This little town is situated in the Northern Cape in the Karoo region of  South Africa. It is known for the South African Astronomical Observatory, situated 18 km outside the town. 

Astrononomy has play an important role in human lives since the dawn of  civilisation.  Modern astronomy began in South Africa when seafarers and explorers came to need astronomy for mapmaking and navigation.

There are only a handful of regions in the world with really good sites for observations.  

At an altitude of  1459 meters, clear, dark skies, far from city lights and polluted air and because the clear weather is evenly spread througout the year, Sutherland was the perfect spot for the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO).

SALT or The Southern African Large Telescope is the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. 

With a hexagonal mirror array 11m across, SALT is one of the leading instruments of its kind. Tours to the Observatory are from Mondays to Saturdays at 11:30  and 14:30.

Bookings are essential.  Phone the Observatory at tel: 023 5711205

SUTHERLAND offers the tourist a lot more to do:

• It is the birthplace of the well-known Afrikaans writers and poets, N.P van Wyk Louw and his brother, W.E.G. Louw.  A museum with some of their belongings and books are kept in the museum. 

• The Dutch Reformed Church.  During the Anglo Boer War the church was invaded for 8 months by British troops.  Graffitti, some still visisble, adorned the doors and walls of the church.

• 0ld Jewish and English cemetries

• Fauna and Flora like the Riverine rabbit, sterboom, rye grass and Elephants feet.

• Snow and freezing temperatures.

• Ouberg Pass.  45 km out of town to the Ceres-Karoo.

• Verlatenkloof Pass - for 15 km you have to climb nearly a 1000 metres!

• Tulips

• Fransplaas Sheep Cheese.

• Salpeterkop - The last active volcano south of the equator.  It was active 66 million years ago

• A gravel Gholf course. (Play for only R20-R40)

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