Protecting the night
There’s a kind of silence that only comes after sunset. The air cools, the wilderness shifts, and the first stars blink awake. It’s a celestial reminder that not all beauty belongs to daylight. Yet, around the world, that darkness is vanishing. As cities glow brighter, our skies grow dimmer. And with them, a part of our natural heritage is fading away.
Allow us to introduce you to a different kind of conservation. It’s one that asks us not to build, protect, or plant more, but to simply switch off the lights.
What Is Dark Sky conservation?
There’s a program called International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) and it was established by DarkSky International to recognise destinations that protect the night from artificial light pollution. Since the first Dark Sky City was named in Flagstaff, Arizona in 2001, there’s been more than 250 places across 22 countries and six continents certified as Dark Sky Places.
Now these are not just sanctuaries for stargazers, they’re ecosystems where nocturnal species thrive, communities reconnect with nature, and travellers rediscover the simple awe of looking up.
Each and every certification represents a powerful environmental commitment: reducing skyglow, implementing sustainable lighting, and educating the public about the value of natural darkness.
What’s the relevance with Africa, allow us to delve in deeper.
Dark Sky Places in Africa
Africa’s epic landscapes, vast wilderness areas and endless horizons are spectacular in the daytime. Then when the sun drops below the horizon, an entire new world comes alive.
Africa’s night sky story has taken off, with the continent quickly becoming a frontrunner in the global Dark Sky movement after last months’ announcement of a third certified International Dark Sky Reserve. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, what places came in first and second?
The very first place to be certified was NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia, setting the benchmark with some of the darkest skies on Earth.
Not long after, came !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park in South Africa, awarded the coveted status of an International Dark Sky Sanctuary which is the highest level of recognition.
And now, Africa’s night sky story has a brilliant new chapter: Lapalala Wilderness Nature Reserve in South Africa.
As the country’s first International Dark Sky Park, Lapalala marks a milestone in African conservation. Nestled within the UNESCO-listed Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, this 48,000 hectare wilderness is home to critically endangered black and white rhino, African wild dog, and pangolin and now, to skies officially recognised as some of the clearest in the world.
How Lapalala earned its Dark Sky Park status
Becoming a Dark Sky Park is no small feat. Lapalala’s journey to certification was a multi-year commitment that began with a full lighting audit, more than 1,700 outdoor fixtures assessed and modified to reduce glare, light trespass, and skyglow.
Some of the crucial steps included, not limited to –
- Replacing bright, blue-white lights with warm, shielded fixtures
- implementing a detailed Light Management Plan to guide all future infrastructure
- setting clear limits on when and where lights can be used, and
- regular night-sky quality monitoring, recording an impressive 21.41 magnitude per square arcsecond which is far above the threshold for pristine darkness.
Amber Harrison, DarkSky’s Program Manager said
Lapalala Wilderness has shown what’s possible when conservation, community, and dark sky protection unite
Through collaboration with the Lepogo Lodges team and the Lapalala Wilderness School, the reserve has created a model where environmental stewardship, education, and astrotourism come together under the same stars.
Why darkness matters for conservation
Protecting darkness is so much more than seeing stars, it’s about protecting life itself. Sound dramatic? Well its impact sure is if we don’t take this path.
Did you know artificial light at night disrupts the natural rhythms of wildlife. Nocturnal animals use the moon and stars to navigate, breed, and hunt. Migratory birds can lose their way. Even small creatures, like dung beetles, orient themselves using the Milky Way. Imagine diary of a dung beetle and night after night he cannot find his way because the stars are not visible.
When we flood the night with light, we disrupt those ancient patterns. Dark Sky conservation restores balance, allowing ecosystems to function just as mother nature intended, and giving humans a chance to reconnect with the wild rhythms we’ve all but forgotten.
The night sky and nocturnal environment are naturally, culturally, and historically important resources worthy of conservation.
Africa’s role in the global Dark Sky movement
Africa’s participation in the Dark Sky movement is accelerating. Countries like Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa are leading with protected parks, while others including Kenya and Morocco are exploring new certification possibilities. South Africa’s National Astro-tourism Strategy aims to position the country as a world leader in night-sky experiences, blending science, culture, and sustainability.
Destinations such as Tankwa Karoo National Park and Makgadikgadi Pans are gaining popularity for travellers seeking true darkness, where you can see the Milky Way and many other planets, stars and constellations in all its glory, free from city lights.
A new kind of luxury: travel that protects the night
At Lapalala and other Dark Sky destinations, nightfall becomes the main event. Guests at Lepogo Lodges can join astronomy safaris, guided stargazing, or even sleepouts under the open sky, experiences that leave a deeper imprint than any five-star suite. It’s a reminder that luxury travel can mean reconnection, not excess, and that true luxury lies in silence, space, and starlight.
Look up: the future of Dark Sky Africa
As Lapalala joins the ranks of certified Dark Sky Places, it symbolises a broader awakening (that sounds deep!), a recognition that conservation extends beyond the ground. By protecting darkness, we’re protects culture, wildlife, and that sense of wonder.
So the next time you stand beneath a canopy of African stars, remember:
Each light that stays switched off keeps the wild a little wilder and the universe a little closer.
Travel tip box:
Where to experience Africa’s dark skies
Lapalala Wilderness, South Africa – Stay at Lepogo Lodges for astronomy safaris and luxury sleepouts under the stars.
NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia – The continent’s first certified Dark Sky Reserve, offering pristine desert skies and eco-lodges that embrace natural darkness.
!Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park, South Africa – A true sanctuary where the night sky meets Kalahari silence.
Sutherland, Northern Cape – Home to the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and perfect for astrophotography.
Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana – A surreal salt pan expanse ideal for stargazing and celestial reflection.
Travel responsibly — use red lights at night, avoid flashlights on wildlife, and let your eyes adjust to the wonder.
