The best stargazing spots in Southern Africa
Whether you’re an avid astronomer with a telescope or a laid-back stargazer, if you’re looking to swap the city lights of the starry skies above – here are four of the best stargazing spots to visit in Southern Africa.
South Africa
Southern African Large Telescope (SALT)
Starry skies above SALT in Sutherland. Image by Alistair Daynes – Drive South Africa
Located 370 kilometres from Cape Town, if you’re looking to escape the light-polluted city – then it’s well worth the drive.
It’s the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere and was built here due to the fact that Sutherland is one of the few places on the planet ideal for stargazing.
SALT is closed to the general public at night, however, travelers can book a stargazing session at the visitor centre where two dedicated visitor telescopes, a 16″ Meade and 14″ Celestron, are located.
Botswana
The Tuli Block
If you’re planning a Botswana 4×4 safari, be sure to take in some stargazing in Botswana’s Tuli Block, home to some of the world’s most amazing constellations.
September is the best time for stargazing in Botswana’s Tuli Block, and on a clear night, one can see constellations such as Orion and the Seven Sisters appear in the night sky. All visible from the naked eye.
Namibia
Sossusvlei Desert
Stargazing opportunities at Sossusvlei are mind-blowing. The sky is clear almost always and there is almost no light pollution. In fact, the International Dark-Sky Association has certified Sossusvlei as one of its Dark Sky Reserves because of the spectacular starry night.
Zimbabwe
Victoria Falls
Stargazing at the Victoria Falls Safari Club
Zimbabwe’s clear skies low light pollution make it the perfect place to get a glimpse of the galaxy. The thundering Victoria Falls is offering excellent stargazing opportunities, and the Victoria Falls Victoria Falls Safari Club offers free stargazing to its guests.
Related Posts
Green Season: Sustainable New Year Resolutions You Should Put into Practice
This year we enter into an entirely new decade. Whether you love the chance to start fresh or are not too keen on it, New Year’s resolutions are a great way to change your habits, mindsets and goals. Carpooling/lift sharing Not only does carpooling reduce the strain on our planet’s oil resources and greenhouse gas […]
Read MoreExperience a Namibia Safari on a Budget
The best way to travel Namibia on a budget is to rent a car, stay in campsites and cook your own food. Namibia has some superb campsites in beautiful wild places, and many of them offer shops where you can stock up on things like meat, charcoal and canned food so that you can self-cater. […]
Read MoreWhat You Can Experience in Johannesburg & Pretoria on Your Next Holiday
Johannesburg is the vibrant heart of South Africa and Pretoria is the Administrative Capital and together they form the multi-cultural, multi-lingual powerhouse of Africa. They sizzle with energy and enthusiasm, from squatter camps in Soweto to world-class hotels in Sandton. This is also the jump-off point to many of the biggest and best Game Reserves […]
Read More