Safaris under Southern Skies

The unobstructed splendor of the milky way dominates our skies on moonless nights and the constellations of the Zodiac are clearly seen rotating along the “planet pathway.”

Most guides in lodges have a good general knowledge of stars, but should you want to discover the night skies further, you should request a star talk from a local astronomer.

Currently, there are not many lodges that provide telescopes and trained guides on site. But watch this space, as this is fast changing as guides are receiving training and lodges are investing in quality telescopes.

Probably the best location for star watching are the “Kalahari” parks – Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Nxai Pan and Makgadikgadi Pan. The flat horizons here make for an amazing field of view.

The best time of year is our dry season, when skies are usually cloudless (May – October).

 

Star gazing experience:

  • Southern Cross visible all year
  • Clear skies for most of the year
  • No light pollution

Lodges to combine with Star gazing