KZN among top 5 stargazing spots in South Africa
From trying to locate Orion's Belt to the vast expanse of the Milky Way, the night sky is filled with wonder.
South Africa, famous for its beautiful beaches, wildlife and diverse cultures, also boasts some of the most breath-taking stargazing locations.
Here are the top 5 dreamy skies in SA:
1. Sutherland, Northern Cape: Home to the South African Astronomical Observatory and the Southern African Large Telescope, offering exceptional views of the cosmos. The small population in this tiny village means low light pollution levels, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the stargazing experience.
2. Drakensberg Mountains, KZN: With a lot to offer, the Drakensberg is one of the best places to view the Southern Cross and Orion constellations, thanks to its clear skies and high altitude.
3. Cederberg Mountains, Western Cape: Just two hours from the best city in the world, Cape Town, this area is steeped in the history of the San people. It provides a stargazing haven for travellers seeking history, minimal pollution, and twinkling night skies.
4. Quiver Tree Forest, Northern Cape: This ancient forest is rich in quiver trees, creating a captivating setting for stargazing on the Ganabos farm near Loeriesfontein.
5. Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga: Known for its wildlife, Kruger offers a continual gift of nature. As interest in astronomy grows among visitors, guided tours of the heavens are available. Serious constellation enthusiasts can visit Punda Maria Camp for an illuminated night.
Source: https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/five-dreamy-places-to-go-stargazing-in-south-africa/ar-AA1Cd0TM?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=cb63e767d88f42f0e8b744ae6c77182e&ei=19
Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here:
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 060 784 2695
Instagram – zululand_observer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
5 things to do along SA's West Coast during wildflower season
Every year, from late August to early September, the West Coast of South Africa transforms into a living carpet of wildflowers. The normally dry, rugged landscape bursts into colour: daisies, vygies, lilies, and countless others spread across fields and dunes. It's short-lived, spectacular, and one of the country's best-kept natural shows. If you're heading up the coast when the flowers are out, here are five things worth doing… West Coast National Park. Image: canva The park near Langebaan is ground zero for wildflower viewing. Postberg, a section of the park only open during flower season, is covered in swathes of orange, yellow, purple, and white. Along the way, you'll also spot zebra, wildebeest, and ostriches wandering through the blooms. Don't miss the viewpoints overlooking the Langebaan Lagoon; it's the best spot to see flowers against a backdrop of turquoise water. Flowers in Nieuwoudtville. Image: canva If you've got time, head further north to Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape. Known as the 'bulb capital of the world,' the area explodes with rare flowers and fields of colour that stretch for miles. The Nieuwoudtville Waterfall is also worth a stop, dramatic in its own right, but even more beautiful framed by wildflowers. Tienie Versfeld Reserve. Image: wikimedia commons Just an hour from Cape Town, the little town of Darling puts on a serious flower show. The Darling Wildflower Reserve and Tienie Versfeld Reserve are both accessible and easy to explore. Pair the flowers with a stop at a local wine farm or a tasting at Darling Brew. If you time it right, the annual Darling Wildflower Show (usually mid-September) is a community highlight. Canola fields in the Western Cape. Image: canva Some of the best flower sightings are along gravel roads and hidden farm tracks. Take the time to pull over, walk into the fields, and soak it all in. Many farms open their land during the season for visitors, and a simple picnic surrounded by flowers is a memory in itself. Just remember: look, don't pick. Enjoy some seafood in Paternoster. Image: canva The West Coast isn't just about scenery, it's also about people, food, and culture. Stop in Paternoster for fresh seafood, explore the small art galleries, or visit !Khwa ttu near Yzerfontein to learn about San heritage. Wildflower season gives the trip a natural high point, but it's the mix of landscapes, flavours, and stories that makes the experience complete. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
12-08-2025
- The Citizen
Home Affairs announces banking apps to offer ID, passport applications
