Southerland & Surrounds Hotels

Introducing Southerland & Surrounds

Situated in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, the small town of Sutherland is home to only about 3 000 inhabitants.  Sutherland is set in the Karoo, in an area known as the Roggeveld, meaning Rye Field.  Sutherland nestles between the winter rain fall and summer rain fall regions of South Africa, which result in a low precipitation.  Sheep farming is of great importance to this region of South Africa producing some of the best mutton in South Africa.

South African Astronomical Observatory / Southern African Large Telescope (SALT)

Sutherland is famous for having some of the clearest and darkest night skies in the world, primarily due to its remote and arid location as well as its altitude of 1,458 metres above sea level.  Sutherland features the telescopes of the South African Astronomical Observatory which includes the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT).  The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere.

Climate in Sutherland and its surrounding area, Northern Cape (South Africa)

Sutherland has a semi-arid climate and is known as being one of the coldest towns in South Africa.  The average yearly temperature is 11.8°C, with an average minimum yearly temperature of 3.4°C.  The reasons for the cool temperatures in this region of South Africa are the topography and altitude which is similar to that of Johannesburg.