Upington

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Geography and History

Upington is the pricipal Town of the Green Kalahari in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. Upington is situated 820km north of Cape Town and 875km west of Johannesburg. On the Kalahari-Namaqua-Namibia (Nama-kwari) route to and from Johannesburg and Cape Town, it is a convenient stopover for those travelling to the Augrabies Falls National Park, the Fish River Canyon and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The town of Upington is named after Sir Thomas Upington, the first Attorney General of the Cape. Originally known as Kharahais, bound by the Orange River and the Kalahari desert, Upington owes its prosperity to agriculture and its irrigated lands along the Orange River.

Upington is an ideal winter holiday destination with excellent facilities and beautiful countryside. The contrasts of the semidesert reds with the emerald and olive greens of fertile vineyards are quite memorable! Linked by air and road to most parts of the country, the town is accessible, offers excellent accommodation and has a well-developed commercial infrastructure.

Activities

Visit SA Dried Fruit Co-operative

Make sure to pay a visit at The Mill to fill up on local delights with products such as dried fruit, freshly baked home products, goat's milk feta cheese, arts and crafts to body product and home decor.

The Kalahari Kuierfees, held in September at Upington offers loads of entertainment, for more information visit www.kalahari-kuierfees.co.za

Spitskop Nature Reserve just outside Upington, provides a perfect destination for a day's outing, picnicking, game drives or even doing the hiking trails in the Reserve.

Take the scenic Orange River Wine Route through Keimoes, Kakamas and explore the unique stops along the way to the majestic Augrabies National Park and waterfalls only +-120km away

Take a sun downer river cruise on Sakkies Arkie in Upington.