Upington Attractions
Upington lies on the west bank of the Orange River in the far north of the Northern Cape Province. To the north the landscape merges into the Kalahari Desert. It is very hot here in summer: the best time for a visit is between April and October. Thanks to the town's excellent communications - it has a modern airport, lies on the railroad line from De Aar to Namibia and is an important road junction point - many visitors stop over here on the way to Namibia, the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (240km/150mi north) or the Augrabies Falls (130km/80mi west).
The town is the commercial and agricultural center of the northwestern part of the Northern Cape Province. The Orange River, with a perennial flow, supplies water for the irrigation of an extensive agricultural area. The main crops are cotton, dates, table grapes and other kinds of fruit, much of it marketed as dried fruit. The South African Dried Fruit Cooperative has the second largest and the most modern fruit-processing plant in the world (conducted tours).
The town - named after Sir Thomas Upington, prime minister of the Cape Colony from 1884 to 1886 - developed out of a mission station established in 1871. The early missionaries created an irrigation system which provided a basis for the rapid growth and prosperity of the town.
Upington is a surprisingly green town, with broad streets, many shops and trim residential districts.
Olyvenhoutdrift, an island in the Orange River, is now a holiday center, with a camping site, various categories of accommodation for visitors and a variety of sports facilities.
The town is the commercial and agricultural center of the northwestern part of the Northern Cape Province. The Orange River, with a perennial flow, supplies water for the irrigation of an extensive agricultural area. The main crops are cotton, dates, table grapes and other kinds of fruit, much of it marketed as dried fruit. The South African Dried Fruit Cooperative has the second largest and the most modern fruit-processing plant in the world (conducted tours).
The town - named after Sir Thomas Upington, prime minister of the Cape Colony from 1884 to 1886 - developed out of a mission station established in 1871. The early missionaries created an irrigation system which provided a basis for the rapid growth and prosperity of the town.
Upington is a surprisingly green town, with broad streets, many shops and trim residential districts.
Olyvenhoutdrift, an island in the Orange River, is now a holiday center, with a camping site, various categories of accommodation for visitors and a variety of sports facilities.
Kakamas, South Africa
(Near Upington)
40km/25mi beyond Keimoes is Kakamas (pop. 5,500). In the Hottentot language the name means "barren grazing land"; but with the help of irrigation Kakamas is now a flourishing agricultural center surrounded by cotton fields and arable land.
The area is famed for the semi-precious stones to be found here in great quantity and variety (onyx, amethyst, blue, green and brown tiger's eyes, etc.).
The area is famed for the semi-precious stones to be found here in great quantity and variety (onyx, amethyst, blue, green and brown tiger's eyes, etc.).
Kalahari Oranje Museum
The Kalahari Oranje Museum, housed in a mission building of 1883, has collections of material illustrating the natural history and culture of the region.
Keimoes, South Africa
(Near Upington)
From Upington the R 359 runs southwest, following the course of the Orange River. In 50km/31mi it comes to Keimoes (pop. 8,500), which is worth a brief stop to drive up the Tierberg (nature reserve), from the top of which there are fine views of the oasis of irrigated land round the town.
Spitzkop Nature Reserve
13km/8mi north of Upington is the Spitzkop Nature Reserve centered on a striking granite hill ("koppie"), with antelopes, gazelles, wildebeests, ostriches, steppe zebras and camels.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 7:00 | 7:00 | 7:00 | 7:00 | 7:00 | 7:00 | 7:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