The newly introduced initiative marks the beginning of the end for long queues. The Home Affairs department has partnered with Capitec and FNB to allow clients to apply for smart IDs and passports through their banking apps. Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber on Monday announced that they are the first banks to be selected to sign up for the department's new digital partnership model Collab The model will enable Smart ID and passport services through banking apps and facilitate applications at hundreds more bank branches across the country in both urban and rural areas. It forms part of Home Affairs' plan to expand its services to 1 000 bank branches by 2029 as mandated by Cabinet's Medium-Term Development Plan. 'This collaboration dates back more than a decade and has, until now, seen the successful delivery of Smart ID and Passport services at only 30 branches across five different banks,' the department said. End of long queues Using banking apps to access government services is not new. Several banks have already integrated services in their banking apps, allowing clients to collect their smart IDs from bank branches, including the integration of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) online booking platform for driver's licenses. The Citizen has tested the system, which is convenient and works seamlessly. ALSO READ: Best Android budgeting apps to prepare you for the new tax year The newly introduced initiative marks the beginning of the end for long travelling distances to reach Home Affairs services, for long queues, and for the Green ID book with its unacceptable vulnerability to fraud and identity theft. Improved services Home Affairs said the new and improved model will be used to facilitate applications through banks. 'That original model relied on the costly duplication of Home Affairs staff and hardware inside bank branches, and failed to take advantage of technology to dramatically expand services into all rural and urban areas where bank branches already exist, as well as onto secure banking apps that have come to be widely used across society.' This marks the first time that South Africans will be able to apply for IDs and passports through banking apps. Home delivery? The department said the reform marks a critical milestone in the journey to unlock the power of digital transformation to deliver Home Affairs @ home, a goal by Schreiber to receive documents without visiting a Home Affairs office. It is unclear whether the Home Affairs partnership with the banks will facilitate the home delivery of the documents. The Citizen has sought clarity from the department regarding delivery, and will update the article once comments have been received. Banks The department said its Director-General, Tommy Makhode, has written to the CEOs of ABSA, African Bank, Tyme Bank, Capitec Bank, Discovery Bank, First National Bank, Investec Bank, Nedbank, and Standard Bank, inviting them to join the initiative. Home Affairs said it will be hosting a press conference at the Capitec offices in Stellenbosch on Tuesday and at FNB's Cape Town office on Wednesday to provide more information on the new initiative. ALSO READ: Home affairs ID verification cost to increase by up to 6 500%
The Citizen
06-08-2025
- The Citizen
Tourism indaba probes youth job opportunities
Tourism in all its elements was firmly on the table at a two-day Municipal Development Tourism Conference hosted in Richards Bay last week by the City of uMhlathuze. Delegates from municipalities as far afield as Nelson Mandela Bay, Cape Town, Newcastle, Utrecht, Dundee and Phalaborwa were enlightened and empowered by guest speakers, networking and workshops, covering a wide variety of tourism industry topics. These included: • Community empowerment through digital pathways • Local tourism economies • Opportunities for stokvels to develop local tourism • Marketing and brand development strategies • Sustainability of State-owned tourism assets • Reservation systems for local accommodation establishments • Tourism development infrastructure projects • Support for SMEs in the hospitality industry • Grading Council accreditation support • Marine tourism opportunities. The pressing challenge of unemployment was the concern of speaker Jaya Naidoo, senior lecturer at the Durban University of Technology and GM of FEDHASA East Coast. He emphasised the urgent need to equip the youth and unemployed graduates of uMhlathuze and surrounding communities with practical, future-focused skills. 'With soaring unemployment and limited pathways to opportunity, many young people are left without the tools needed to succeed in an evolving economy,' said Naidoo. His presentation explored strategic interventions to unlock this potential – through targeted skills development programmes, meaningful partnerships with local industry and educational institutions, and inclusive, community-driven youth initiatives. Key areas of focus included vocational training, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and life skills – critical components in bridging the gap between education and employment. 'Empowering youth with the right skills is not just an investment in individuals – it's a commitment to the long-term economic and social growth of our region,' Naidoo stated. 'We must prepare young people not just to find jobs, but to create them.' Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer
