Sutherland’s water makes delicious coffee… and other things you should know

It’s winter, our busiest season in Sutherland and I thought it good to write a little about what you can expect when you visit this little village.

The first thing you will note when you enter our humble village, is that we only have two tarred streets. But maybe even before that, when you see the collection of houses from a distance, the Church tower would probably be the first thing you spot. It stands tall at the centre of town, forming the heart around which Sutherland has developed.

Even though we are becoming a tourist destination, with one of the most highly technological observatories in the Southern Hemisphere, the village itself (and I call it a village for a reason), has remained timeless – a small rural village, going on with its daily business of farming, buying groceries and even gossip. The natural attraction of Sutherland as a village, are not only its people, but rather its tranquillity or sleepiness. So do not expect to see brand stores (except for the OK), do not expect to find everything you normally find in shops at home. This is the countryside, situated in the stunning , vast Karoo, 110km from the N1.  Things can be tough out here, but that’s what makes our people and the experience special.

So besides the stars, and the fact that the water here makes the most delicious coffee, visitors should look forward to escaping from city life. I would like to expand on Countryside life and give an inside scoop of how our tourism industry works.

With amost 40 guesthouses and guestfarms in total, Sutherland offers enough accommodation (it could probably accommodate more than its own population). So it is hard to imagine that some weekends there is not even space for a mouse in any of these establishments. Visitors are disappointed as the town fills up and there are no rooms available for them to stop over, but what you have to keep in mind, is that less than a quarter of these guesthouses are filled up during quieter months – if we are lucky.

Restaurants also have an influx of guests during winter. The romantic side of Sutherland, is the lack of fast food. Restaurants are normally staffed with 4 at the most in the kitchen. This is especially due to the lack of visitors during the rest of the year, and the unpredictability of even the busy season. Food is prepared in advanced to cope with the off-chance of a few large groups coming through at once. Most restaurants here have their waitresses cook and prepare food too, so if they disappear for a little too long, they are usually preparing food in the kitchen. Most foods are wholesome, country grub, and not quickly smashed together with mass produced and prepared sauces and toppings. When a group (larger than expected or planned for) comes in, there is a risk of running out of stock. And once this has happened, it’s off to Worcester to replenish, a mere 250km or so away. This is tough, but part of our daily lives. And in a way, it adds to the charm of life here.

Activities in Sutherland include donkey cart rides, visiting the museum and the church, stargazing, visiting the Observatory, drive-outs to beautiful viewpoints, playing in the snow (when it snows), 4x4-ing and wandering along in through our streets, enjoying the interesting architecture.  Most of all, it is a walk through a place with history. To some this may be a limited amount of things to do, but for most, the quietness of town is refreshing to the soul.

So when you visit Sutherland,  come to experience the slow life, take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Take in the clean, fresh air and enjoy everything about this magical, nostalgic village - come for the Countryside experience, enjoy a braai, talk to a new friend, enjoy the beautiful setting, explore the surrounding areas, take in the lifestyle, create your own experience – and lastly don’t forget to visit the Observatory.

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