Published on: January 30th, 2025
Picture this: you’ve just returned from an exhilarating game drive or walking safari, enjoyed a sundowner overlooking the pristine wilderness around you, and watched the light fade from the sky to be replaced by inky darkness. It might seem like the day’s activities are over – but you’re in one of the best spots for stargazing in Africa, and the evening’s entertainment has just begun.
Dozens of African destinations offer just the right mix of clear skies, low humidity, high altitude (in some cases) and, most importantly, a remote location – ensuring plenty of distance from the bright city lights that would otherwise obscure the beauty of the stars. It’s no coincidence that this continent is also home to several of the world’s best luxury hotels for stargazing.
If you’re ready to discover the magnificence of the African sky at night, we can help you select a destination with the perfect combination of daytime experiences and spectacular stargazing conditions. Here are a few of our travel designers’ favourite places for stargazing in Africa.
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NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia
In addition to being one of the least densely populated countries in Africa, Namibia boasts some of the continent’s most astonishing landscapes. Sossusvlei is a prime example, with its undulating red dunes and silver salt pans. Just slightly south lies the NamibRand Nature Reserve: the continent’s first certified International Dark Sky Reserve and one of the best places to stargaze in the world.
Need to know: Many of our favourite lodges in this area take full advantage of the majestic night sky; the villas at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge boasts star-viewing skylights, while Wilderness Kulala Desert Lodge and Little Kulala offer private stargazing decks and rooftops.
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Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa
There are many exceptional spots for stargazing in South Africa, from the Kruger to the Drakensberg Mountains. But we especially love Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, which only has two accommodation options (Tarkuni Private House and Motse Camp) – meaning that no more than 30 guests can stay in the reserve at a time. You can even go on a game drive after dark, complete with a mobile telescope, to add some adventure to your stargazing experience.
Need to know: The best time to visit South Africa for stargazing is during the dry season from May to October, when the skies are clearest.
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Sahara Desert, Morocco
Although most of the spots on this list are in eastern or southern Africa, we’d be remiss not to mention Morocco. Set on the continent’s northwestern edge, this country encompasses a sliver of the Sahara, where low light pollution and vast expanses of empty dunes create some of the most stunning starscapes on earth. Stay at one of Dar Ahlam’s luxurious nomadic camps for total seclusion and starlit campfires.
Need to know: The Moroccan Sahara is a year-round stargazing destination. Just keep in mind that it can be very cold at night during winter (December–February) and exceedingly hot during the day in summer (June–August).
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Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
When it comes to stargazing in East Africa, Kenya is hard to beat. From the sweeping plains of Amboseli to the high-altitude Laikipia Plateau, the country’s wide open spaces make it a stargazing paradise. Head to the arid Samburu National Reserve to learn how astronomy is intertwined with the creation myths and beliefs of the Indigenous Samburu people.
Need to know: Stay at Saruni Samburu to go on overnight expeditions into the bush, where you’ll be fully immersed in the wild and sleep directly under the canopy of shimmering stars.
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Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
Unlike many of our favourite African destinations, Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans aren’t known for wildlife. But these barren, silent salt flats make up for their lack of game with a rare sense of solitude and a horizon that seems to go on forever. A stargazing sleep-out here offers the sort of peace and quiet that’s hard to come by anywhere else on earth – not to mention excellent conditions for observing the wonders above.
Need to know: Meno a Kwena is one of our favourite camps near the salt pans, offering incredible sleep-outs that put you right at the heart of this otherworldly landscape.
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Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is renowned for its outstanding safaris, but not all travellers know that it also promises wonderful stargazing. In Hwange National Park you can observe wild dogs, elephants and the rest of the Big Five by day, then turn your attention skyward after dark. At Wilderness Linkwasha Camp you can even spend a night in a dreamy star bed, located just far enough from camp to make you feel like the whole sky is yours to explore.
Need to know: The best times to stargaze in Zimbabwe are the cool winter months from June to August and the warmer months of September and October, when rainfall is least likely.
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Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
If there’s one place in East Africa that can rival Kenya for stargazing, it’s Tanzania. The area around the Ngorongoro Crater is particularly well suited to astronomical observation; its high altitude means the air is less dense and therefore clearer. Stay at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge on the edge of the caldera for unbelievable views from sunrise to sunset – and beyond.
Need to know: Technically part of Tanzania, Zanzibar is also among our top choices for stargazing in Africa. Follow up safaris with kitesurfing and snorkelling, and spend your nights on the sand watching the stars’ reflections flicker across the waves.
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South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
South Luangwa National Park is where the concept of walking safaris was pioneered, and today it’s still among our favourite places in Zambia to explore on foot. After sundown, we suggest venturing out on an overnight trip to sleep under the stars – an experience offered at more than one of Zambia’s best safari lodges and camps.
Need to know: Chinzombo Lodge is especially inviting, offering not only sleep-outs but also phenomenal views of the stars from the lodge’s cosy riverside fire pit.
Whatever you want from your adventure in Africa, our travel designers are ready to help: