What a name! What a location – in the mountains between the Namib Desert and Central Highlands just two hours’ drive from the capital Windhoek. And what about the spectacular views of the night sky?
Hakos Astrofarm isn’t just the coolest sounding place to visit in Namibia. It’s a must for anyone with an interest in astronomy who wants to see the stars looking their brightest without any light pollution.
You don’t give a place a name like Astrofarm without offering some starry views to dazzle astronomers, whether they’re amateurs or professionals. The camp’s isolated desert location means there’s zero light pollution in the sky, so views of the constellations at night are breathtaking, and that’s not a word we use lightly.
To help you make the most of the views, the Hakos team organise a Stargazing Tour just after dinner, utilising a powerful telescope to show you the gas giant planet Jupiter, the rings of Saturn and the craters of the moon in more detail than you’ve likely ever seen them before. You can also take a tour of the observatory, and what’s this – a Sun Observation experience using a specially adapted telescope that lets you see solar flares? Yep.
While the attention turns to the skies at night, during the day you can go on a farm tour in the back of a 4x4 vehicle. It’s a chance to see baboon, zebra, oryx and kudu plus all kinds of tree and plant life as you explore neighbouring farms.
Given the close proximity of mountain ranges, this is a popular location for hikers, with trails catering for all kinds of fitness levels. The main attraction on the landscape is the Hakos Mountain range, which reaches 2,000m at its highest point. There’s a hike to the top available for those in peak physical condition (see what we did there?)
Other tours follow farm tracks, or take in the waterfall, river, quiver trees and zebra paths. All offer excellent opportunities for photographers to capture moments of scenery looking amazing and animals in the wild that you’re likely to only ever see in a zoo or on TV back home.
Special mention goes to the 2km-long Planet Walk which gives you an idea of the relative distances between the planets of our solar system, on a much smaller scale of course.
People visit here for the activities, not the accommodation. But there’s nothing bad to say about the The Guest House, set amid the mountains, with 15 rooms featuring either 1, 3 or 4 beds, and the 4 eco-friendly campsites. Rooms in the house have a dining, working or seating area plus private bathrooms with a shower, WC and wash basin. Campers will get a water connection and barbecue facilities to share with fellow guests.
This isn’t lion or Big 5 country, but the camp does have a pavilion if you’ll excuse the word play. This handsome structure provides you with somewhere to relax and eat, with tables seating up to 28 people at once, plus a communal kitchen and indoor fireplace to help you stay snug on chilly days. Breakfast and dinner are served daily, and you can ask the team to lay on lunch as well as coffee and cake.
An indoor swimming pool gives you somewhere to cool down during the hottest months of the season, and there’s a gazebo offering shade while you enjoy the views. Last, but not least, although it is small, a library offers an oasis of calm where you can sit back with a book or just enjoy some peace and quiet.
Hakos Astro Farm offers a mix of outdoor adventure and celestial discovery. Guests can explore scenic hiking trails that wind through the Hakos Mountains, visit viewpoints overlooking the desert plains, and enjoy guided astronomy sessions using powerful telescopes under some of Namibia’s clearest skies. For a slower pace, relax by the pool, join an informative astronomy talk, or simply marvel at the Milky Way from your doorstep in this peaceful, high-altitude retreat.
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We had the most amazing family holiday, everything worked so perfectly, the arrangements and accommodation was spectacular!
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We are a group of four from Romania and spent 3 unforgettable weeks in Namibia. We can't recommend them enough, and for any future travels in Namibia or other parts of Africa, we will definitely use their services again.
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From the time we put the key in the ignition till we boarded the plane in Windhoek nothing went wrong.
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It was a fantastic experience, everything was very well organised, went smooth and according to expectations. It was our first self drive in Africa and it was a great, unforgettable time.
