There are several reasons to book accommodation in Sutherland and spend some time in these off-the-beaten-track surroundings. For starters, a stopover in Sutherland is a good excuse to take a drive up the Ouberg Pass, especially in October when it’s drenched in spring flowers.
There’s snow in winter and the area is awash with tiny-town-charm and Anglo Boer war history.
And then there’s the stargazing. The Karoo is a celestial showstopper with some of the clearest night skies around. It’s little wonder that the largest telescope in the southern hemisphere, called the SALT telescope, is located here.
Why Sutherland?
Like the Namib Desert skies, the heavens over Sutherland are usually clear and they’re always pollution free. Located 4 hour’s drive from Cape Town, it has a high elevation above sea level, which brings the stars a little closer in.
Another thing that Sutherland has in spades is the space to host a telescope of this size and nature, along with the scientists and admin staff needed to manage it. After all, the primary mirror of the SALT is 11 metres wide on its own and is made up of 91 individual mirrors weighing 100 kg each.
The Science Stuff
You may be wondering what’s so special about a big telescope?
Well, the SALT has been instrumental in a number of interesting discoveries. It is currently involved in tracking dark energy – believed to be responsible for the slow expansion of the universe and keeps a steady watch on the activities of neighbouring supernovas too.
Because of its ability to reach billions of light years into the sky, researchers around the world rely on data from this telescope to plan for the future and look back into the universe’s past.
Book a Tour of the SALT Telescope
The South African Astronomical Observatory is happy to show off their ground-breaking work and offers day and night tours of the facility. Try to plan your trip for when the moon is just a tiny sliver in the sky, you’ll see more when you get a chance to look through the small telescopes on site.
Don’t forget a sweater if you take this tour, Sutherland is officially the coldest place in South Africa.
A knowledgeable guide will escort you through the whole trip, pointing out all the best sightings. On a good night you could see Venus, Saturn, Mercury and, of course, the moon.
Incidentally, if someone were to light a candle on the moon, SALT would be the first to know.
The tours take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Friday and Saturdays and last about 90 minutes. Times vary according to the season.
Day tours reveal a more technological side of the facility. You’ll get to find out more about the SALT telescope and learn about it’s astonishing discoveries. Day tours take place every day except Sunday at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm.
Get in touch if you’d like to see a side of South Africa that you might not have considered before. Our southern African travel experts can include a trip to Sutherland in your Cape Town or Tankwa Karoo National Park itinerary.
