One of the many joys of being on safari that does not always make it on the brochures, is looking up at the night sky after a hard day of wildlife viewing. The light pollution in most wildlife parks and reserves is negligible. The Milky Way actually looks like a giant highway in the sky. And while I grew up staring up at the southern constellations, my knowledge is still somewhat limited to the southern cross.

But luckily, there's an app to help you out - and if you're lucky enough to have great safari guides, they can also enthrall you with their stellar knowledge. 

To enjoy the night sky beyond the bona dinner and sundowner drinks around the lodge fire -- it is worth checking out the "star-bed" options at your camp or lodge. Ask your safari operator about them, we all know them and love them ourselves! 

Some of my favorite "star-beds" on safari ...

Baines Camp - Sanctuary Baines has 5 lovely suites, all with the option of "roll-away" beds that you can place out on your private platform to enjoy a night under the stars. Coupled with a "star-bath" option too, this is a fantastic choice for everyone to try in Botswana's Okavango Delta.

Lion Sands River Lodge - Spend the night at Chalkley Tree-House in South Africa's Sabi Sands reserve, high above the grazing elephants. The cost is extra to stay, but well worth it especially for those special occasions like a honeymoon or anniversary.

Loisaba - Take a guided walk with Maasai warriors from the main camps to one of two star bed options, and spend the night enjoying the breathtaking splendor of Kenya's Laikipia region.

Loisaba's star beds have recently been refurbished, and you can choose between two different locations (subject to availability). The four poster beds have netting to keep away the bugs, but that is all that lies between you and the beautiful night sky.

Kalahari Plains - All the en-suite rooms here have a roof-top access to enjoy the stunning night sky of Botswana's Kalahari Desert. With very little rainfall obviously, there isn't much to deter you from sleeping out during your entire stay. This area is filled with wildlife during the summer months, so make sure to include it on any Botswana itinerary between November - March.

Little Kulala - An awesome lodge in an awesome location, and absolutely perfect for any budding astronomer or romantic. Gaze up from the roof at one of only 8 designated International Dark Sky reserves in the world. This is red-dune area, stunning at full moon!

The Hide - Beautiful sunsets and starry nights in the heart of Zimbabwe's Hwange Game Park are yours alone at the "Dove's Nest". A wonderful open tree-house perched on the edge of a wildlife filled valley. Zimbabwe is a fantastic alternate to Botswana for excellent wildlife viewing at a much more competitive price.

Fly-Camping

For those of you looking for a more exclusive bush experience, and less concerned with having an en-suite bathroom in your hideaway, you should look into fly-camping for a few nights. These are satellite camps where clients opt to head into the bush with a qualified armed rangers and tracker, and camp out for the night with just a mosquito net over a simple camp bed and stories around the fire to lull you to sleep. Zambia is a perfect destination for this type of safari, but safari camps like Tanda Tula in Timbavati also offer this type of excursion.

Things to Consider When Sleeping Out

The option of sleeping out in the open can always be requested, but never guaranteed because of 2 main factors:

• The weather - mosquito nets are not great at keeping out the rain
• Predators - A guard will always be posted nearby, but if lions or other big predators are known to be active in the area, the camp manager may decide it is not safe to sleep out.

Prefer to enjoy your meals Al Fresco Instead?

If spending a night out is not your cup of tea, there are plenty of opportunities to sit under the open skies and enjoy a meal... and perhaps a glass of wine, or two...

• Boma Dinners - popular in southern Africa, dining under the stars with local entertainment and delicious roasting meats, is just the way to end an exciting day on safari.
• Bush Breakfasts - The best bush breakfast is the one enjoyed after a balloon ride over the East African Plains. But it's also possible to enjoy a private bush breakfast at many camps.
• Dinner on the water - Cruise down the Zambezi for dinner and drinks on the romantic Ra Ikane, or enjoy lunch on a pontoon at Chiawa camp. There are quite a few river and lake cruises on offer in Africa that are not so well known.
• Boxed Lunches - popular in East Africa for those full day game drives, boxed lunches under an acacia tree taste so good! Chicken legs and eggs never tasted so fine. Some safari specialists know of picnic sites away from the madding crowds, so it's worth asking when you book a safari.