Escape the bright city lights for a better view of the cosmos.
Image: Spencer Gurley Films / Pexels
If you are looking for the best stargazing in South Africa, you have to leave the glare of the big cities behind.
Escaping the bright lights of our urban centres is the only way to see the Milky Way in its full, glittering splendour.
From the high plateaus of the Karoo to the red dunes of the north, these five spots offer the clearest views of the cosmos.
Sutherland is famous for being the coldest town in South Africa, but it is even better known as the country's premier astronomical hub.
Located in the Northern Cape at a high altitude, the air here is thin, dry, and incredibly still.
These conditions are so perfect for looking at the stars that it was chosen as the site for the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT).
Visitors can book night tours at the observatory or simply enjoy the view from almost any guesthouse in town.
The South African Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland in the Northern Cape is renowned for its clear view of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
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The Kgalagadi offers a stargazing experience that feels truly ancient. Because it is situated so far from any major human settlement, there is virtually zero light pollution.
In 2019, it was recognised as an International Dark-Sky Sanctuary, meaning it is one of the darkest places on the planet.
When you look up from the red Kalahari sands at night, the Milky Way appears so thick and bright that it almost casts a shadow on the ground.
The Milky Way over the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Image: Ulrich Munstermann
For those living in or visiting the Western Cape, the Cederberg is the ultimate escape from the bright lights of Cape Town.
The rugged mountain range acts as a natural barrier against the city's glow, providing crisp and transparent night skies.
The Cederberg Astronomical Observatory is a highlight here, offering the public a chance to view planets and clusters through high-powered telescopes on most Saturday nights, weather permitting.
While most people visit the Kruger for the Big Five, the "Celestial Five" are just as impressive in the park's more remote northern regions.
Camps like Punda Maria and Sirheni are far enough away from urban centres to provide a pitch-black canvas for the stars.
Many private lodges in the surrounding reserves also offer guided star safaris, where experts point out indigenous constellations while you listen to the sounds of the bush.
The Tankwa Karoo is arguably the most isolated park in the country, making it a dream destination for anyone craving silence and stars.
There is no cell reception and very little infrastructure, which means the night sky remains completely undisturbed.
Because the landscape is so flat and vast, you get a 360-degree view of the horizon, allowing you to watch the entire arc of the galaxy move across the heavens from sunset to sunrise.
Tankwa Karoo National Park. Picture: Supplied Tankwa Karoo National Park.
Image: Supplied