Sutherland, South Africa's Coldest Town

If you are looking for an interesting off-the-beaten-path destination between Cape Town and Upington, try this undiscovered gem. Home to beautiful spring flower displays, the only dormant volcano south of the equator—Salpeterkop—as well as the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, Sutherland is home to bright, clear skies and genuine winters. You'll also find scatterings of Anglo-Boer (South African) War history, gorgeous solitude, period-piece accommodations, hiking and mountain-bike trails, and various other accoutrements of the road less traveled. Best of all, the town also boasts two remarkable characters, Rita and Jurg Wagener, who love to tell the story of the flowers and the stars at their establishment, which is about a 3½-hour drive from Cape Town. They can also give you the scoop on all the local happenings. Stop over at the delightful Matjiesfontein an hour before and make a trip of it. You could even fit in the flowers of Nieuwoudtville, just over two hours farther on down a drivable dirt road. There's plenty to do even when the wildflowers are not in bloom. The African Chapter (see ) organizes trips to the region. The coldest town in the country (in winter, at least), it's quite fresh in the early mornings until November. Read more about the town at Discover Sutherland (www.discoversutherland.co.za).