rift Valley Nakuru, Eldoret Naivasha, Narok
Nyanza Kisumu

Samburu National Reserve, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, parts of Marania Farm near Mount Kenya

  Lesotho

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Western half of the country: Maseru and major roads.

  Madagascar

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Landmarks: Avenue of the Baobabs, Rova of Antananarivo

Water views of Barren Isles, Nosy Komba, Sambirano River, Ambalahonko, Velondriake, Avenue of the Baobabs, and the Sacred Forest.

There is a limited street view on just a few roads in the towns of Ambanja, Belo sur Mer and Morondava.

  Nigeria

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Abuja, Benin City, Enugu, Gwagwalada, Ibadan, Lagos and surroundings and roads between

  Portugal

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In Madeira (which geographically belongs to Africa according to geographical definitions: closest mainland), most towns, cities, villages, major and rural roads are covered.

In the Azores (which have a location with little more unclear connection to a continent), the islands of São Miguel Island and Terceira Island have good coverage.

  Rwanda

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In October 2022, Google released official coverage in the capital Kigali, and this adds a new country to Street View. Google used a generation four camera to capture this footage with.

  São Tomé and Príncipe

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Coverage extends to most towns, cities, villages, major and rural roads on both major islands.[21]

  South Africa

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Province Most coverage[a] Some coverage[b] Very limited coverage[c]
  Gauteng Johannesburg, Dainfern, Pretoria, Benoni, Germiston, Krugersdorp, Kempton Park, Nigel, Springs, Centurion, Bronkhorstspruit, Carletonville, Westonaria, Hillshaven, Lenasia, Heidelberg, Roodepoort, Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Laudium Chartwell, Soweto, Vosloorus Drie Ziek, Kagiso, Katlehong, Hammanskraal
  Mpumalanga Witbank, Middelburg, Nelspruit, Ermelo Embalenhle Amersfoort, Secunda, Bethal, Badplaas, Balfour, Lydenburg, Malelane, Hectorspruit, Komatipoort, Machadodorp, Waterval-Boven, Hendrina, Barberton, Standerton, Volksrust
  Limpopo Polokwane Vaalwater, Louis Trichardt, Musina, Thabazimbi, Thohoyandou, Tzaneen, Haenertsburg, Northam, Mookgopong, Modimolle, Bela-Bela, Roedtan, Settlers,
  Free State Bloemfontein, Welkom, Kroonstad, Sasolburg, Clarens, Vaalpark, Riebeekstad Thabong, Mangaung Koppies, Viljoenskroon, Bultfontein, Dealesville, Deneysville, Oranjeville, Villiers, Memel, Harrismith, Kestell, Bethlehem, Paul Roux, Senekal, Virginia, Hennenman, Ventersburg, Wesselbron, Odendaalsrus, Smithfield
  North-West Rustenburg, Brits, Mooinooi Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein Potchefstroom, Mafikeng, Bloemhof, Christiana, Stilfontein, Ventersdorp, Derby, Wolmaranstad, Modderspruit, Phokeng, Swartruggens, Zeerust, 'Ottoshoop, Geysdorp, Delareyville, Sannieshof, Coligny
  KwaZulu-Natal Durban, Newcastle, Pietermartizburg, Ladysmith, Vryheid, Chatsworth, Berea, Richard's Bay Dundee, Paulpietersburg, Mooi River, Mpumalanga Glencoe, Bergville, Winterton, Estcourt, Umlazi, KwaDukuza, Empangeni, Louwsburg
  Western Cape Cape Town, Mitchells Plain, Blue Downs, Heidelberg, Simon's Town, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Strand, Grabouw, Stellenbosch, Nature's Valley, Somerset-West, Worcester Khayalitsha, Dennekruin, Paarl, Sedgefield, Laingsburg, Prince Albert Road, Beaufort West, Hermanus, George, Kwanokuthula
  Northern Cape Kimberley Douglas, Prieska, Strydenburg, Hopetown, Colesberg
  Eastern Cape Port Elizabeth, East London, Grahamstown, Queenstown, Stutterheim, Aliwal North, Mdantsane, King William's Town, Bhisho, Middelburg, Cradock, Adelaide, Fort Beaufort, Alice, Lady Grey, Middeldrift Elliot, Ugie, KwaNonzame, Midros, Rosmead, Lingelihle, Michausdal, Bedford, Mpolweni Steynsburg

  Senegal

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Main roads and several cities throughout the country

  Spain

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The Canary Islands do geographically belong to Africa according to geographical definitions (closest mainland).

Most towns, cities, villages, major and rural roads in the Canary Islands are covered. Ceuta and Melilla have some coverage.

  Tanzania

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  Tunisia

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The coastal main road and selected streets in cities along it, including Tunis and Sfax

  Uganda

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Uganda got views of most roads inside and around Entebbe and Kampala.

Unofficial coverage

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  Zimbabwe

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Zimbabwe. Views of some highways and the central business districts of Harare, Chegutu, Rusape, Masvingo and two United Nations World Heritage Sites: Great Zimbabwe National Monument and Victoria Falls. The first instances of Google Street View in Zimbabwe were contributed by photographer Tawanda Kanhema.

Future Coverage

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  Ethiopia
  Namibia

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Settlement has most or all roads mapped
  2. ^ a b c Settlement has many roads covered, but some areas still missing
  3. ^ a b c Settlement has only a few roads mapped, for example only the main street

References

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  1. ^ "Street View comes to beautiful Botswana". google-africa.blogspot.com. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  2. ^ "Google Street View Goes Live In Uganda, With Views Of Kampala And Entebbe Streets Now Available Online". TechCabal. January 14, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  3. ^ Staff Writer (June 8, 2010). "Google Launches Street View and 3D Stadiums in South Africa - IT News Africa - Up to date technology news, IT news, Digital news, Telecom news, Mobile news, Gadgets news, Analysis and Reports". Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  4. ^ Street View Kenya Launch, retrieved April 16, 2021
  5. ^ "Swaziland next African country to come to Street View". Official Google Africa Blog. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Google Street View adds Hungary and Lesotho". The World from PRX. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "Egypt Highlights". Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  9. ^ "Google to begin collecting images in South Africa for Google Maps Street View". TheMarketingSite.com. September 1, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  10. ^ "Google refreshes street view in Kenya".
  11. ^ "Google Street View goes off-road in Madagascar". Blue Ventures. May 7, 2015.
  12. ^ David Smith (April 22, 2015). "Google Street View gives virtual tour of Mandela's ex-prison on Robben Island". The Guardian.
  13. ^ "Street View comes to Réunion - Google Earth Blog". February 29, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  14. ^ "Google Street View takes you on a South African safari". March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  15. ^ "Making internet work better everyone Africa". July 27, 2017.
  16. ^ "Google Street View is available in Nigeria starting with Lagos". Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  17. ^ "NMK partners with google to digitize collections" (PDF). National Museums of Kenya. 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Jawhar, Rami (October 6, 2021). "Explore the Cradle of Creativity on Google Arts & Culture". Google The Keyword. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  19. ^ "Google Arts & Culture unveils 'Eko for Show' initiative to showcase Lagos". Okay.ng. April 28, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  20. ^ "Google Maps". Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  21. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
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