Travel Guides

Astrotourism: Best Places and Experiences

With celestial events like the Northern Lights and solar eclipses making news headlines, the public’s interest in the sky above us is at an all time high. From comets to constellations, spectacular night sky events happen all year round and finding a dark sky to witness them is making astrotourism a bucket-list travel trend.

WHAT IS ASTROTOURISM?

Defined by the National Geographic, astrotourism is when you travel to a destination specifically to stargaze, and it's been gaining momentum over the past decade.

BEST PLACES FOR ASTROTOURISM

Light pollution affects an estimated 80% of the world’s land, so it is no surprise location matters when it comes to astrotourism. To ensure the sky is in optimal darkness, and therefore peak visibility, you have to consider factors including light pollution, global position, the time of year and weather affecting cloud cover.

Some of the best places in Africa for astrotourism are:

BEST ASTROTOURISM EXPERIENCES

Stargazing is a must when visiting remote wildlands. The vast, open plains of Africa’s private reserves and National Parks showcase the glimmering Milky Way most nights. However, for those who want to embrace our solar system in a more immersive way, there are two experiences not to be missed – Star Beds and a Star Safari.

A Star Bed is a ‘back-to-nature’ experience, but in total luxury (in true Mahlatini style). Our property partners curate their Star Beds to suit each guest, enabling an adventurous or romantic night under the stars. You will connect with nature and loose yourself among the stars with nothing but a mosquito net between you and the infinite sky.

You can discover the best African safari treehouses and Star Beds here, and some of our favourite Star Bed experiences include:

Another unmissable experience for astronomy enthusiasts is a Star Safari, also known as a cosmic safari. Educating, enchanting and empowering, an expert guide uses a variety of equipment including telescopes, lasers, digital navel charts and even astrophotography grade cameras to guide you across the galaxy above.