Most of us have never genuinely gazed upon the night sky in all her glory. The blur of city lights and smog obscures the radiant beauty. There are some hidden places, though, where the stars burst across the sky.
South Luangwa National Park in northern Zambia is most famous for its teeming wildlife and diverse flora, but its stargazing opportunities are out of this world. Here are a few of the best spots to stay in South Luangwa for an evening of African stargazing.
Time + Tide Kakuli
If you are lucky enough to stay at the Time + Tide Kakuli, the most memorable part of your safari holiday will be the opportunity to enjoy their Sleepout Under the Stars. The safari camp organizes a team of staff to take you and a few other fortunate guests deep into the Luangwa bush, where they have set up a unique camp.
Step back in time and spend the night like those who walked the land generations ago. You can experience the bush in its most raw form, away from the cushioning of four walls and air conditioning, though rest assured you’ll have plenty of comforts. Leaving a few luxuries will all be worth it when you lay your eyes upon the millions of glittering stars decorating the sky. For those who fret they might get squeamish, the staff will happily take you back to your gorgeous room at Time + Tide Kakuli.
Three Rivers Camp
Nothing can beat the peace of sleeping on your raised platform overlooking a lagoon. Three Rivers Camp offers an unparalleled turn-down service that can turn the daybeds on the platform next to your luxury safari tent into comfortable beds, complete with mosquito nets. The only flying creatures stealing your attention will be the Kingfishers dipping into the water as they catch their breakfast. Imagine the romance of sleeping under the twinkling stars and waking up to a picturesque sunrise. Don’t be surprised to say good morning to the hippos that splash in the lagoon as you’re served your morning coffee in bed.
Kaingo Camp
Just two minutes from the Kaingo Camp is Elephant Hide Star Bed. Experience a night pulled from the pages of a fairy tale. A guide will whisk you away to a secret location where you can indulge in a delicious meal with sundowner drinks. After sunset, you’ll be escorted to the private raised platform overlooking the Luangwa River.
Imagine laying your head on a plush king-sized bed as you look up and find nothing (except a mosquito net) between you and a canopy of millions of twinkling diamonds in the sky – blissfully pure safari magic!
In the morning, you can watch the toddling baby elephants play in the river while waiting for your guide to take you back to Kaingo Camp.
Mwamba Bush Camp
Mwamba means ‘heaven’ in the Nyanga, one of Zambia’s 72 local dialects, and Mwamba Bush Camp undoubtedly lives up to its name! Each room has a skylight directly over the lush king-sized bed. So naturally, getting any shuteye with such a glorious view above your head will be challenging. But, not to worry, there will be plenty of time to catch up on sleep while you laze by the pool enjoying your morning mimosa.
Safari holidays offer stunning panoramas and exciting animal sightings. However, the views don’t stop when the sun goes down. South Luangwa National Park offers ample opportunities to take in the breathtaking starscape. Proflight Zambia offers flights to Mfuwe from Johannesburg via Lusaka throughout the year.
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