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Excellent service from the Blue Moon and Boorgat. Shocking service at the SAAO - what a missed opportunity, with a facility as significant as that, juxtaposed with people who are customer facing that make little effort, bordering on being dismissive of tourists.

The town is little and only consists of an OK store and one PEP. A few restaurants are available. The star gazing options are quite good. However, during peek seasons, it is advisable to book. Salt was already fully booked, but we could view some stars by Jurg at Starland, which was very educational. The town itself is small, but consist of the necessary items that may have been left at home!

Sutherland is one of those rare places that feels completely disconnected from the rush of everyday life—and that's exactly what makes it so special. I came for the stars, and they did not disappoint. With almost no light pollution and crisp, clear night skies, it felt like the universe put on a private show just for me. The landscape has that raw, open beauty that only the Karoo can offer. Long, quiet roads, rugged hills, and endless silence—it’s a place that makes you slow down and breathe a little deeper. I spent my evenings near a crackling fire, and my days wandering through the small town, chatting with locals and taking in the honest charm of the place. If you love solitude, stargazing, and the kind of stillness that resets your soul, Sutherland is worth every dusty kilometre to get there.

If you are going to see the stars - make sure that all the possibilities are explored. Visit SALT day and night tours. Visit the planetarium and visit the night stargazing at the camp site - Well worth it

Icy cold but the star gazing was worth the cold. The town is small so you can cover it on foot. The drive up to Sutherland from Cape Town was very scenic. Pity our SALT tour was cancelled due to bad weather but they let us know well in advance so we didn't drive the distance for nothing.

Sutherland is a quaint little middle-of-nowhere town. If it weren't for the telescopes and snow in winter, it would likely be a place that would not feature on many maps. It is refreshing to see life from a slower, smaller point of view. The locals are all very welcoming and accommodating and the town itself is well maintained, clean, and safe. The telescopes (SALT) and planetarium are great to visit, but make sure to book well in advance - they only do tours by bookings and bookings fill up quickly. If you want to see snow, do a little research into typical weather patterns to time it correctly - my partner and I went at the start of August and we were a little late to see any snow. If you want to see snow, you probably won't see stars...obviously. So, if you are going for the star gazing experience, Spring or Autumn are probably better times of year. Summer will be hot in the Tankwa and winter is very cold! For star gazing, if you don't have your own equipment, there are various places that offer star gazing experiences - again, do some research and book! Also, a note on the roads - if you stay in Sutherland, your vehicle doesn't matter. If you stay on one of the surrounding farms, be prepared for very not-sedan-friendly roads. In snow conditions only 4x4s will make it up those roads. The road to Sutherland from Matjiesfontein deteriorates a fair bit as you get closer to Sutherland - lots of rock falls and potholes along the way but by no means a bad road. Just exercise due caution and perhaps drive a little slower than usual. Otherwise, if Sutherland has been a bucket list item or even a vague interest, I can definitely say it is worth experience. I will definitely be returning to this quaint, quiet little Karoo village, I mean town! Also, make sure to visit the Boorgat pub - it is quite the experience.