Neighbouring Africa’s only International Dark Sky Reserve, &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge enjoys some of the clearest and darkest night skies on Earth — a rare and breathtaking backdrop for stargazing. On select evenings, guests may have the opportunity to join a visiting astronomer at the lodge’s state-of-the-art observatory, equipped with a Celestron CPC 1100 GPS (XLT) computerised telescope, for a guided journey through the constellations, the vast Milky Way, and distant planets.
&Beyond Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserve played an instrumental role in helping the NamibRand Nature Reserve gain its prestigious Gold Tier status — a designation that honours environments with minimal light pollution and exceptional night-sky clarity. With the nearest town over 140 km (87 mi) away, the reserve’s sky is among the darkest yet recorded anywhere in the world.
For those captivated by the night sky, each guest suite also features a skylight set above the bed — perfect for private, in-room stargazing as you drift off under a glittering canopy of stars.
Astronomer availability: Please note that our astronomer programme is voluntary and subject to change at short notice. Visiting astronomers may occasionally need to alter their travel plans, either by shortening their stay or, in rare cases, cancelling altogether. These changes are beyond our control and may affect observatory availability.
For safety and preservation of the equipment, the telescope is only accessible when an astronomer is on-site. We appreciate your understanding, and kindly ask that you confirm availability in advance to avoid disappointment.
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