First impressions of SUTHERLAND - Coldest town & astronomy capital of South Africa

Hi everyone! In this episode, I explore the iconic South African town of Sutherland, based in the semi-desert Great Karoo region and in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated c. 350km from Cape Town.
Sutherland is well known for two things - it is the coldest town in South Africa, and is the unofficial stargazing capital of the country. The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAOO) has a site near Sutherland - it is also where the South African Large Telescope (SALT), the largest optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, is based.
The vlog stars with me and my family travelling from Loxton to Sutherland. We travel on endless gravel roads for several kilometres before arriving in Fraserburg, where we have a quick stop before getting on another gravel road towards Sutherland. I have never been to Sutherland before.
I arrive at our accommodation, Die Heks se Huis (or 'The Witch's House') and give a tour of the house as well as the exterior and garden. I then walk towards the Dutch Reformed Church and give more information about the town and its history. At the church, I meet the gardener (Gielie) who mentions to me that there is a phone number to call if I want to enter the church. I decide against it as it is already past four in the afternoon. Instead, I head to town to stroll around and form first impressions.
I walk down Piet Retief street, one of the main roads in Sutherland, and pass several commercial buildings. I also meet some locals who are barbequing ('braaing') on the pavements and notice the intentional astronomical names for several guesthouses and businesses. This is clearly stargazing country!
I also notice - rather bizarrely - a flag of Azerbaijan outside one of the businesses. This caught my immediate attention, as I visited Azerbaijan as part of my Caucasus adventure earlier this year. I also realise that several of the side roads are gravel and contain houses with beautiful orange flowers and corrugated iron roofs.
I enter a local clothes shop, just after loadshedding, and also talk with some people regarding the frustrating nature of this practice. I then stumble across an interesting building with several implements and other farm equipment surrounding it. Intrigued by this, I enter the premises and eventually realise this is a restaurant and a bar with a unique touch (called Boorgat). I speak to some of the staff members and meet a free spirited dog too!
After visiting the restaurant, I go to the Louw Huis ('Louw House'), which is where the famous South African poet, playwright and scholar N. P. van Wyk Louw was born and a famous museum. Unfortunately, the museum was closed. I then decide to explore more of the residential streets of the town to get an idea how people live.
I get back to town where I walk past the planetarium, the hotel and visit another local merchant. I then stroll back towards the Dutch Reformed Church and pass another local restaurant called The Blue Moon - another name inspired by astronomy, no doubt!
Before ending the vlog, I talk briefly about the medical achievements of Sutherland and other parts of the Karoo - a couple of world firsts!
Please LIKE this video and SUBSCRIBE to this channel - it is completely free to do so, doesn't cost you anything and it really helps me to grow the channel. I also appreciate any COMMENTS as it allows me to engage with my viewers and I'd love to hear what you thought of this video.
Please note that I have not been sponsored by anyone in the production of this video.
Happy exploring!
Willie

[@jaspervanzyl6212]

Wow, Willie Explore, that Witch House looks scary but really cool. Thanks for taking us along on your Karoo travels!

[@willieexplore]

Thanks for watching and commenting! A delightful place to stay and I loved the black walls, giving it a unique touch. The wifi-password was pretty eccentric too!

[@billyungen]

Another great look at the real South Africa (outside the big cities)!

[@willieexplore]

Cheers Billy! Appreciate the support. It was my first time in this iconic town in South Africa and I left with great memories. So much to see outside the cities :)

[@witperd1564]

Lekker aftree dorp. Mooi video.

[@willieexplore]

Ek stem Witperd! Dankie dat jy gekyk het en kommentaar gelewer het.

[@AZqyc]

Hey, Willie ... another really pleasant walkaround ... thanks for showing and sharing! Looks like you and your family had a really nice place to stay, too. Very pleasant! And Sutherland and Tucson have something in common ... astronomy! [Greetings from ... well, you know where!]

[@willieexplore]

Thank you very much Jim, I didn't know about Tucson's astronomy so I will definitely look that up! Definitely a great place we stayed at and good value too. Sutherland is quite an iconic town for South Africans - you'll read from some comments that many school kids take school trips to go and see the stars and of course it is the coldest place in the country. Hope all is well with you!

[@emmerentiagroenewald3694]

Ons het altyd skoolgroepe van Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck hier heen gebring vir 'n naweek ,om dan saans in die donker( sonder ligte) te ry om die sterrewagte te besoek! Was ook by die SALT sterrewag. Ons het in die skoolkoshuis gebly...... Het ook kon ingaan in N P van Wyk Louw se huis.....❤❤❤❤

[@willieexplore]

Hi Emmerentia, dankie dat jy hierdie herinneringe met ons deel! Dit is darem 'n spesiale plek vir ons Suid-Afrikaners. Wat 'n droom van 'n skooluitstappie!

[@gohardorgohome7687]

Hey Willie you nailed it again my friend Keep up the good work 💪👍

[@willieexplore]

Cheers my friend, really pleased you're enjoying this Karoo series in South Africa!

[@johanswart8154]

Ek het op n plaas tussen Sutherland en Calvinia groot geword.

[@willieexplore]

Wat 'n wonderlike deel van die wêreld, Johan! Ons het altyd die Calvinia-Brandvlei-Kenhardt pad gery Kalahari toe as kinders, en ek ken Calvinia goed, maar hierdie was my eerste besoek aan Sutherland

[@felicitydouglas1592]

Lovely to see the town again plus my aunts house which was referred to as "a beautiful cottage." It dates back to 1869 and was what was known as a Nagmaal huisie. In those days the travelling preacher would come to the town to give communion to the congregation. Farm owners had homes in the town to stay over and attend.

