Tivoli Observatory

Tivoli Observatory is part of a private astronomy farm in southern Namibia, prized among stargazers for skies with almost no light pollution.

About Tivoli Observatory

Tivoli Southern Sky Guest Farm and Observatory sits around 180 km southeast of Windhoek, on the edge of the Kalahari's savanna and red dune landscape. It was developed by Reinhold Schreiber, who returned to build the site after a childhood spent in Namibia.

History

Development of the farm and observatory began in 1997, turning a remote patch of Namibian bush into a dedicated destination for visiting astronomers and astrophotographers.

Telescopes & research

The site offers a range of telescopes for guest use, from smaller 80mm instruments up to larger apertures of 355mm and 500mm, suiting both casual stargazing and serious deep-sky imaging.

Location & getting there

Tivoli sits at an elevation of around 1,362 metres in southern Namibia's semi-arid savanna, near the Kalahari Desert. At this altitude and distance from major towns, the site benefits from exceptionally dark, clear skies for much of the year.

Visiting Tivoli Observatory

Guests stay in guesthouses on the farm itself, making it possible to observe late into the night and still be steps from bed. Check the farm's own website for current availability and booking details before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

Few places make the case for stargazing like a farm built for exactly that. With a Star Register certificate in hand, the wide-aperture telescopes at Tivoli make it possible to actually find your named star's coordinates in the sky. Choose a star-naming package or explore the catalogue to see what others have named.