Thirty years ago, I pitched my first tent in the Namibian desert and saw the Milky Way so clearly it brought tears to my eyes. Since then, I’ve spent countless nights under African skies, and I’m about to share my absolute favorite spots where the stars feel close enough to touch.
1. Spitzkoppe, Namibia – The African Matterhorn
Oh, how my heart still skips a beat when I think about this place! Massive granite peaks rise from the desert floor like nature’s skyscrapers, creating perfect frames for the star-filled sky. I’ve camped here dozens of times, and the best spot is tucked between two boulders on the eastern side. The rocks radiate heat all night, keeping you cozy while you stargaze. No facilities, no fences – just you, the ancient rocks, and an infinity of stars.
Local Secret: Chat with Wilhelm at the entrance gate – he knows the spots where desert elephants sometimes pass by under the stars.
2. Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana – Mirror of the Stars
Picture this: a salt pan so vast and flat that when there’s a bit of water, it creates the world’s largest mirror for the stars. I discovered this place in ’92, and it still takes my breath away. The silence here is absolute – you can hear your heartbeat. Camp on one of the small islands during the dry season, and you’ll have unobstructed 360-degree views of the cosmos.
Essential Tip: Bring extra tent pegs – the salt crust can be tricky, and I learned this the hard way when my tent became a kite one windy night!
3. Sahara Camp, Morocco – Desert Stars
My first night in the Sahara back in ’89 changed my life. Near Merzouga, there’s a sweet spot between the dunes where the stars reflect off the sand like tiny diamonds. The local Berber guides know exactly where to pitch your tent for the best star trails over the dunes. The evening starts with mint tea and ends with shooting stars – I counted 23 in one night here!
Must-Pack: A good sleeping bag – desert nights are surprisingly cold, something I wasn’t prepared for on my first visit.
4. Nyika Plateau, Malawi – The Mountain Stars
At 2,500 meters above sea level, you’re camping in the clouds by day and under a blanket of stars by night. The rolling hills remind me of Scotland, but the night sky? Pure African magic. Chelinda Camp area has designated camping spots, but ask the rangers about the secret spot near the pine forest – that’s where you’ll get the best views of the Southern Cross.
Weather Note: Pack warm clothes – I’ve seen frost up here in July!
5. Ghat Oasis, Libya – Lost World Stars
Before the troubles started, this was my favorite hidden gem. The stars here shine with a clarity I’ve never seen elsewhere, thanks to the absolute darkness of the deep desert. While tourism is limited now, I’m including it because it holds some of my most precious memories, and I hope one-day others can experience its magic again.
6. Fish River Canyon, Namibia – Canyon of Stars
Imagine the Grand Canyon under African stars – that’s Fish River. The rim campsites offer vertigo-inducing views into the abyss by day and up into the cosmos by night. My favorite spot is at Hobas Camp, where the canyon walls frame the southern sky perfectly. The absolute silence makes the stargazing even more intense.
Photographer’s Tip: Long exposures between 11 PM and 2 AM give the best results – I got my favorite Milky Way shot here in 1998.
7. Matemwe Beach, Zanzibar – Ocean Stars
A different kind of stargazing! Here, you can legally camp on certain beaches, watching stars reflect off the Indian Ocean while palm trees sway overhead. The phosphorescence in the water creates a magical effect – stars above and glowing water below. Just arrange permission through the local village chief first.
Local Custom: Bring small gifts for the village children – their delighted smiles make the stars shine even brighter.
8. Simien Mountains, Ethiopia – Roof of Africa Stars
Camping at 3,500 meters gives you front-row seats to the universe. The thin air makes the stars sparkle like diamonds on black velvet. I remember huddling around a fire with local gelada baboons nearby, all of us seemingly mesmerized by the same starlit sky.
Health Tip: Spend a day acclimatizing in Gondar first – the altitude took me by surprise in ’95.
9. Ngorongoro Crater Rim, Tanzania – Volcanic Stars
The crater rim campsites offer something special – stars above and the distant fires of Maasai villages below. Wildlife wanders through the camp at night, adding their calls to your stargazing soundtrack. I once watched a meteor shower here while elephants browsed nearby – pure magic!
Safety Note: Always keep your tent zipped – curious hyenas love investigating open tents, as I discovered one memorable night!
10. Quirimbas Islands, Mozambique – Island Stars
My most recent discovery! These remote islands offer beach camping with zero light pollution. The stars reflect perfectly in the calm waters between the islands. Getting here isn’t easy, but that’s part of the adventure. Last year, I watched bioluminescent plankton dance under the stars – it was like having two galaxies, one above and one below.
Must-Do: Wade out to the sandbars at low tide for unobstructed star views.
Safety Tips:
- Check tide tables before setting up camp
- Keep food sealed from curious crabs
- Bring plenty of fresh water
A Personal Note on African Stars
After three decades of sleeping under African skies, I can tell you this: no photo, no video, and no words can capture the feeling of lying back in your sleeping bag while the Milky Way paints itself across the African night. These places changed my life – they might just change yours too. Every time I return home, I carry a piece of those star-filled skies in my heart, and somehow, the world never quite looks the same again.
Essential Timing Tips
For the best stargazing at any of these locations:
- Plan around the lunar calendar – new moon periods offer darkest skies
- May to September typically has the clearest weather
- Allow three nights minimum at each spot
- Start your stargazing at least an hour after sunset
- Pre-dawn hours often offer the clearest views
Remember, the Africa I fell in love with decades ago is still out there, waiting to show you its celestial wonders. Just make sure to pack your sense of wonder along with that sleeping bag!
Stars in Your Eyes
After three decades of sleeping under African skies, I can tell you this: no photo, no video, and no words can capture the feeling of lying back in your sleeping bag while the Milky Way paints itself across the African night. These places changed my life – they might just change yours too.2
Hello Africa travellers!
Who am I? Well, the least you can say is that I am quite crazy about Africa, its nature, its climate, its culture, and more.
As a young woman in my twenties, I had already traveled to several African countries by traveling along in an overlander on my own and mostly camping ( or glamping ) and just fell in love with the diversity of it all.
So much, so that at the age of 26, I went back to university to study biology, which, unfortunately, I couldn’t finish because of health reasons (yes, I got sick from a tropical disease, oh cynicism). But this did not stop my dream of traveling back to Africa several times, and I still do.
My dream was back then to leave Europe and go study animal behavior, especially the elephants (sure, that’s every girl’s dream haha), but I am also very much intrigued by hyenas and other “ugly African animals“.
So, I “kind of” have a little bit of a scientific approach to my articles, when I write about African birds, for example. And most of all: the passion.
But life goes on, you move from one side of the country to the other, you get sick again and top it off with lower back problems, and before you know it, you are over 50 hahaha!
Now, I still travel to Africa, but take it a bit “easier” than the good old camping days, and stay in comfortable, yet affordable accommodations, together with my husband Wouter.
These are some of the countries I have traveled to: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tunisia, and a little bit of Lesotho LOL .
While clearly not being African territory, but Spanish, I also visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and location-wise, I consider them “African”, because of their climate and nature, sue me :-p
The last trip I took was to South Africa in the year 2023, and it sure got the fevers for Africa back! From the Barberton mountains to the Drakensberg and the Southcoast, one month wasn’t enough at all to see the whole country, so we’ll be back! At ease and with a little bit more luxury than in my younger days haha!
I wish you happy travels!
Kind regards
Lizzy