Under a sky lit by tribal dancers and awestruck tourists, Kenyans looked up at the rust-red “blood moon” as the country unveiled a bold new tourism initiative celebrating its night skies.
The rare lunar eclipse—caused when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align, casting Earth’s shadow over its satellite—bathed the moon in an eerie crimson glow late Sunday, visible across much of the world.
In Samburu County, far from Nairobi’s city lights, the Ministry of Tourism and the Kenya Space Agency hosted the launch of an “astro-tourism” campaign. Foreign visitors mingled with local dancers adorned in colorful beads and traditional attire, taking turns at telescopes to witness the spectacle.
“It’s an amazing experience,” said Kenyan visitor Stella-Maris Miriti, 35, who had traveled from Nairobi. “At first I thought it wasn’t happening because the moon was dark, but by 8:30 the magic happened.”
Australian tourist Maggie Debbe, 26, visiting with her parents, was equally impressed: “I think it’s awesome. I just did not expect any of this.”
Kenya’s ‘Game-Changer’ in Tourism
Kenya is betting big on astro-tourism to complement its wildlife safaris and pristine landscapes. With some of the lowest light pollution levels globally—according to the Bortle dark-sky scale—the country offers breathtaking night-sky views. Tourism already accounts for nearly 10% of Kenya’s GDP, and experts believe stargazing could open fresh opportunities.
“We have some of the most beautiful and clear skies worldwide,” said Jacques Matara, Deputy Director of Space Research and Innovation at the Kenya Space Agency. “Astro-tourism is our chance to create awareness about the utility of space for socio-economic development. This could be game-changing, especially for our tourism sector.”
For Dutch tourist Johanns Hertogh-van der Laan, 75, the night was unforgettable: “It’s been about 40 years since I saw skies this clear. We came for the wildlife, but this has blown me away.”
As the “blood moon” glowed between constellations, Kenya signaled its intent to add stargazing to the list of wonders drawing visitors from around the globe.
