Stargazing in Sutherland

TThe town of Sutherland in South Africa's Northern Cape was established in 1855 when life centred on pioneer farmers and the Dutch Reformed Church. The region continues to be a strong livestock-farming area – and an astronomer's delight. Visit here to experience the wonder of the stars, tuck into a classic Karoo dinner featuring slow-roasted lamb shanks or feel what it's like to be in one of the coldest places in South Africa on a crisp winter's day. Like the earliest people, we are still awed by the mystery of the stars, planets and distant galaxies. Today, the extraordinary clarity of Sutherland’s cloudless, pollution-free night skies and its high elevation above sea level makes it a prime stargazing destination and the perfect site for the South African Astronomical Observatory. Known for its chilly temperatures during the winter months, Sutherland is known as a top stargazing destination. Home to the South African Astronomical Observatory and the Southern African Large Telescope, its clear night skies have earned the town the name, “the Gateway to the Universe”.

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