This is a minimalist topographical relief map of Africa, created by The Unique Maps Co. and enhanced with our trademarked “Unique 3D” process. There are no labels, no roads, and no towns — only the continent’s form, revealed by carefully modeled light and shadow that draw out high peaks, deep basins, and the sweeping plateaus in between. From the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, from the Atlas to the Cape, the land’s structure rises and falls in crisp relief.

In the northwest, the Atlas Mountains stand out as a serrated rampart, their ridgelines casting tight shadows that taper into the coastal lowlands and the interior steppe. South and east, the broad emptiness of the Sahara is punctuated by island-like uplifts: the Ahaggar (Hoggar) massif, the Tassili n’Ajjer plateau, the Adrar des Ifoghas, the Aïr Mountains, and farther east the stark Tibesti, with its volcanic summits projecting cleanly from the surrounding desert plains. Subtle shading traces great desert basins and depressions — the Qattara Depression and the Fezzan among them — while the gentle gradients of the Sahel mark the Sahara’s long descent toward the savanna.

Along the Nile corridor, a narrow trough threads northward to its fan-shaped delta, clearly etched as it opens toward the sea. To the east, the escarpments above the Red Sea shoulder abruptly out of the plains, while the Ethiopian Highlands rise as one of the continent’s great massifs. There, the Simien and Bale ranges carve strong, shadowed walls, and the Blue Nile gorge bites deeply into the plateau. The land then breaks along the Great Rift Valley: linear scarps run south past the Afar depression and through Kenya and Tanzania, where the rift’s string of lakes sits in long, fault-bounded basins. Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya lift unmistakably from the surrounding uplands, and to the west the Rwenzori — the “Mountains of the Moon” — and the Virunga chain stand sentinel along the Albertine Rift.

Central Africa resolves into the vast, low-lying bowl of the Congo Basin, its subdued surface cupped by highland rims on nearly every side. The light gathers on the surrounding relief: the Mitumba Mountains and Itombwe heights along the rifted east; the Crystal and Mayombe ranges fringing the Atlantic margin; and the Adamawa Plateau and the Cameroon Line to the northwest, where Mount Cameroon rises abruptly near the coast. The topography here is softer in its interiors and crisper at its edges, a contrast the relief shading makes immediately legible.

Southern Africa is defined by its great inland tablelands and encircling escarpments. The Kalahari Basin spreads as an immense, gently undulating expanse, broken by subtle sand ridges and the quiet sink of the Makgadikgadi Pans, while the Okavango’s inland delta settles into a shallow structural trough. To the west, the Namib’s dune fields press against a steep coastal escarpment and interior plateaus. The Great Escarpment then sweeps east and south into the Drakensberg and the high country of Lesotho, where cliff-lined walls cast long shadows across the Highveld. In the far south and southwest, the Cape Fold Belt appears as neat, parallel ridges that curl and fan toward the coast.

To the east, the rift continues through Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique, with deep, narrow lake basins etched between high shoulders. The Zambezi valley and its gorges slice across the plateau, and downstream terraces step toward the low coastal plain. Offshore, Madagascar’s backbone of highlands rises decisively from its eastern scarp, easing westward across tiered plateaus; northern and central massifs punctuate the island’s spine, their summits crisp in the sculpted light.

Across West Africa, uplands and plateaus punctuate the savannas: the Fouta Djallon and Guinea Highlands, the Loma Mountains, and Nigeria’s Jos Plateau all lean into surrounding plains. The Niger’s great inland delta spreads as a shallow basin before the river gathers itself again, while the low, rolling coastal belts of the Gulf of Guinea lead the eye back to the continent’s margins. Throughout, the absence of labels invites you to navigate by memory and feeling — to trace journeys along rivers, climbs up escarpments, and crossings over wide basins guided purely by the play of light and shadow.

Whether you call Africa home, have traveled its plateaus and coasts, or are gifting a piece of it to someone who has, this relief print is a striking, quietly authoritative portrait of the continent’s structure — an elegant way to recognize familiar horizons and discover new ones.

Please note that our Unique 3D maps look remarkably 3D, particularly when framed, but they are 2D prints on paper (or canvas).

About our Unique 3D Topographic Relief Maps

These aren’t just maps — they’re landscapes, sculpted with light and shadow.

Our shaded relief prints use ultra high resolution topographic data and a secret 3D rendering process to create the illusion of raised terrain — like the mountains are about to lift right off the page. No labels, no borders, no distractions. Just the raw shape of the land, brought to life in a clean, modern style.

They’re designed to feel timeless. Bold enough to be a centrepiece, subtle enough to blend in. A perfect gift for map lovers, mountain wanderers, or anyone who finds beauty in the shape of the Earth.

Learn more about our Unique 3D process.

And of course, like any of our other maps, you can personalise this topographical map as well. Why not mark your favourite peaks, or the routes of your favourite hikes and cycle rides?

More Product Info

If you're not sure what size to order, or you're looking for a custom order of some kind – a different size, a different colour, a special frame – then please contact me. I usually respond within a few minutes.

You can see an example of my map personalisation service in the fifth image. Zoom in and take a look. My personalised maps are always very well received. Take a look at more examples of personalisation.

You can also choose to age your map to make it look older. This is popular amongst my customers who want their artwork to look like an older, antique print. You can see an example of ageing in the sixth product image, or go ahead and check out lots of examples of other aged artwork.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

I can print and frame this beautiful topographical 3D map at sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). If you are looking for a size or framing option that isn't available online, please get in touch.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. My standard frames come in six colours (black, dark brown, dark grey, antique gold, oak and white), and custom framing is available for an additional charge. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

Alcune delle mie vecchie mappe sono ora disponibili come tele incorniciate. Per favore contattami se desideri ordinare una dimensione che non è disponibile nel mio negozio.

Le vecchie mappe su tela sono un'alternativa interessante alle mappe incorniciate in modo convenzionale. A seconda del tuo gusto personale e dell'arredamento della stanza, le mappe su tela possono "risaltare" un po' di più rispetto a una mappa incorniciata.

Scopri di più sulle mie mappe su tela incorniciate.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

Se non sei soddisfatto del tuo ordine per qualsiasi motivo, contattami per un rimborso senza problemi. Si prega di consultare la nostra politica di reso e rimborso per ulteriori informazioni.

Sono molto sicuro che ti piacerà la tua mappa restaurata o la stampa d'arte. Lo faccio dal 1984. Sono un venditore Etsy a 5 stelle. Ho venduto decine di migliaia di mappe e stampe d'arte e ho oltre 5.000 recensioni reali a 5 stelle.

Utilizzo un processo unico per restaurare mappe e opere d'arte che richiede molto tempo e lavoro. Trovare le mappe e le illustrazioni originali può richiedere mesi. Utilizzo tecnologia all'avanguardia e incredibilmente costosa per scannerizzare e restaurarle. Di conseguenza, garantisco che le mie mappe e stampe d'arte siano superiori alle altre - ecco perché posso offrire un rimborso senza problemi.

Quasi tutte le mie mappe e stampe d'arte sembrano fantastiche a grandi dimensioni (200 cm, 6,5 piedi+) e posso anche incorniciarle e consegnarle a te, tramite un corriere speciale per oggetti di grandi dimensioni. Contattami per discutere delle tue esigenze specifiche.