Just look up

There are so many reasons to visit us, tucked away in our corner of the far eastern Kruger National Park. The wildlife is incredible, the landscapes are stunning, and there's a diverse array of birds and other life. But what I love most is how remote the area feels. The clear skies and lack of light pollution makes stargazing an awe-inspiring experience, almost like traveling through time!

People have always looked up at the sky, creating stories about stars and constellations that have been passed down through generations. While many guests know the ancient Greek myths, I especially enjoy African folklore.

The Milky Way spans beautifully across the night sky. In the southern hemisphere, particularly during winter, we can see the centre of our galaxy, and the view on those dark nights is breathtaking. Some of the darkest skies I've seen are here at Singita. Looking up connects us to our ancestors, allowing us to share in the same light they once saw.

The San people, native to this area, have a fascinating story about the Milky Way. They tell of a young girl who danced around a fire and tossed embers into the night sky, creating a blaze of light from horizon to horizon, a permanent fire in the sky.

According to the San, the Moon represents the sandal of a trickster god named IKaggen. He was trapped in a local waterhole and thrown into the sky to light up the night. The Sun, not happy about sharing the sky with the Moon, chases it each night, taking pieces away until it almost vanishes. Just before it disappears, the Moon asks for forgiveness, and the Sun lets it recover until it becomes whole again, only for the chase to start all over.

The Southern Cross, or Crux, is the smallest but most famous constellation in the southern sky. It points south and is crucial for navigation. Many people in southern Africa see the four brightest stars of Crux as female giraffes, while the two Pointer Stars (Alpha and Beta Centauri) represent two giraffe bulls pursuing them. Another interpretation sees the Cross as the head of a giant giraffe, with the Pointers as its neck. The San believe the stars of the Cross represent a pride of lionesses and their cub, with the Pointers as their two male companions.

One San story tells of a god from the East who went hunting for three zebras in Orion’s belt, thinking they lived only in the sky. When he missed, his arrow fell short, represented by Orion’s sword and the Great Orion Nebula. He couldn’t retrieve the arrow because of a great lion symbolized by the giant red star, Betelgeuse. To honour the escaping zebras, the god sent them to Earth to live in peace.

These are just a few of my favourite stories to share with guests. They are steeped in history and add depth to the stargazing experience.

Stargazing has a way of calming our minds and lifting our spirits. If you’re looking for peace and purpose, studies link stargazing to improved mental well-being. Plus, spending time in nature significantly benefits mental health.

For thousands of years, our ancestors have looked up at the sky, and this connection has helped shape our modern lives. The sky gave them their first means of navigation, allowing them to find direction based on nature's cycles. They learned to tell time, predict seasons, and anticipate animal migrations and plant growth after rain. This knowledge was essential for starting agriculture and raising livestock. The stars have always held a special place in our daily lives.

By looking beyond our earthly existence and witnessing the vastness of the sky, we remind ourselves that we are part of something greater. We are part of something magical and awe-inspiring. All we need to do is look up, even just a few minutes of stargazing can nourish the soul. While this experience can happen anywhere, it’s particularly refreshing here in Africa, at Singita in the Kruger National Park.