Sutherland, Cape Town Study Tour

Multi-day tours, designed to complement your academics and enhance your cultural immersion, are included in all of CIEE’s Open Campus Block programs!

FALL '18 BLOCK III - SUTHERLAND

Sutherland is a town of about 2,841 residents in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. It lies in the western Roggeveld Mountains in the Karoo. Sutherland was founded in 1857 as a church and market town to serve the area’s sheep farmers. By 1872, the town had a population of 138 registered citizens living in 19 houses. The large Dutch Reformed church in the centre of Sutherland was built in 1899.

During the Anglo-Boer War, the church was used as a fort by garrisoned British soldiers. During the war a number of engagements between British and Boer forces occurred in the town. In one such engagement, a force of 250 Boer commandosSutherland’s major economic activities includes tourism and sheep farming. The area includes at least twelve registered attacked the local British garrison for 10 hours. The ruins of a fort can be found on the outskirts of town on the hill called Rebelskop, which was named after this engagement.

FREE TIME SUGGESTIONS ​

Sutherland is a paradise for botanists. There is a large population of dassies (rock hyrax) that attract predators such as black eagles. Jackals, various cats, antelope, porcupines, hares, baboons, tortoises and a variety of birds can be seen. Lichens appear in red, yellow and green masses. There are several routes from which to choose. Ask at the hotel for information.

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