STARGAZING

On several game farms in the Western Cape you hear about the big five, but in Sutherland we are honored to present the Celestial Big Five and where else as at Sterland, just one kilometer outside Sutherland, in the direction of Matjiesfontein. Regular Stargazing sessions are presented every night, right through out the year and not even the coldest night keeps stargazers away.

Cold air provides excellent viewing of the Milky Way and Deep Sky Images. Bookings is essential. Contact Jurg at 082 556 9589.

The show at Sterland starts at 18:00 in winter and in summer at 20:00 lasting two hours. The stargazer is first treated with an indoor presentation on a three meter big screen explaining all the constellations and sizes in the universe. A short DVD about Sutherland is shown.

Inside the dam are numerous posters of Astronomy and books to be read. After that the stargazer is taken outside to the Muisbos Amphi theatre and first treated with an explanation of how to find South, with the aid of the Magellan Clouds, Southern Cross and other stars. We make use of a very powerful laser so that each person can see what we are talking about.

All the relevant constellations, stars, planets and objects to be observed are then explained before looking through the eye piece of the telescope.

At present we make use of 3x 11 inch (280mm) Celestron Go-To telescopes, each with its own GPS.

Each telescope is operated by a knowledgeable person. Every person gets enough time to enjoy the object to be seen. The show normally lasts two hours and the cost is R50-00 per person.

The following dates will not offer Stargazing in 2010 -
17, 18, 19 January - 14, 15, 16 February - 14, 15, 16 March - 28, 29, 30 April
16, 17, 18 May - 6, 7, 8, June - 18, 19, 20 July - 22, 23, 24 August
19, 20, 21 September - 17, 18, 19 October - 24, 25, 26 November
24, 25, 31 December - 1, January 2011

Other things to do:

Stars to Midnight

Booking is essential contact Jurg 082 556 9589.

Daily guided tours to SALT – call (023) 571-2436

Visit the “Halley-sê-kom-eet” coffee shop in town.

Visit the Louw Museum and Dutch Reformed Church.

Donkey cart rides – booking essential – Jurg 082 556 9589

Historical Walking trail on Historical Buildings in town available at Kambro Kind Guesthouse.

Enjoy the Kambro Kind Veldplant route over 145 km with 22 stop over points where you learn to identify 110 plant species.

Enjoy several scenic drives like the Moordenaars Karoo, Komsberg, Verlate Kloof, Ou Berg and Gannaga Pass.

Kambro veldplant route just outside town over 3 & 12 km where all plants are numbered and categorized in an A5 booklet.

Several mountain bike routes.