Although a partial eclipse will be visible from most parts of the region, the path of totality for the first eclipse is restricted to parts of Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the island of Madagascar. The second is again first visible from Angola before passing over parts of Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique.

Tour operators anticipate great interest in these southern eclipses, and for 2001 in particular many upmarket lodges lying within the path of totality have already been block-booked. Whether this will translate into a massive influx of tourists is another question. Sceptics might point to the Millennium hype, which saw many hotels and game lodges double their rates for the night of 31 December 1999, only to be greeted by widespread public indifference. But it should be borne in mind that while the change of millennium was a cultural event which could be celebrated anywhere on the globe, a total solar eclipse is a manifestly impressive natural phenomenon that can be witnessed only from a restricted area. Every indication is that southern Africa will be a busy place during the periods of the two eclipses.

For Travel Africa readers who wish to be in Africa for one or both eclipses, several factors will come into play in selecting the most suitable place to visit.
Seasoned eclipse chasers agree that even a 99% eclipse pales next to the full spectacle, which means that anywhere outside the path of totality is a non-starter. The ideal eclipse viewing site would be an elevated spot at the centre of the path of totality in an area where cloud cover and rain are unlikely. By contrast, one would want to avoid a valley on the fringe of the path of totality at the height of the rainy season.

Another factor is that, in 2001, the total eclipse will be longest in the west (it will last for longer than four minutes in Angola but for only two-and-a-half in Madagascar) whereas in 2002 the total eclipse will last for twice as long in Mozambique as in western Angola.
In Africa, climatic and geographic factors are arguably secondary to more arbitrary considerations such as accessibility, security and bed space. Angola, for instance, has been locked in civil war ever since independence, and while it has tottered on the brinkof peace a few times in recent years, most people would gladly sacrifice the longer duration of totality over Angola in 2001 to be somewhere safer. There are, by contrast, few security concerns along the long stretch of the Mozambican Zambezi that falls into the path of totality, but poor roads and limited accommodation options mean that much of this area will be suitable only for self-sufficient 4x4 owners and the most intrepid of backpackers.

The 2001 eclipse will take place in the mid-afternoon in the dry winter month of June, when thick cloud cover, though not impossible, is reasonably unlikely. Discounting Angola, totality will last longest in Zambia, where the capital city Lusaka is likely to be the major eclipse viewing base, since it is the only major city to lie within the path of totality and thus offers the attractive combination of ample bed-space and easy access for independent travellers. Lusaka doesn't lie at the centre of the path of totality, nor is it ideal in terms of aesthetics, but visitors should have no problem getting out of the city centre on the day. More inherently attractive sites that fall within the path of totality through Zambia include Kafue National Park, Lower Zambezi National Park, and the remote town of Zambezi in the potentially sensitive Angola border area, but in all these cases accommodation options are limited and likely to be booked up long in advance.

Moving eastwards, the entire Zimbabwean stretch of the Zambezi east of and including Chirundu falls into the path of totality, with Mana Pools National Park and canoe trips along the Zambezi forming highly attractive options. Another good location will bethe Mount Darwin area, which offers little in the way of accommodation but has been earmarked as the destination for day-trips by tour operators based in the capital Harare.

In western Mozambique, the town of Tete boasts a reasonable selection of accommodation, and although it lies just outside the path of totality, self-drive tourists or those prepared to pay for a taxi can follow the paved road towards Harare or Chimoio to the path's centre. Much of the Zambezi east of Tete would theoretically be good, but for reasons already discussed the only viable destination for most people in eastern Mozambique will be Quelimane, a large but somewhat remote port town connected to the rest of the country by an abysmal road and regular flights.

Away from the African mainland, there is also Madagascar, where Marombe on the west coast offers the tantalising prospect of the sun setting over the ocean at the point of fourth contact, while the eroded sandstone outcrops of Isalo National Park in the east provide a dramatic setting with good elevation at the centre of the path of totality.

he 2002 eclipse starts at around 7am local time, which means travellers have less flexibility in terms of setting up day trips from outside the path of totality, while unpredictable summer weather patterns create a higher (though not unacceptable) risk of heavy cloud cover. Few plans are in place for the second eclipse at this stage, so much so that the tourist office in Messina (the largest South African town to lie in the path of totality) seems to be unaware it will take place, as do the resorts I've spoken to around Xai-Xai in Mozambique.

The total eclipse in 2002 will endure for longest in the east, which makes Mozambique and South Africa the best countries to head for. The coastal resort of Xai-Xai and the untrammelled northern part of the Kruger National Park should provide wonderful settings, though both are likely to be booked up solid well in advance. Messina, though inherently mundane, does lie close to the centre of the path of totality, and has the advantage of unlimited access, which makes it the probable target for day trips (albeit with a very early start) out of Johannesburg and Pretoria, respectively the largest city in South Africa and the national capital.

The 2002 path of totality through Zimbabwe passes through the remote southwest of the country, just south of Matobo National Park, an area with few tourist facilities but within driving distance of the city of Bulawayo. In Botswana, Nata is a small town on the main north-south highway from where you could drive through to the path of totality on the day, but Chobe National Park close to the Namibia border seems a more attractive prospect. In Namibia's Caprivi Strip, the path of totality passes over Mudomo National Park and Lake Liambezi, and skirts Katima Mulilo, but the recent murder of European nationals in a cross-border raid from Angola raises serious questions about security in this area.

