The vast region of the Northern Cape has, over the past few decades, become a significant region for astronomy in South Africa and internationally.  The unspoilt landscape of the Karoo, which is largely free of light pollution and radio interference, makes the ideal conditions for astronomy research.

Sutherland, about 346 km from Cape Town, is well known for its snowy landscape during winter, but the town is also home to the South African Large Telescope (SALT), a site housing several huge optical telescopes that attracts researchers and tourists from around the world annually.

The economically depressed town of Sutherland has experienced a tourism boom over the years as SALT draws scientists and the public, who can enjoy stargazing activities.  This has seen a growing hospitality industry providing much-needed jobs to the town's residents.  

About 245 km from Sutherland is the small town of Carnarvon, where the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a mega radio astronomy project, is under construction.  The site includes the KAT-7 array, and the MeerKAT array and will soon be home to a huge number of dishes spread across a wide expanse of land.  The SKA, which includes dishes in Australia, will become the world’s largest radio telescope on completion in 2050.

The SKA has already attracted scientists and tourists from around the world.  With the construction of a visitors' centre, even larger numbers of people will continue to flock to the area, fuelling the growth of the hospitality sector.

Like those in Sutherland, the community of Carnarvon and its surrounds will benefit from the opportunities created by these scientific sites.  Work by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Department of Tourism has seen the development of South Africa's Astro-Tourism Strategy.  Both the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande, and Minister of Tourism, Ms Patricia De Lille, launched the strategy on 27 September 2024, also known as World Tourism Day.

In Carnarvon, young resident Amy-Lee Visagie is excited to be one of six young people who have been trained to become Astro Guides (cultural guides) by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), an entity of the DSI

She says that, with this initiative, SARAO aims to delight visitors by combining indigenous astronomy stories told for generations by our ancestors with modern scientific facts.

According to SARAO's Dr Anton Binneman, the "Astros" gained hands-on experience by travelling across South Africa, including visiting key locations such as the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory located in the Magaliesberg hills, and several small towns like Loxton, Sutherland and Loeriesfontein.

This project, funded and implemented by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, in partnership with SARAO, represents a significant step towards expanding astro-tourism to other Karoo towns and the Kalahari.

Dr Binneman says the success of the Astro Guides is testament to the transformative power of education and opportunity, lighting the way for a brighter future in the Northern Cape.

"The Carnarvon experience is all about mesmerising the world with the unique stories our people had to tell, while leaving our visitors with an immersive feeling they will never forget.  Stargazing refreshes our minds because we continuously learn more about the universe beyond our reach," says Ms Visagie.  

"Being part of this amazing programme, I learnt so many astounding things.  I also learnt so much about myself as an individual on this journey," she says.

In 2011, while in Grade 11, Ms Visagie and Chrislin de Koker travelled to France after winning the Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (GTTP) competition.  The GTTP is a multi-country educational programme to introduce tourism students to career opportunities in the sector. Carnarvon High School was selected as the winning school in the country for 2018.

The pupils submitted a research piece on astronomy tourism and how SALT and the SKA can benefit the local communities.

Since her GTTP experience, Ms Visagie has not looked back.  Today she has qualified as a cultural tour guide who specialises in dark sky tours (stargazing), historic walking trails and indigenous storytelling.

During the International Astronomy Union General Assembly (IAU GA) held in August this year in Cape Town, Ms Visagie was part of the #AfricaLookUp Cultural Exchange Evening.  The IAU GA attracted about 2 000 astronomers from around the world, and many other delegates.

The cultural evening honoured the legacy of indigenous knowledge and celebrated the beauty of cultural diversity.  Storytellers from Egypt, Madagascar, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique and Britain, among other countries, captivated the visitors with a rich tapestry of cultures and their historic relationship with the skies.  Through diverse artistic expressions that included music, dance and poetry, the event delved into the timeless wisdom of indigenous knowledge.

Stories told included the legend from the Khoikhoi and the San communities on how the Milky Way was formed.  According to the legend, a strong-willed girl grabbed roasting roots and ashes from a fire and threw them into the sky, angry that her mother had refused to give her any of the delicacies.  The roots glowed red and white, and the ashes turned into the Milky Way.  

According to Ms Visagie that young girl threw the bright sparks of her fire high up into the sky many, many years ago to pave a way in the darkness for us today.

In another legend, the Batswana people believed that, after sunset, the sun travelled back to the east over the top of the sky, and that the stars were small holes that let light through.  Others said the sun was eaten each night by a crocodile and emerges from the crocodile each morning.

Ms Visagie says that, when people in Carnarvon look up and see the Scorpius constellation, they envision a giant snake with three heads that is covered in jewels and pearls from head to tail.  Scorpius is one of the most ancient and the most recognisable constellations in the night sky and is described as a scorpion in mainstream astronomy.  

It is these kinds of fascinating local legends and other cultural interests that the public can look forward to when visiting the scientific wonders in the Northern Cape.  The Astro Guides will keep you enthralled and take you on a journey of celestial discovery when you participate in the Carnarvon astronomy tour.