Home to one of only six International Dark Sky Reserves in the world, Namibia’s clear desert skies offer travelers an otherworldly stargazing experience. Award-winning luxury travel company Ker & Downey® Africa has a longstanding reputation for curating, unique expeditions throughout the African continent, and the ultra-luxurious 12-day Stargazing Desert Safari in Namibia is no exception.
“Namibia is an enigmatic country of contrasts, vast open spaces and breath-taking scenery. It is a great safari destination for an adventurous traveler who has visited Africa before, or honeymooners looking for a romantic escape away from the crowds,” says Lisa Nel, Group Head of Product and Marketing at Ker & Downey® Africa.
An unsurpassed encounter with the outdoors by day and night awaits you…
Guests will visit five breathtaking destinations by private charter flights including Zannier Private Reserve, Onguma Game Reserve, Damaraland, Sossusvlei, and the ancient Namib Desert. The experience begins at the ultra-luxurious Omaanda in Zannier Reserve where guests can enjoy a perfectly tailored safari experience to match their interests. With a focus on conservation, guests can experience rhino, elephant, and big cat tracking as well as visit the resident meerkat clan at sunrise to witness their fascinating antics in the wild.
The journey continues at Onguma The Fort in Nambia’s premier safari destination, Etosha National Park. Guests can look forward to day and night safaris, as well as a unique sleepout experience on Onguma’s very own Dream Cruiser – a custom-built Land Cruiser with two levels that sleep two people. This one-of-a-kind experience invites guests to spend a romantic night in the wilderness under the extraordinary Namibian night sky.
Next up, guests will fly to Damaraland – a region renowned for its impressive rock formations, ancient river terraces and desert-adapted wildlife – and check in to Onduli Ridge. Hidden amongst granite boulders, this luxury camp features roll-out star beds where guests can drift off under a blanket of stars on their own private deck.
The next stop is Sossusvlei – home to some of the tallest sand dunes and dramatic desert landscapes in the world. Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is set against the backdrop of Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserve and offers guests a secluded retreat on the border of an International Dark Sky Reserve, so you are guaranteed a stargazing extravaganza. The lodge features a world-class Observatory, complete with a Celestron CPC 1100 GPS computerized telescope where guests can discover Namibia’s night sky alongside the lodge’s resident astronomer.
The final leg of this journey takes guests to the southernmost part of the ancient Namib Desert to the exclusive Sonop camp. Here guests can enjoy morning and sunset nature drives, unique horse-riding excursions in the desert, and expertly guided desert walks. When the night sky is at its most dazzling, guests can visit the camp’s observation deck for a stargazing experience par excellence or snuggle up on a lounge chair at the camp’s open-air cinema.
Pricing for the 12-day Stargazing Desert Safari in Namibia starts from $12,019 per person sharing and is available year-round. Worth every penny, it truly is one such experience that will forever be etched in the memories of those who embark on it!
To book your stargazing safari to Namibia, visit kerdowneyafrica.com to find out more.
