From Matjiesfontein, we head deeper into the Great Karoo for a further 130km to reach the high plateau of the Roggeveld, where the town of Sutherland is situated at an altitude of 1458 metres. Sutherland is the home of SALT, the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere and proudly called “South Africa’s Giant Eye”. Here the atmosphere is thin, the air is crystal-clear and in this arid region cloud-cover is infrequent. For these reasons this site has gained international status as one of the world’s foremost stations for astronomical observation. The onsite guided tour and fascinating observations will leave even the less knowledgeable visitor with new insights, broadening their perspective forever. At very little additional cost, the return journey can be made via the breathtaking Seweweeks Poort and the beautiful Little Karoo.

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