Wherever and however you view a full solar eclipse, it will - weather permitting - be an unforgettable experience, a graphic astronomical phenomenon on a scale that is barely comprehensible to the human mind. But, for those readers who intend to come to Africa especially for the event, it will be far more exciting to witness the eclipse from somewhere such as Mana Pools or the Kruger Park rather than at Lusaka or Messina.

Cities such as Johannesburg and Harare have sufficient hotels to make it unlikely you won't find a room at short notice, and seem certain to be used as a base for coach trips to the path of totality on the day. But the plum eclipse-viewing spots almost all have limited bed-space, so the simple message is to consider your options well in advance and to make bookings as early as possible!

Philip Briggs is a contributing author to Africa & Madagascar Total Eclipse 2001 & 2002, to be published by Bradt Publications in October 2000. He will be leading eclipse tours to Mozambique (2001) and South Africa (2002).

What are they talking about, anyway?
Eclipse jargon refers to four pivotal events or "contacts" in the course of an eclipse. First contact is when the sun first starts to be eaten into, usually 45-90 minutes before second contact, which is the start of totality. Depending on how close you are to the centre of the path of totality, the total eclipse might last for anything between a few seconds and several minutes, ending at third contact, after which it will be another 45-90 minutes until fourth contact, when the eclipse is finished.

You and the Eclipse

Eye Safety
Even during the partial phases of a total eclipse it's unsafe to watch without taking special precautions. The crescent of sunlight that remains is intensely bright and invisible infrared wavelengths damage the eyes. Filters can be used, but only those specially designed for the purpose. These are usually covered with a thin layer of aluminium, chrome or silver that dilutes the infrared energy. Welders' glasses and some black and white photographic film may be safe. Aluminiumised mylar film is an inexpensive alternative but get expert advice before using any of these. On no account should colour film, medical X-ray film, smoked glass or ordinary photographic filters be used - they can be exceedingly dangerous. This also applies to many solar filters sold with telescopes.

If you don't have a "guaranteed" filter then the safest way to watch the phases of the eclipse is by projected image - passing the sunlight through a pinhole or "binos" onto a white card or screen placed about half a metre beyond. Only when the eclipse is total is it safe to look at it without any filters.

Photographing the Eclipse
If the golden rules of basic eye safety are followed, taking pictures of the eclipse need not be difficult. In essence a mylar or approved glass solar filter must be used on the camera lens throughout the partial phases of the eclipse. These filters dilute the sun's infrared energy by a factor of 100,000. A low speed film (1S0 50-100) will be fine as the light will be bright.

The camera should have manual controls and a lens with a fairly long focal length. A standard 50mm lens will only give you a dot image of the sun. Most ideal would be a catadioptic or mirror lens with a focal length of 500mm. This will give a solar image of 4.6mm. Using a 2x tele-converter can double this image size. To photograph the sun's corona during totality the focal length on a 35mm camera should not exceed about 1500mm. The big challenge is to capture the sun's white corona, red prominences and chromosphere during totality. During the total phase the filters must be removed. It is also safe to look at the totally eclipsed sun with the naked eye.

Automatic point-and-shoot cameras can also be used provided their flashes have been turned off. Use a kitchen sieve or colander and allow its shadow to fall on a sheet of white card some way away (experiment to get the right length). The holes in the sieve act like pinhole cameras, each projecting an image of the sun. The effect will become more prominent with increasing eclipse magnitude.

The above notes on eye safety and photgraphy have been gleaned from reports by Fred Espenak and Jay Pasachoff as reported in NASA RP1381 Total Solar Eclipse of 1998 February 26, pp17 - 19, and in Sky & Telescope July 1991 pp103 - 104. These articles are packed with technical information and expert advice on equipment and how to use it to best advantage. They may be accessed on the internet at http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html

Travel Planning
In general, Eclipse-specialists seem to be mostly American companies that offer larger group trips, emphasising the attractions of studying the celestial event. These are often led by an astronomer, and will also include a few days sightseeing, perhaps a trip to the Victoria Falls and some time in a national park. Astronomy lectures and talks are usually included, and participants will often be keen astronomers or veteran eclipse-chasers. Because the emphasis is largely on seeing and photographing the eclipse, the practical travel arrangements, such as accommodation, may not be as good as if the tour is organised by an African travel specialist.

These specialists seem to be organising tours featuring smaller groups and which emphasise the wildlife and the natural environment. More of their time is planned for visiting small, dedicated safari camps. Their travel arrangements are likely to be smoother than the eclipse-specialists, because the companies concerned know the country and the places to which they're travelling. However, few will have any astronomers accompanying the trip, and so you won't have evening lectures on past eclipses or detailed astronomical explanations of the celestial events. (Chris McIntyre)

The Eclipse Online
Of several websites dedicated to the eclipse, the most useful is Fred Espanek's official site: http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html

Published in Travel Africa Edition Twelve: Summer 2000 Text is subject to Worldwide Copyright (c)