Have you ever dreamt of gazing at the stars under the vast, unpolluted skies of Africa? An astro safari might just be the perfect adventure for you. Imagine lying under a blanket of stars, far away from city lights, in the heart of Africa’s most remote and beautiful locations.

When you live in a big city, you tend to forget that there’s a whole universe of galaxies out there beyond the glow of the city lights. Getting far away from the city and out into nature is a real treat at night, when you can again look up into a star-studded sky and marvel at the countless planets and stars out there. Africa offers up some fantastic places to go stargazing, far away from any light pollution. Next time you go on an African safari, choose one of these places to get your star fix after you’ve had your wildlife fix during the day!

Why Africa is Ideal for Stargazing

Africa offers some of the best stargazing opportunities in the world. The continent’s clear skies, minimal light pollution, and unique geographical position make it a stargazer’s paradise. Whether you’re an amateur astronomer or simply love looking at the stars, Africa’s night skies will leave you in awe.

NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia

The International Dark-Sky Association (a group that recognises places for their sky quality) awarded its first Gold Tier status – its highest award – to the NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia, which lies on the edge of the Namib-Naukluft Park in the oldest desert in the world – the Namib. In this extremely dry and remote place, the nearest town is 140 kilometres away, so there is almost no impact from light pollution.

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Sutherland, South Africa

On a hill just outside of the small Karoo town of Sutherland is the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) – the largest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere. The Sutherland location was chosen for SALT because of its remoteness (370 kilometres from Cape Town) which makes for extremely low light pollution, and cold, clear, cloudless skies (80% of the year sees completely cloud-free nights). Visitors can book a guided tour of SALT to see some of the research telescopes situated on a plateau, and you can do a star gazing session at the visitor centre to see the night sky through two telescopes just for visitors.

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Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Once you step away from the campfire at your bush camp in the Ngorongoro Crater, you’ll be treated to an amazing show put on by the heavens above East Africa. Tanzania’s position just below the equator affords a superb view of the Milky Way – just remember to download the Star Walk app onto your phone so you can work out the names of all the constellations you see.

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Tankwa Karoo National Park, South Africa

The semi-desert Karoo is sparsely populated, extremely dry and has many nights of no clouds, making it a superb stargazing destination overall, but one of the best spots is the Tankwa Karoo National Park, which is 200 kilometres from the nearest town and has pure air and some of the darkest night skies in the country.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana

Botswana’s Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the largest, most remote reserve in southern Africa and the perfect place to do stargazing during the dry season from May to October. The reserve is so vast and untouched that you’ll feel like you couldn’t be further away from civilization, and you’re unlikely to see many other visitors to share those luminous star studded night skies with.

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Cederberg, South Africa

The night sky over the Cederberg wilderness area, a few hours’ drive north of Cape Town, has little light pollution and mostly cloudless skies (especially in summer), making it a great place for stargazing. Camp in one of the fantastic campsites in the area, such as Beaverlac or Algeria, and sleep under the stars for a real-time planetarium show, or visit the Cederberg Observatory, where you can do two-hour guided tours every night.

Best Times for Stargazing in Africa

Seasonal Considerations

The best time for stargazing in Africa depends on the region and the season. Generally, the dry season, which runs from May to October in many parts of Africa, offers the clearest skies. During this time, there’s minimal cloud cover, and the air is dry, providing optimal conditions for stargazing.

Lunar Cycles

To get the best stargazing experience, it’s important to consider the lunar cycle. The best time to stargaze is during the new moon, when the sky is darkest, and the stars are most visible. A full moon, while beautiful, can wash out the night sky and make it harder to see fainter stars and celestial objects.

Equipment and Preparation for Stargazing

Essential Stargazing Gear

To fully enjoy your stargazing experience, it’s important to bring the right equipment. A good pair of binoculars or a telescope can enhance your view of the night sky. Additionally, a star map or a stargazing app can help you identify constellations and celestial objects.

Preparing for the African Wilderness

Stargazing in Africa often means being out in the wilderness, so it’s important to be prepared. Bring warm clothing, as nights can get chilly, even in the desert. A comfortable chair or blanket to sit on, snacks, and water will also make your stargazing experience more enjoyable.

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