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The Best Stargazing Spots within 1 Hour of Johannesburg’s CBD
Johannesburg’s skyline is Insta-worthy. The city’s light pollution, though, could make Orion lose his belt, which is probably why Jozi isn’t a hit among stargazers.
I mean, just ask guides about where in SA the night shines the most. You’ll get answers such as the Kruger National Park, the Karoo, or the Eastern Cape Highlands—all glowing indeed, but way out from the city.
Not everyone has the fuel money and leave credits for that. So, we asked ourselves, “Which destinations offer a proper stargazing experience without the hour-long road trip?”
We found the answers and dropped them below.
Wits Johannesburg Planetarium
From witsdigitaldome
Address: East Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, Yale Rd, Braamfontein
Contact Details: +27 11 717 1390
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Thu – 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
- Fri – 9:30 am to 8:30 pm
- Sat – 10 am to 2:30 pm
Travel Time from the Johannesburg CBD: 10 mins (4.3 km) via Enoch Sontonga Ave
Wits Johannesburg Planetarium, Africa’s largest planetarium, lets us catch the cosmos differently. The stars are “indoors” here, so the city’s light pollution didn’t matter at all.
Most of the props go to the 10 Sony 8K digital projectors, surround audio system, auditorium-style layout (200 seats), and immersive 360-degree shows.
Speaking of the shows, they have a galaxy of options. We, for instance, witnessed the explosive start of the solar system by booking the Cosmic Collisions experience.
There’s plenty more to orbit if that’s not what you want to witness. The Whoopi Goldberg-narrated Journey to the Stars is a personal fave (the physics-based simulation is a must-see), followed by Dark Universe, which jumps into deep space.
Our little stars had a stellar time, too. Astronomers answered their science questions, and there was a costume party as well as an animated film when we swung by.
| Tips: It’s best to eat first before visiting. Matter of fact, make sure you’re stuffed. Guests can’t bring snacks and drinks to the dome. Book months ahead. Spots fill up too fast here, and replies often take 7–10 business days. Subsidised pricing is offered from Monday to Friday (usually R30 per student). |
Cradle of Humankind, Maropeng
From within_worlds_
Contact Details: +27 14 577 9000
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 4 pm
Travel Time from the Johannesburg CBD: 56 min (53.6 km) via Hendrik Potgieter Rd/M47
Everyone knows the Cradle of Humankind holds some of the best caves in the province, but anybody who went stargazing here knows the skies above are equally jaw-dropping. Visitors can even use the aperture telescopes for a closer look.
The coolest bit is that you won’t just be eyeballing the heavens all night. Folks who choose the tour route get to indulge in lush sips, an enlightening Maropeng escape, a hearty dinner, and, of course, outdoor stargazing.
Dave Phillips leads the way with lasers. And since he’s the Cradle’s resident astronomer, you’re bound to go home with some star facts you’d be tempted to drop in your next function.
As for the payment, most adults typically pay R540 per head, whereas tiny astronauts between 5 and 11 years incur a R270 fee. The below-4 gang get a free pass.
| Tips: Check the weather forecast. Unlike the first entry, this experience/destination is subject to weather conditions. You can bring your own binoculars. Consider buying a joint ticket for both the Maropeng Visitor Centre and Sterkfontein Caves (call for deets). It’s often cheaper. If you’re not into guided tours, pack your own meals. This Unesco-listed site comes with pricey restos. |
Astronomical Society of Southern Africa – Johannesburg Centre
From assa_jhb
Address: 18a Gill St, Observatory
Contact Details: +27 83 463 1123
Travel Time from the Johannesburg CBD: 19 min (9.3 km) via M31
If you’ve been Googling for a spot or community to soak up the stars without spending a dime, the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA) should sort you out. Their public stargazing sessions cost nada.
And nope, “free” doesn’t mean the stars get any dimmer. Just scope out the tech; there’s a 26.5-inch Innes Telescope (aka the Discoverer of the Proxima Centauri), a mounted, 12-inch Tinsley Cassegrain Telescope, and a 12.6-inch Dobsonian Telescope.
Past that, ASSA’s events (often held on the month’s second Wednesday) are fab for getting social. Even our teammates who know nothing about astronomy were welcomed, so, yeah, no need to be Galileo to enjoy.
Learning is part of the fun as well, thanks to the workshops and guest speakers. As for the topics, we learned how to operate the telescopes before diving into black holes (and spherical trig, which was tougher to follow, honestly).
| Tips: Public sessions aren’t guaranteed. Check the announcements on Facebook first. Get access to their modern and old books (some from the 1930s) by becoming a member. Prices range from R150 to R275, with newbies paying an extra R50 admin fee. Astronomy rookies planning to join might find their recommended readings handy. |
Casalinga
From casalingarestaurant
Address: Plot 328 Rocky Ridge Rd, Muldersdrift
Contact Details: +27 10 595 4563
Operating Hours:
- Tue – 8:30 am to 4 pm
- Wed to Thu – 8:30 am to 9 pm
- Fri to Sat – 8:30 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 8:30 am to 5 pm
Travel Time from the Johannesburg CBD: 46 mins (27.4 km) via Beyers Naudé Dr
Unpolluted skies, open grassy fields, and farm-to-fork bites make the inclusion of Casalinga on this list no rocket science.
Precisely, it’s Vic’s Telescope (led by telescope-maker, Vicus Cruywagen) that hosts stargazing nights in this leafy and low-light space. Their team brings high-powered telescopes, so no need to haul out the binoculars (unless you want to).
In terms of sightings, the location is ace for spotting star clusters, the moon, and nebulae. Luckier star-chasers might even catch glimpses of Venus, Jupiter’s moons, and Saturn, its rings included.
The cherry on top? Prices aren’t really out of this world. Our trip only set us back R180 per person (food isn’t part of the deal, though).
| Tips: Bringing your own camping chairs or picnic blanket is allowed. Be as early as possible, since you’ll be setting up. You don’t want to miss Muldersdrift sunset either. Don’t fancy the trip back? Book an overnight stay. |
