Rogge Cloof Private Nature Reserve Review: The Eco Travel Stars Align in Sutherland
Capetonians are used to looking up — whether it be at the majestic Table Mountain or the mammoth skyscrapers of the inner city. But, visiting the one-horse town of Sutherland, where the act of looking up is far more intentional, is a refreshing change to the neck-breaking, sensory overload of the city.
Much like in the Mother City, Sutherland’s nightlife is pumping, albeit that of a different kind — one which is well worth extending your bedtime for. Sutherland is renowned for being one of the best places in South Africa for stargazing, hence why astronomers chose it as the place to build the legendary Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), making it a destination of note for astronomy lovers.
Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them
Sutherland isn’t known for much, but its claim to fame is arguably one of the most spectacular of all: its breathtaking starry skies. At night, the sky comes alive in Sutherland, enticing you to get lost in a curious world where science and folklore meet. The Northern Cape town offers plenty of opportunities for the most beautiful kind of escape all year round. This, compounded by its low levels of air and light pollution, means that it has become one of the most popular stargazing hotspots in the country.
It is a wondrous place for city slickers to trade staring up at the tops of cliffs and buildings for looking up into the stars and planets that twinkle above the region. Full disclosure, apart from looking at the stars and spending time in nature, there really isn’t too much to do in Sutherland. It is a place where you go to do very little of anything at all, and that’s exactly what makes it so special.
The travel stars align at Rogge Cloof
And, there’s no better place to bask in this spirit of doing very little, than at Rogge Cloof Private Nature Reserve. Just as special as the sleepy region it finds itself in, Rogge Cloof Private Nature Reserve is the type of place you go when you’re looking for a ‘soul adventure’. Where you’ll most certainly return home with a happy heart and recharged soul. Because nothing puts the craziness of life into perspective quite like looking up at the vastness of the cosmos and realising you are but a speck of dust in the universe.
Here at Rogge Cloof, surrounded by dusty plains and wildlife, guests can have it all. Rogge Cloof offers the pleasure of being able to bask in the feeling of getting away from it all, without having to forgo the idea of a luxury getaway. Roughly 15 kms before Sutherland when travelling from Cape Town, the Roggeveld Rogge Cloof Private Nature Reserve is a Cape Country Routes (CCR) South Africa member — a club that’s not easy to get into.
CCR represents a group of owner-operated accommodation and activity establishments located on scenic and historic routes in the Western, Eastern, and Northern Cape. All members are vetted before joining, which makes having the CCR stamp of approval a badge of honour travellers can trust. All carefully selected for their character, charm, and romance, Cape Country Routes is quickly becoming a brand known for offering the best accommodation and activity options to suit every taste and budget.
Rogge Cloof Private Nature Reserve is also Cape Country Routes’ newest member, and it’s easy to see why this special spot got the nod to enter the CCR club. Situated in the Roggeveld (Afrikaans for rye field), a plateau in the South African Great Karoo region, Rogge Cloof sits at an altitude of between 1,400 to 1,700 metres. The reserve is blessed with magnificent clear skies and expansive plains, making it ideal for private stargazing experiences and a wide variety of outdoor activities.
It’s an area of extreme conditions and limited resources, which makes the idea of eco-living not only a no-brainer but a necessity. As such, Rogge Cloof has embraced the principles of eco-living in order to achieve self-sustainability and to leave the healthiest eco-footprint possible. Recycling, green energy and respect for nature are simple actions taken within this eco-village to preserve the uniqueness of the different ecosystems at Rogge Cloof Private Nature Reserve. Among other eco-practices, solar panels power the entire eco-village; a thriving hothouse offers fresh produce for the restaurant kitchen, and borehole water provides all the water needed to sustain the village and its guests. At Rogge Cloof, they’ve gone back to basics to embrace the simple things in life.
An ode to Orion at Rogge Cloof’s suites
But just because it’s simple, doesn’t mean luxury goes out the window. If it’s luxury you want, you’ll find it at Rogge Cloof’s Orion Suites. This inclusive, fully catered accommodation comprises eight luxurious, open-plan, free-standing pods that are ideal for couples looking for uninterrupted quality time.
I had the pleasure of staying in an Orion Suite for 2 nights and was absolutely blown away by the sheer beauty of it from the moment I entered the spacious suite. With a large patio overlooking the plains of the reserve, it’s the perfect place to take in the stillness of Rogge Cloof. The view from the patio alone will stop you dead in your tracks. Nature’s paintbrush made perfect use of this natural canvas to provide a sensational backdrop that never gets old. A herd of Springboks grazing is a permanent feature outside your pod, ensuring you’re never drinking a morning cup of coffee or an afternoon G&T alone. All this stillness is set to the soundtrack of buzzing insects and singing birds harmonising to the tune of a gentle breeze.
Inside the suite, the experience isn’t any less special. Laid-back luxury is the order of the day in these special little free-standing pods, where every whim is catered to. Large glass sliding doors are installed along the length of the pod, leading out to the patio. This offers guests the opportunity to take in the view even when they’re hauled up inside. A small lounge area, furnished with matching armchairs, sits in front of a wood fireplace (which I am told is essential for the winter months), with a view overlooking the patio. It’s another great spot for a morning coffee, or a nightcap — and there’s a decanter of port always waiting just in case.
The cabin also includes an en-suite bathroom, complete with a double-volume shower, as well as a tea and coffee station with a 2-plate gas stove, and a whistling kettle. This set-up, paired with ground plunger coffee and a jar of freshly baked rusks, made the task of preparing my morning coffee a welcome ritual that I grew to love.
