The Richtersveld, a UNESCO World Heritage SiteThe plant life of...
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As a child, I grew up with a love for the town of Upington in the Northern Cape of South Africa (Nama – Khara Hais). Many warm summer school holidays were spent here on the banks of the Orange River. If you love extremely hot summer days, I can recommend Upington as the place for you. Here you can explore in the early morning and late afternoon — and in the heat of the day, you take a siesta. This beautiful town and the region along the Orange River, is countryside at its best.
Upington is cradled between the Orange River and the edge of the Kalahari Desert — and that’s exactly what makes it unique. In my opinion, you’d never guess you’re near a desert when you’re walking among the vineyards and lush green surroundings. It’s a surprising, beautiful contrast.
The green belt of vineyards on either side of the river feels like a ribbon of life, gently following the flow of the Orange River. It’s a green oasis in the middle of—well, almost nowhere. And I say “almost” because this region has plenty to offer: things to do, places to see, and delicious things to taste. 😊
Founded in 1873 the town is rich with history and the Kalahari-Oranje Museum is a nice place to stop and learn more about the town. Items relating to the history of Upington and the Lower Orange River are on display here. The buildings were built by Reverend Schroder in 1875 as a church and mission station.
When driving through town you simply cannot miss this museum, with its life-sized statue of the donkey. This sculpture is a tribute to and acknowledges the unselfish and enormous contribution made by the donkey in developing the Lower Orange River Valley during the pioneer days of the 19th century. (How sweet is that…)
Upington makes a great base for exploring the wider Kalahari region. Just outside town, you can head off on scenic drives through red sand dunes, or go wine tasting with river views. The sunsets here are something special — the sky turns golden, then pink, then deep orange, reflected on the still waters of the Orange River.
Foremost Upington is famous for its wines produced by the Orange River Cellars. The export wines originate from six depots all on the banks of the Orange River. This includes Kanoneiland, Kakamas, Keimoes, Groblershoop and Grootdrink.
The climate here — with hot, dry days and cool river breezes — creates the perfect conditions for growing grapes. You’ll find mostly white wines being produced, especially Colombard and Chenin Blanc, known for their crisp, fruity character. A visit to the Orange River Cellars is a must if you’re in town; you can taste a wide variety of local wines while enjoying the laid-back, welcoming atmosphere of the Northern Cape.
Of course, the town is also known for its export-quality grapes and raisins. But in my opinion, nothing beats the taste of the local watermelons and summer sweet melons — they’re some of the best in the world. The only way to believe it is to come and taste them for yourself.
Another tourist attraction I can recommend is the world-famous Augrabies Waterfalls. Arguably the greatest of South African waterfalls, this is a spectacular sight. The Khoi people called it “Aukoerebis” which means “place of Great Noise”. Due to the very powerful flow of water which is unleashed from rocky surroundings down the 18 km Orange River Gorge. Should you ever think of exploring the Augrabies Falls National Park area and going on a holiday in this region, do read our article on ‘All you need to know about the Augrabies Falls‘ in Upington. There are tips and tricks to make your holiday loads of fun and easy to arrange on your own.
Be sure to include a drive along the 1000 m date palm avenue, as the entrance to the “Die Eiland Holiday Resort”, with more than 200 date palm trees.
In conclusion: With names like Verneukpan, Boegoeberg Dam, Boesmansgat, Tierberg, and Spitskop nature reserves, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the Kokerboom Forest, Riemvasmaak, and many more, the Northern Cape is the perfect road trip province for the nature- and history-loving traveler.
You have the option of flying to Upington. Easily book flights to Upington Airport (UTN) from our links given here:
From Cape Town you will fly to Johannesburg and then from there to Upington. If you’re coming from Cape Town, you might consider rather doing a self-drive experience and explore all the beauty of the Western and Northern Cape along the way.
From Johannesburg O R Thambo Airport (JNB) you can fly direct to and from Upington. However the self-drive option is really also very nice if you have the time to do some road-tripping.
From Upington you can also get a direct flight to Cape Town International Airport (CPT).
Search and compare the available flight options: Book your flight
You have the option of taking one of Intercape’s luxury (Sleepliner and Mainliner) busses, which travels to all major South African cities.
Accommodation options are wonderful. From Hotels and Lodges to B&B and self-catering.
Travel Tip: I believe nothing beats a stay in a cottage or a boutique hotel room right on the banks of the mighty Orange River.
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