Explore

Every evening, weather permitted from 20h00.  The show is about 2 hours and the rates are R130 per person.

If you are interested in Afrikaans literature, visit the house where NP van Wyk Louw and his brother WEG Louw were born. 

NP van Wyk Louw, born 11 June 1906, was an Afrikaans poet, playwright and scholar, and the older brother of the WEG Louw (also an Afrikaans poet).  NP viewed the Afrikaans language as a bridge that connects Europe with Africa.

NP van Wyk Louw died at the age of 64 on 18 June 1970 in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

The Louw Huis Museum features artefacts, letters and photographs of some of the most famous inhabitants of Sutherland.  Sutherland families, the Louws and Esterhuyses, produced three of South Africa’s best-known Afrikaans poets : DC Esterhuyse, NP van Wyk Louw and his brother WEG Louw.  All three of the aforesaid are commemorated in this museum.

The museum also highlights contributions by Sutherland citizens Datei, Pieter Jordaan, Anna Jordaan and Sir Henry Olivier.  The latter was a famous civil engineer, who specialised in hydroelectric power projects.  He worked on several large international dam projects including Gariep Dam as well as the Kariba dam.

The Louw Museum is currently under construction and closed for visitors, but do we hope to have it up and running soon and will advise accordingly.

Sutherland produces some of the best Karoo Lamb in the country, so visiting a couple of Sutherland restaurants seems an obvious thing to do.  The town currently has 4 restaurants :
 
The Blue Moon in the Main Road:  Come and experience Jannie’s amazing cooking skills.  The restaurant offers traditional karoo cuisine.
Contact Jannie Degenaar : Tel 082 962 0416
 
Ou Meule next to the OK Foodstore : As the name says, the “Old Mill” in town was converted by Chrisna and Kobus Rossouw.  The restaurant has an extensive menu to choose from. 
Contact Chrisna Rossouw : Tel 076 313 5803
 
The Whitehouse Inn : Nice outside area, fully licensed bar area.  Great steaks!
Contact Ian Rossouw : Tel 083 357 6537

Your one stop space shop : The Universe is just a click away! 
 
Sutherland Planetarium is the only privately owned digital planetarium in South Africa.  The 30-seater Planetarium is located on the main road in the centre of town and is open 7 days a week showcasing a wide range of full-dome films for the enjoyment of the whole family
 
The Planetarium also has a new Astro Amphitheatre for evening star gazing shows.  Bring your smart phone to do your own Astro Photography
 
Planetarium shows are daily from 09h00 – 17h00 every hour on the hour.  The rate is R80 for adults and R50 for children under 13.
 
Stargazing at the Astro Amphitheatre from 20h00 and the rate is R130 per person
 
For reservations : Tel 078 603 0058

A mere 24km from Sutherland you will find the Blesfontein Appaloosa Stud with a mix of tame wild animals some being a meerkat and springbok.  The stud also has alpacas.

Children can enjoy pony rides while adults can enjoy game viewing on horseback.  Please book in advance and note that there is a weight limit of 90kg for riders.

For Reservations contact Marina van der Merwe Tel : 083 633 4913

Cheetah and Game drives are available at Rogge Cloof.  As this is a private reserve, bookings are essential and should be made directly via our Visit Sutherland office.

You can also do wine tasting at Rogge Cloof ….. their Salpeterkop Red Wine is a winner!

Rogge Cloof Estate also host guided hikes of the Salpeterkop Volcano.  Salpeterkop, the last active volcano in Africa, south of the equator, it is 1767m high and last erupted 66 million years ago, leaving a kilometre-wide lava ash field that you can still see today.       

Please contact our Visit Sutherland Office (Tel : 064 657 0693) to book a game drive, wine tasting or hike of this spectacular volcano.

Die Trommel

Located in the main road, the shop sells a variety of items i.e soups, jams, wool etc.


Strawberry Moon

Located on the corner of the R356 (Fraserburg Road and Jubilee Street), the Strawberry Moon sells freshly baked cake and tarts daily. 

Sutherland is an excellent base to explore the wild and rugged countryside of the Roggeveld plateau and the many mountain passes that link the town to the surrounding lowland areas.

 
Probably the most well-known of the mountain passes, Verlatekloof Pass, is situated on the R354 south towards Matjiesfontein.  The Verlatekloof Pass dips suddenly off the high plateau at an altitude of 1570 metres and takes the traveller through the gorge and closely follows the course of a stream that is fed by the melting snow in winter.  The road emerges into a beautiful landscape of rolling hills and mountains and reaches the gravel branch road (R356) to Ceres 39 kilometres from Sutherland.

A little known, yet magnificent circular drive, linking Sutherland and Laingsburg encompasses the Rooiberg and Komsberg Passes.  This route will involve a full day’s travel but will reward with magnificent scenery.  The route commences about four kilometres south of Sutherland on the R354 turning east onto a gravel road towards Merweville. The road continues across the flat and almost featureless Roggeveld Plateau before a superb vista of mountains and long views across the Great Karoo.  Be prepared for the opening and closing of numerous farm gates.  You will however be rewarded with some of the most spectacular mountain scenery and the incredibly special tranquillity of the Karoo as you stop your vehicle to savour the breath-taking views.

Another spectacular circular drive encompasses the magnificent Ouberg and Gannaga Passes that link the high Roggeveld Plateau to the Tankwa Karoo National Park situated in the great valley of the Ceres Karoo.  Just south of Sutherland there is a turn to the west that leads through rich sheep farming land to the western edge of the Roggeveld plateau some 45km from Sutherland.  From here the Ouberg Pass descends the steep slopes of the Roggeveld Mountains offering some of the most sensational views to be found in the Karoo with views of the Cederberg Mountains.  At the bottom of the pass you will reach a junction signposted left Calvinia and right to Middelpos.  Turn towards Middelpos and follow the road into a cut off valley within a fold of the Roggeveld Mountains.  This road then ascends the Gannaga Pass, which boasts magnificently dressed stone construction dating from the nineteenth century.  From the top of the Gannaga Pass the road traverses the high plateau.  Please ensure that you stop at the Gannaga Lodge for a great lunch and spectacular views, whereafter you will continue about 28km, reaching the tiny village of Middelpos from where the R354 leads back to Sutherland some 79km away.