Many people are making stargazing in Namibia a key bucket list item. And here’s why:
Clear Skies: Clouds are a stargazer’s kryptonite. But the good thing about nights in Namibia is that on average, 300 per year are clear and cloudless. So you get uninterrupted celestial views on 80% of nights spent in the country. Indeed, the skies are so good for stargazing that Namibia enjoys official certification as being home to some of the darkest night skies in the world.
Low Water Vapour: A quick science lesson here. Water vapour is less dense than other elements in the air and can lead to clouds and fog forming. So it follows that low levels of water vapour – especially apparent in the Namib Desert - lower the chances of star-blocking mist and clouds.
No Light Pollution: House, street and vehicle lights all spoil the clarity of the night sky, turning it a frustrating browny orange, making it hard to enjoy quality stargazing near towns and cities. Namibia has a whole host of places that are miles and miles from built-up areas where you can stare at the stars in inky black skies with zero light pollution.
International Dark Sky Reserves: To their credit, the Namibian government has taken steps to protect areas of the country from the scourge of light pollution by designating parts of the desert as International Dark Sky Reserves. That means no unnatural sources of light are permitted to get in the way of people enjoying ultra clear views of the night sky.
Such is the clarity of the views you’ll get of the sky at night in Namibia, you can expect to see the following, often with the naked eye, but not necessarily all at once:
As we’ve already mentioned, 80% of nights of the year have clear skies in Namibia. That said, you’re more likely to encounter cloudy nights during the rainy season which runs from December to April. But even during these months, you will get nights offering spectacularly clear views of the constellations.
Sossusvlei, the Gamsberg Pass near the Namibian capital Windhoek, Damaraland and the NamibRand Nature Reserve are all locations that are particularly prized by those seeking the best views of the cosmos.
Owners of lodges in Namibia know that the quality of the night skies in the country are attracting visitors from all over the world – experienced astronomers and curious travellers alike.
Here, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to stay in Namibia for stargazing experiences.
There are some features that all the best stargazing lodges share, including:
Here is our pick of the best places to stay for stargazing in Namibia, arranged in alphabetical order:
The team here organises a Stargazing Tour for guests, so you get to use a powerful telescope to scan the southern skies. This area of Namibia is home to 3 observatories, and the International Amateur Observatory has a base here, evidence of how highly rated it is by astronomers. You can go on a tour of these places during the day, to get information about the equipment used by the scientists based here.
This is a great place to visit for communal stargazing experiences. The lounge and firepit areas are places where guests gather to gaze at the skies after dinner. Set in a remote location, there’s no artificial light to spoil the views.
All the chalets here have a separate room designed for stargazing. They’re completely open to the skies, with beds in which you can sleep under the stars, giving you a private vantage point from which to get your fill of distant planets and constellations. Guests here can also hire the services of an expert guide who can add colour and insights to the starry show.
Suites here can fully open up to their surroundings, giving you uninterrupted views of the skies, which benefit from being unaffected by any sources of artificial light. You can even move your bed, so you sleep out under the stars in your private accommodation.
This lodge borders an International Dark Sky Reserve, so you’re assured of some of the best views of the firmament on the planet. One of a team of resident astronomers gives regular talks on all things celestial which are as fascinating as they are informative. You could also get the chance to visit the state of the art observatory on-site, where there’s a Celestron computerised telescope.
Reserve your seat on one of several Sundowner Decks to get your views of the night sky from this lodge that benefits from being located on top of a dune plateau overlooking the NamibRand Reserve. You can book a Star Bed or Desert Sleepout experience here, in which an open air bed on a private veranda gives you a chance to view the stars in style.
Enjoy 360º panoramic views through the windows of your accommodation in a camp that provides its guests with astro-guides and telescopes. This camp is 20km from the nearest town, so light pollution is virtually non-existent.
The Tok Tokkie Trail may sound like a popular social media platform, but it’s actually an excellent guided hiking trail that gives you an opportunity to explore the Namib Desert and sleep out under the stars.
The fact that this tour in on foot means you get more time to appreciate your surroundings. And more opportunities to take a closer look at everything, something that could be denied you if you’re touring in a vehicle.
There’s plenty to do and see during the day of course, but at night, you get the benefit of being in a remote location, with deep black skies untainted by clouds or light pollution revealing the secrets of the cosmos. You’ll also sleep out under the stars and planets every night on a stretcher that really gets you closer to nature.
The friendly team here at Namibia Tours and Safaris is ready to help arrange tours and accommodation so you can enjoy some of the best stargazing in the world right here in Namibia. Contact us today.
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