The Rise of Astrotourism: Exploring Africa by Day and Night
As travel trends shift toward meaningful, nature-based experiences, astrotourism—the practice of traveling to observe night skies—is emerging as a natural companion to the classic African safari. With its remote wilderness areas and low light pollution, Africa offers some of the best stargazing conditions in the world. And for travelers seeking both daytime wildlife encounters and nighttime celestial views, the safari industry is uniquely positioned to deliver both.
Astrotourism involves travel to places with clear, dark skies for the purpose of observing stars, planets, meteor showers, and other astronomical events. With increasing light pollution in urban areas, many travelers are drawn to destinations where the night sky remains largely untouched—places where the Milky Way is clearly visible and stargazing becomes a central part of the travel experience.
As travel trends shift toward meaningful, nature-based experiences, astrotourism—the practice of traveling to observe night skies—is emerging as a natural companion to the classic African safari. With its remote wilderness areas and low light pollution, Africa offers some of the best stargazing conditions in the world. And for travelers seeking both daytime wildlife encounters and nighttime celestial views, the safari industry is uniquely positioned to deliver both.
How You Can Experience Astrotourism on Safari
Many safari camps and lodges are located in remote areas on private game reserves and national parks, far from city lights. These conditions, paired with dry climates and wide horizons, create excellent visibility for stargazing. After the sun sets and the bush grows quiet, guests often gather around the fire or lie back on outdoor decks to watch the stars emerge. Night game drives are excellent opportunities for skywatching, blending wildlife encounters with astronomy.
Some camps enhance the experience with telescopes, knowledgeable guides, or even dedicated “star beds”. A star bed experience in Africa is a unique overnight offering at select safari camps and lodges, where you can sleep outside in the open with an unobstructed view of the night sky, in luxury fashion of course. It’s designed for stargazing, solitude, and provokes a deeper connection with the natural surroundings for the adventurous.
Where to Go for Stargazing on Safari
Many regions in Africa are well suited for stargazing. Namibia, particularly the NamibRand Nature Reserve, is recognized as an International Dark Sky Reserve. Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans and the Kalahari also offer wide-open skies with little to no ambient light. In East Africa, the Serengeti and Laikipia Plateau in Kenya provide clear conditions for much of the year.
While stargazing is possible on most safaris due to the remote nature of the locations, some camps place a specific emphasis on night sky experiences, and Bushtracks can help identify these when designing your trip.
Spotlight on Tswalu
One of the most compelling destinations for astrotourism in southern Africa is Tswalu Kalahari, a private reserve in South Africa’s remote Northern Cape. Tswalu’s dry climate, minimal light pollution, and vast open spaces offer ideal stargazing conditions—whether you’re scanning the Milky Way with the naked eye or viewing Saturn’s rings through a telescope.
The reserve’s dedicated stargazing deck sits in the heart of the reserve, far from lodge lights and surrounded by total silence. Guests are guided through the night sky by expert field guides who blend astronomical insight with local lore.
Tswalu is featured on our upcoming Hands On South Africa trip departing at the end of this month, where guests will have the opportunity to explore its rich biodiversity by day—and its expansive skies by night. It’s one of several safari locations where the stargazing experience is intentionally built into the journey.
Helping You Discover Africa—By Day and Night
At Bushtracks, we create custom safari experiences based on what you want to see and do. If stargazing is a priority, we can recommend regions and camps that offer excellent night sky conditions, experienced guides, and unique ways to enjoy the stars. For those interested in planning around a specific event—such as a meteor shower or lunar eclipse—we can help time your safari accordingly.
Whether it’s your first time on safari or you’re returning for new experiences, including astrotourism in your journey offers a quiet, reflective perspective on the natural world—one that begins when the sun goes down.
Our Sample Safaris are just the beginning. With the guidance of our safari experts, the sky is the limit.
