As winter deepens across the Southern Hemisphere, the air turns crisp, the grasses fade to gold, and the bush hushes under the stillness of the season. With the cooler temperatures comes a different kind of magic—one that begins when the sun dips below the horizon. The dry, clear skies of winter offer some of the best stargazing of the year, revealing a tapestry of constellations that seem sharper, closer, and more vivid than ever before.
There is always something great about the combination of fire, stars and a long exposure photograph.
Here at Londolozi, where light pollution is virtually nonexistent, the stars put on a bold nightly performance. Familiar winter constellations slowly take center stage, some telling stories passed down through generations, others guiding our path through the cold nights.
The constellation Scorpius. According to the Greek myth, it was sent by the goddess Artemis to kill Orion the Hunter. Since then, Scorpius and Orion have become enemies. That’s why they never show up in the sky at the same time.
One of the most striking constellations to grace our winter skies is Scorpius, unmistakable with its curved tail and red heart—Antares, a supergiant star glowing like a coal in the darkness. Scorpius slinks across the sky in the early evenings, dominating the southeast and trailing behind the majestic arc of the Milky Way, which is at its most dramatic this time of year.
The constellation Sagittarius. As well as the constellation Centaurus, it represents a centaur, a mythical creature with the upper torso of a man and the body and legs of a horse.
Just ahead of Scorpius, Sagittarius rises, marking the direction of the galactic centre itself. For those who know where to look, it’s as if you’re staring into the very heart of our galaxy. It’s humbling, grounding, reminding us of our small but meaningful place in this vast cosmos.
The constellation Crux. Ancient Greeks saw it as part of the constellation Centaurus. Local Shangaan culture sees it as the four female lions hunting the southern skies, followed by the two pride males (alpha and beta centauri)
Crux, the Southern Cross, remains ever-present, rotating gently with the seasons but never straying far from the southern sky. Framed by the dark Coal Sack Nebula, it stands as a constant companion for those navigating the bush at night.
Winter skies also provide the perfect canvas for viewing the Alpha Centauri system, our nearest stellar neighbours. Through binoculars or a telescope, one can glimpse the twin stars that lie just 4.37 light-years away—a mere stone’s throw in cosmic terms.
The clarity of the dry season also brings the planets into sharper focus. Jupiter, often the brightest “star” in the sky, rises like a beacon in the east, sometimes accompanied by Saturn with its subtle golden hue. On the coldest, clearest nights, their brilliance can reflect off the land itself, casting soft shadows and illuminating the tracks of lions or elephants in the dust.
As fires crackle and blankets are pulled tighter around shoulders, conversations often drift upward, to what’s moving silently above us. In winter, the sky at Londolozi offers more than just stars—it offers perspective, wonder, and the quiet comfort that even in the coldest season, beauty abounds.
Whether sitting around the fire or driving back on the evening drive, one can’t help but look up and feel a sense of awe as Orion sets and Scorpius rises, dragging the Milky Way in his wake. These magical moments are what make this place heaven on earth.
Wonderful! Poetic and accurate
Hi Keagan, I am sure the guests and people at Londolozi love watching the forever changing sky at night. Thinking it being cold who would love to stare at the sky searching for the different planets or the milky way. Very difficult to photograph at night. Must be an awesome sight to view in the winter sky.
The skies above Londolozi, or Southern Africa in general are just amazing. Especially for guests who normally live in countries with lots of light pollution. Its so wondrous to see these millions or billions of stars in those dark skies
I’m a huge fan of ending my day of game drives with a sundowner – Clemengold gin and pink tonic – but the real highlight comes during the drive back to the lodge when the stars make their debut. Over the years I’ve learned to identify a few of the constellations but I’m always grateful for the refresher course, and the possibility of spotting one that I’ve not seen. The majority of my trips have been in your autumn and so the stars are a bit different than winter, but exciting nonetheless. Thanks Keagan for my continuing education of the South African skies.
I remember exactly where we were when you turned off the jeep and had us sit looking skyward at the Southern Cross and the Pointers. We so often forget to look upward when we’re searching on the ground.
What a beautiful reminder of how magical and humbling winter skies can be, especially in places with such clear, dark nights.