There are few places remaining in the world where you can look up at night and see the sky as it must once have been observed by our oldest ancestors – countless pinpricks of firelight twinkling in an inky tapestry overhead, undiluted by modern civilisation. We consider ourselves immensely privileged that The Outpost and Pel’s Post can be counted in that modest number, situated as they are on the furthest edge of South Africa’s largest game reserve and surrounded by an expansive untouched wilderness.


Photo: Andrew Rice

Here, in the shadow of giant baobabs and with the sounds of nocturnal Africa for company, we can observe the Milky Way in all its twinkling glory – the River of Heaven making its way silently across the sky. Although, it’s not just the brilliance of the stars that captures your attention in Makuleke, it’s also the depth of the night sky; being able to see beyond the stars, into the Milky Way and into the vastness that lies beyond.

Rather than traditional walls, each of the guest spaces is equipped on three sides with innovative retractable screens that reveal sweeping views of the landscape in the day, and a breathtaking starry sky at night. Guests don’t even need to leave their beds to observe the spectacle that unfolds above them each night, as Scorpius, Centaurus and the Southern Cross move silently in their eternal arc. The thoughtful design of each free-standing suite means that the night sky is part of the architecture, woven into your stay as seamlessly as the surrounding wilderness.

Stargazing here isn’t a scheduled activity or an added extra; it’s an everyday luxury and one that flows naturally from the nature of the experience. Whether you’re watching constellations shift across the sky in the pre-dawn hours or catching a shooting star before sleep, you’ll find yourself connected to something cosmic, timeless and unspoiled.


Photo: Rob Travers Smith

By minimising unnecessary lighting and embracing the natural rhythm of the environment, this experience aligns with a growing global movement to restore and protect natural night skies; an initiative about which our team is passionate. We care deeply about the conservation of the world’s wild spaces and the species that rely on these habitats for their survival, but the conservation of our nocturnal environment is also important. Seeing the dark sky as a resource to be protected from the harmful effects of light pollution is the first step towards realising the importance of natural darkness to nature conservation, to ecological integrity of protected areas, and to the sustainability of healthy lives in healthy cities.

So the next time you are fortunate enough to be in a place undisturbed by industrial civilisation, take a moment to soak up the sight of the stars and appreciate the privilege of doing so. Or come and stay with us at The Outpost, where exceptional stargazing is just part of your stay – an unfiltered gift of nature, waiting every evening, no booking required.