Star viewing/dark sky conditions on African hunts

[Flipper Dude]

“When you see the Southern Cross for the first time.

You understand now why you came this way”

 

[M48scout]

I guess if night Sky viewing is the tipping point to get you to Africa so be it!

You can dream about it all you want but making dreams come true is what life is about

I'll make it there one day. Just busy and I need to figure out how to financially do it how I want. You right though, I'm sort of dreaming about all the different aspects of eventually getting there, thus the post.

Now just to save up for the cost needed to do a proper multi animal PG hunt, in as free range/remote conditions as possible, along with all the air travel, required tipping, and then get all the tanned flat skins and skulls back here to US.

 

[M48scout]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. Everyone confirmed my suspicion that as long as the hunt was planned correctly, yes, night time star gazing would be a great part of the experience.

 

[Luminous Ham]

And remember either Sky Map or Sky View app, they are great for identifying and finding objects up there.

And the ISS detector app if you want to see that too.

 

[Philip Glass]

Never been on a hunt in Africa, but am interested. I am assuming that at night in most African countries, dark sky conditions are prevalent and star gazing conditions are great? Am I assuming correctly, or does atmospheric dust, smoke from fires, etc cloud what I would assume would be ideal star viewing conditions?

Seems like this would be a nice side benefit while on a safari.

Firstly Africa is a big place! Most anywhere you go will be good for star gazing. The more remote the better of course.

 

[Laniarius]

After our hunt with Aru Game Lodges in Namibia this past July, my sons and I did a side trip to go fishing near Swakopmund and then to see the dunes at Sossusvlei. For the latter, we stayed at Namib Outpost lodge. I slept under the stars in a bed on the deck of our cabin, and took this before going to sleep.

Years ago when I worked in South Africa for eight months and traveled around for a month at the end, I slept under the stars most nights in park campgrounds. Only one night was difficult, in Kruger where we were near the campground fence and jackals were making a racket all night, and my imagination kept me wondering if hyenas could get through the fence and bite my face off. Another night it started raining and I had to join my friend in the back of the covered bakkie.

I highly recommend sleeping under the stars, especially in Africa.

The Starview app on a phone is helpful for finding out what some of the stars and constellations are.


View attachment 32999.jpg

 

[SRvet]

Here’s a quick iPhone photo of the Milky Way I took in Namibia south of Windhoek after a great trip with Jamy Traut Safaris.

 

[M48scout]

Great picture. I was looking at Jamy Traut as well

 

[Andrew62]

Africa is great for star viewing. You get away from all the artificial lights and pollution and the sky lights up. Obviously you have to check out the southern cross while you are over there.

 

[318AE]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. Everyone confirmed my suspicion that as long as the hunt was planned correctly, yes, night time star gazing would be a great part of the experience.

The reduction in wild places we have left to hunt is likely pretty well correlated to the reduction in dark skies. Indirectly, dark skies is one more thing hunting is helping conserve.

 

[Atticus]

The night sky in Namibia is amazing—dark, cloudless, dry, no air traffic. One of the added benefits to sitting in a leopard blind!