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JJust 30 km west of the Johannesburg city centre, is an amazingly quaint experience fondly known as the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden.
Formerly known as Witswaterstrand National Botanical Garden, the 300ha garden is home to a number of rare bird species, which you can spot while lying peacefully on the lush green lawns that date back to 1982. It has been a popular venue for outings since 1880 and has been voted the best place for a nature escape in Gauteng for several years.
Take your time when visiting this special part of Gauteng. There is a wonderful nursery, a gift and book shop and a restaurant; and over Christmas and on selected weekends, the grounds play host to sundowner concerts. But the star of the show is the garden itself with a succulent rockery, a cycad garden, the water garden with water-loving. Take the whole family, this outing is for everyone!
Did You Know?
EEven quasars can be picked up by the Southern African Large Telescope.
SSALT is an extraordinary international collaboration and has put South Africa at the forefront of 21st-century scientific exploration. Such is its magnification that it can see the light of a candle on the moon.
HHere are some other places to view the stars…
Tswalu Kalahari Private game reserve, Northern Cape
Clear Kalahari skies provide perfect conditions for stargazing in the desert. Viewed through a large telescope set up amongst the dunes you’ll want to escape to this special place on a regular basis. This reserve is privately owned and has two exceptional luxury camps - The Motse and Tarkuni.
Tswalu reservations
Tel: +27 (0)53 781 9331
Email: res@tswalu.com
Mountain Passes of the Eastern Cape Highlands
Remote valleys and clear skies promise an all -night spectacle of bright star watching – don’t forget your star map cause the Southern Cross is not all you’ll be seeing under this part of the African skies.
Wild Mountain Adventures
Tel: +27 (0)87 943 5428
Mobile: +27 (0)79 536 3996
Email: wildmountain@polka.co.za
KKaroo National Park, Western Cape
The vast Karoo is perfect for stargazing. Go on a guided tour at night or simply just set your dinner table outside during the summer months for a star -studded night time show.
South African National Parks reservations
Tel: +27 (0) 12 428 9111
Karoo National Park
Tel: +27 (0) 23 415 2828
Madikwe Game Reserve Lodges, North West province
Large telescopes take you on a stargazing journey across the African skies. See constellations, planets, Zodiac signs and more in this beautiful reserve. Choose one of the 20 luxury lodges in this malaria – free reserve. This reserve is such a success due o its 3-way partnership – the state conserves the land, private enterprise runs the lodges and the surrounding community benefits from levies and jobs.
Madikwe Safaris
Tel: +27 (0) 74 755 2555
Fax: +27 (0) 21 790 7688
Madikwe Collection
Tel: +27 (0) 11 805 9995
Fax: +27 (0) 11 805 0687
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