On the opposite end of the pod, sits a king-sized bed with luxurious linens to remind you that you’re far from roughing it out here in nature. For fussy sleepers, there’s the option of soft or hard pillows, so everyone is catered for (ask at reception to ensure you get your preference when checking in).
Families welcome: Rogge Cloof’s self-catering accommodation
While they are an absolutely heavenly option for couples, of course, the suites aren’t for everyone. So, there are also self-catering accommodation options comprising the Cedar Cottage, Oryx House, The Stables 1 & 2, The Waenhuis Homestead, and Wolskuur Cottage (the original shearing barn). We had a peek inside a few of the self-catering cottages and they’re also beautifully decorated and contain everything you need for a family getaway or a holiday with friends. All of Rogge Cloof Private Nature Reserve’s accommodation options are situated within the Rogge Cloof Eco-Village which is 12 kms from the Rogge Cloof main entrance.
Important to note is that Rogge Cloof operates on solar power, therefore, the solar electricity supply system does not accommodate appliances such as hair dryers, coffee makers, fans, microwave ovens, or electric kettles; but you’ll hardly notice as the gas and solar offer uninterrupted convenience. Power sockets for recharging phones and laptops are available and there is free WiFi.
Where to eat at Rogge Cloof Private Nature Reserve
For guests staying in the inclusive, fully catered suites, dining takes place at the Rittersaal dining hall adjacent to the reception. This restored farmhouse dates back to the late 1700s and offers a relaxed place for guests to enjoy breakfast and dinner (with menu options) daily. The restaurant does not offer an a-la-carte menu, so any meals need to be discussed with reception in advance. Mealtimes are flexible, based on guests’ requirements, and the restaurant is also available to self-catering guests with prior arrangements.
The meals offered were absolutely delicious and included healthy, wholesome options with a little bit of indulgence thrown in. The guides at Rogge Cloof are eager to please guests and are incredibly accommodating of different dietary requirements. Meal times were an enjoyable occasion at the dining hall and we enjoyed a variety of different dishes on each meal time’s menu — from a classic made-to-order fry-up for breakfast to a three-course dinner, complete with sushi starters and ‘zhuzhed up’ cinnamon bun desserts.
Also in the main reception and dining hall building, is a lounge, library and bar area accessible to all guests. The sun-soaked lounge is a great place to sip on a glass of wine in the afternoon or to read a book. There’s also a large fire pit area just outside the lounge, which begs to be enjoyed in the hours after dinner.
What to do at Rogge Cloof Private Nature Reserve
One of the best things about visiting Rogge Cloof is giving yourself permission to surrender to the sweet release of having nothing to do. But, for those moments when you do feel like exploring, there are plenty of activities for guests to enjoy. There’s something for everyone at Rogge Cloof — whether it’s a low-intensity game drive and cheetah-viewing or guided hikes and fat bike adventures for active types.
If you’re partial to admiring the night sky, drinking wine, and being surrounded by beautiful natural vistas, then Rogge Cloof is sure to be your ideal holiday destination. Our group chose to do a little bit of everything on offer, giving us a great gauge of the breadth that’s on offer.
We laced up our boots for a 3-hour hike to Poet’s Cave and then hopped on board the safari vehicle to visit some bokkies in the veld. We signed up for the 45-minute wine-tasting experience, where we had the opportunity to sip and sample wines made from the Rogge Cloof vineyards.
And, of course, we took the time to look up. Our guide at Rogge Cloof hosted us for an incredible star-gazing experience. Over 60 minutes, our guide led us through a brief, but informative, astronomy talk followed by an exploration of the night sky – including the planets, galaxies, stars and constellations — through the telescope.
Winter is recommended as the best time to head to Sutherland and Rogge Cloof to see the stars, with the crisp nights allowing better visibility and unobstructed views, but it’s just as spectacular during the summer months, which also offer better temperatures, (something worth considering if, like me, you’re allergic to the cold). Sutherland is known to experience the coldest temperatures in South Africa, due to its high altitude, and during the winter months, temperatures can plummet to -20 degrees Celsius, with snow and ice being common.
A must-do visit to SALT
We also managed to fit in an activity on our way to Rogge Cloof. Before making our way to the reserve, we drove into Sutherland to visit the much-talked-about, world-renowned SALT. No visit to Sutherland is complete without booking a tour of this magnificent site. SALT is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere, with a hexagonal mirror stretching 11 metres across, and is situated at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) field station just outside Sutherland.
The SAAO site feels otherworldly and the larger-than-life telescope is truly something special to see when visiting the area. The 90-minute day-time guided tour includes an in-depth walking tour of the SAAO visitor centre as well as a tour of SALT and a neighbouring research telescope, so visitors can get an idea of the sheer size and scope of SALT in comparison to other telescopes used for astronomical research. SAAO also offers a night tour which enables visitors to view interesting objects in the night sky, through two dedicated visitor telescopes.
How to get there
Sutherland is an easy 325 km drive from Cape Town, with plenty of cute farm stalls to stop at for sustenance along the way. Our party of five cruised up to the Northern Cape in the luxurious Ford Ranger Stormtrak. The perfect car for a road trip off-the-beaten-track, the Ford Ranger Stormtrak is based on the luxuriously appointed Wildtrak. The Ranger Stormtrak builds on the strong foundation set by the Wildtrak by introducing even more striking visual enhancements and convenience features to Ford’s generously specified bakkie. With a rugged look and luxurious interior finishes, there’s no better car for an adventure.
The Stormtrak is an absolute asset on a long road because this bakkie practically drives itself! The vehicle comes with an extensive list of innovative active and passive safety systems and driver aids, such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Forward Collision Alert, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid, and Driver Alert System, making long country drives easier than ever before. Read our full review of the Ford Ranger Stormtrak here.