[@willieexplore]

Hi Felicity, I'm delighted that you enjoyed the video and thank you so much for providing the additional information and insights! Very interesting. Thanks for supporting my channel!

[@sheilam4525]

Loved the place you were staying, Willie! Unusual for a house to be painted black, I would imagine, but I guess if it's a colder climate then it helps. The witch was great😂. Very interesting about the stargazing too. Assume it attracts lots of stargazers from across the world.

[@willieexplore]

Hi Sheila! Yes, a pretty unusual choice of colour! I know you also like your bright colours but I have to say, the black did add a unique touch! The poor witch crashed into the wall, wonder what happened there :D I did hear some American accents in the coffee shop the next day so definitely a few overseas tourists about. And of course many school kids take astronomy school trips to this part of the world - I never did so it was great to finally tick off this bucket list town in South Africa!

[@sheilam4525]

@@willieexplore yes, I actually quite liked the black and the decor was beautiful inside.

[@altioraspero]

I love this town. Absolutely beautiful.

[@willieexplore]

One of my favourites too! Thanks for watching :)

[@hanneliewiese3477]

Love the veldblommetjies down the driveway - love the church tower ❤

[@willieexplore]

It's often the small things that make the difference!

[@toscabrutus1781]

Willie die boorgat bar en restaurant is defnitief iets baie spesiaals ek het dit nooit ontdek terwyl ek in Sutherland was nie Amazing!

[@willieexplore]

Hi Tosca ja dis nogals interessant! Hulle is besig om die restaurant verder te ontwikkel ook. Wou graag die volgende oggend daar gaan ontbyt eet het maar hulle was toe :)

[@fuujinmugen]

Been to Sutherland many times. Beautiful Night Sky! Stayed at the Whitehorse and a few other spots. Some terrific place to eat in Town. SALT is an amazing Facility, had the opportunity to have a Tour there. It’s always cold there at night, in winter it’s freezing. No Joke. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@jacquesscheltema4595]

I was christened there, very beautiful inside

[@willieexplore]

Thanks for watching and commenting Jacques! I'm sure it is a very beautiful church inside; the exterior is special too.

[@mayousimon1]

Excellent video thanks for sharing this Willie!

[@willieexplore]

Glad you enjoyed it, cheers for the support!

[@ShahbazKhan-wd9xy]

Thank you Mr willie for showing my business too ❤

[@willieexplore]

Hi, are you the owner of the shop I visited with the Paris belts? Thank you very much for your comment! Appreciate you checking out my content :)

[@hanneliewiese3477]

Lovely house - thank you for the nice video

[@willieexplore]

You are most welcome, glad you enjoyed it :)

[@mariusmarais8329]

Will be visiting the town in June for the first time....👍

[@willieexplore]

Hope you have a great time Marius! Thanks for watching and supporting my channel :)

[@debeerpaul]

Wow the whole town is like a museum. I would love to live there. Lekker innie Kaap 🤩

[@willieexplore]

It is a fascinating place, especially considering the geography! Cheers for watching, engaging and supporting my channel

[@ThatSouthAfricanTraveller]

Heading to Sutherland in July. Excited to explore

[@willieexplore]

Have a great time!

[@maryjones2810]

Great video , what an interesting place!

[@willieexplore]

What a nice comment to receive, Mary - thank you for watching and supporting my channel!

[@MrElhabib123]

Pragtig ❤

[@willieexplore]

Baie dankie! Waardeer groot :)

[@toscabrutus1781]

Willie uitstekende program weer. Ek was hele paar keer in Sutherland! Ek is mal oor Sutherland!

[@willieexplore]

Dankie Tosca! Dit was my eerste keer daar en ek dink mens kan lekker bly op die dorp. Daar doen die Bokke dit toe, hoop jy het 'n lekker Spaanse brandy geniet!

[@toscabrutus1781]

Willie Ja die spaanse Brandewyn was great en ek het al my biltong en droe wors opgeeet. Waar in die wereld is jy nou? Ek sien daar is nog baie programme van jou wat ek wil kyk. EK het my familie gese om jou programme te kyk. Ek sien jy was in willemstad ook dis nie sover van hier nie! Ja rugby was great!@@willieexplore

[@willieexplore]

@@toscabrutus1781 dankie ou Tosca, ek waardeer die ondersteuning baie. Ek woon in Engeland en is terug hier na my SA vakansie. Ek het Willemstad baie geniet - ja nie ver van jou af nie! Die Nederlandse konneksie is natuurlik baie interessant vir ons Suid-Afrikaners. Groete!

[@isabelcowley1248]

😊😊😊Beautiful 😊😊😊

[@willieexplore]

It certainly is! Thank you for watching :)

[@hanneliewiese3477]

Bly jy het nog jou Suid Afrikaanse sin vir humour

[@willieexplore]

Altyd, Hannelie! Groete daar

[@fuujinmugen]

Been to Sutherland many times. Beautiful Night Sky! Stayed at the Whitehorse and a few other spots. Some terrific place to eat in Town. SALT is an amazing Facility, had the opportunity to have a Tour there. It’s always cold there at night, in winter it’s freezing. No Joke. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@willieexplore]

It is such an interesting place, isn't it! Glad you managed to experience SALT, I didn't on this occasion but did do some stargazing at a private facility - wonderful! Thanks for watching and supporting my channel, really appreciate it