Star-gazing. It’s that time of year. The Oscars. Baftas. Brits. It’s where the stars come out in force and the paparazzi fall over themselves to get the shots of the latest hot celeb. But that isn’t really star-gazing. And it is certainly no comparison to the real deal that is one of the greatest free shows on earth - and it happens every night in Africa*

There are three things you need. Night-time, crystal clear air and a tilt of your head. Plus it does help to have a pair of binoculars and an expert guide to point out the wonders of the night sky.

While here at Knighton Reeve we love our safaris and game drives, it is the magic time of the sundowner when day turns to night that really grabs us. And on your drive back to the lodge for dinner the nighttime glory reveals itself. The guide stops the vehicle, turns off the engine and quietly points out the stars of the show. Some familiar ones like Orion others less familiar, the Southern Cross, a great aid to the ocean navigators of old. And the Milky Way. Clear and visible as it has been to the local people for millennia and who weave stories of creation and life and death from the beauty above.

Many lodges now have star decks and telescopes where after dinner, take your nightcap up to the deck and take in the splendour of the Milky Way without any light pollution. And who knows, there might be a lion roaring or a leopard coughing to add to the atmosphere. Namibia’s NamibRand Reserve is Africa’s only international Dark Sky Reserve – stay at Little Kulala where you’ll find rooftop sleep outs under the stars or at andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge where the rooms have skylights expressly for star-gazing and the resident astronomer can be found in the observatory. Just a couple of hours north of Jo’burg, we know of a fabulous private villa with its own night sky observatory - who knows what you might see with their telescope.

So next time you're thinking about Africa, think of course of the wildlife, the people, the food and wine, the unique feeling of just being there that Africa always brings, but also spare a thought for the night sky where you can star-gaze to your hearts content – without a paparazzi in sight.

* Well maybe the odd cloudy night might draw a curtain over the show, but it’s a rarity.