Empowering the youth through Astro-Tourism

Get ready to be taken on a journey of stargazing enriched with ancient stories passed down by the indigenous peoples of the Karoo known as the !Xam San and Xhosa San. This group of people has always looked to the stars, moon, and sun for inspiration and guidance. 

Chrislin de Koker (23) and Brandon Booysen (33) are Astro-Guides who will take you on this enchanting stargazing journey of the Karoo in the Northern Cape exploring the ways of the San people.

Astro Guides are knowledgeable about stars and planets.

The pair recently received training from the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) and the provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

De Koker said becoming an Astro Guide allowed her to meet new people and see interesting places. 
The guides are currently members of the Carnarvon Astro Guides, a business that provides walking trails during the day, stargazing at night, a visit to a museum and a medicinal plant search trail in the App Van Harden Zoo. 

“We also do special requests like donkey cart rides and stargazing through a telescope at night. We take people on a journey of the night skies and tell indandiones stories. 

“It [Astro Guiding] makes me happy… It is a feeling that I can't explain in words but by showing it through stargazing,” said De Koker from Vanwyksvlei,  Northern Cape Province.

Her fellow guide, Booysen said he was in the process of individually registering as a private tour guide. He teaches tourists about his province known for its clear night skies ideal for Astro-Tourism.

Booysen and De Koker were among six young people who took part in a training programme offered by SAROA in partnership with the provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism focusing on Astro-Tourism.

The training included destination knowledge, storytelling, first aid, tourist guiding, and practical experiences designed to build their confidence and refine their expertise.

SARAO in a statement explained that the Astro-Tourism project aims to enhance the sustainability of the soon-to-be-built Square Kilometre Array Carnarvon Exploratorium and boost the appeal of the Karoo Highlands and Forgotten Highway tourist routes. 

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) currently being built, will be the world's largest radio telescope, it will search for earth-like planets and potential life elsewhere in the universe. The SKA is expected to be completed in 2028.

SAROA added that once operational, the SKA Carnarvon Exploratorium will provide a platform for Astro-Tourism Guides to showcase their skills and knowledge to a global audience. This is set to become the largest tourism project ever launched in the Northern Cape. 

South Africa leading in Astro-Tourism 

Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille said South Africa has the potential to be a leading Astro-Tourism destination due to the lack of light pollution and favourable weather. 

She announced that her department was finalising the National Astro-Tourism Strategy.
“The vision of this strategy is to develop and position an inclusive Astro-Tourism sector that will yield sustainable benefit-sharing opportunities by maximising marketing efforts and enhancing the visitor experience in South Africa,” Minister De Lille said. 

The Minister announced this at the launch of Tourism Month celebrated in September under the localised theme: “Tourism and Peace – 30 years of connecting People to Places and Cultures” and it is spotlighting the Northern Cape province as the destination for Astro-Tourism.