Town and Surrounds
Upington, on the banks of the Orange River, is the economic and traffic centre of the Northern Cape and the gateway to the Kalahari desert. For travellers to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, this is the last stop to do the shopping in well stocked supermarkets and replenish the provisions. Those coming from the Kalahari can enjoy the green lawns and the luxury of a swimming pool after a dusty desert ride.

In the middle of a dry semi-desert area an oasis has been created using the waters of the Orange River for irrigation. A narrow ribbon of fertile land runs for over 280 kilometres on both sides of the river. The main crops are wine grapes, as well as citrus, wheat and vegetables. The grapes are exported to Europe as table fruits or used in the local wine production.

Climate
It is particularly hot at the lower Orange River, where the temperature often exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, with Upington being the hottest town in South Africa. In winter the temperatures stay between 25 and 30 degrees during the day, and dip very much lower at night. Night frosts are not unusual. The nicest time of the year in this region is spring,

History
Hottentot chieftain Klaas Lucas realized the value of being able to read & write. He also knew that the missionaries could help his people to acquire these skills, so in 1870 he appealed for the establishment of a mission station at Olyfenhoutsdrift (ford at the olivewood trees). The Reverend Christiaan Schröder was sent up from Cape Town. Permission to establish the Olyfenhoudsdrift Mission was secured from Klaas Pofadder who claimed ownership of the area.
Consequently, building work began when foundations were laid in 1873. Pioneer settlers such as Japie Lutz and the Reverend Schröder were quick to realise the irrigation possibilities along the Orange. They hand dug the first irrigation canals in 1880 and some of them are still in use today. Since then Upington grew rapidly and became the commercial, agricultural an educational center of the Gordonia district. The latter was named after Sir Gordon Sprigg, a former prime minister of the Cape Colony.

What to Do
Obviously, the Orange River does not only supply water for the town and industries, but is a major source of relaxation and entertainment, like in October, when the SA Dried Fruit Co holds its annual triathlon, combined with flea markets and water sports of all kinds and flavours.

Visitors are welcome at the Cotton Ginnery, at SA Dried Fruit Co-operative where tons of raisins and sultanas are packed daily, and at the Orange River Wine Cellars Co-operative - the second largest in the world - for cellar tours and wine tasting.

The Raisin Festival has a colourful parade of floats, beauty competitions, craft building competitions, potjiekos, pancakes and lots of fun for family and visitors.

Die Eiland, a Holiday Resort is situated on an island in the middle of the Orange River, with a Date Palm entrance avenue of 1 041 meters of Palms planted 9m apart, which makes it one of the longest and densest palm avenues in the southern hemisphere.

Upington is also strategically situated for visits to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Augrabies Falls National Park. Close to home, you also find the Spitskop Nature Reserve, providing sanctuary to herds of Gemsbok, Zebra, Springbok, Ostriche, Eland, Camel and Wildebeest - a perfect place for a day's outing, picnicking, game drives or even doing the hiking trails in the Reserve.

The Augrabies National Park offers a variety of wildlife to see, as well as a variety of hiking trails, night game drives, Black Rhino, canoeing, mountain biking and river rafting on the Orange River, below the awesome Augrabies Falls itself. This is also a land of contrasts, with various scenic attractions and 4x4 trails for the four-wheel drive enthusiast.

Once you've allowed the eerie Kalahari atmosphere to become part of you, you'll soon heed the call to return to this vastly different landscape that is home to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, one of the world's truly unspoilt ecosystems. Its vast open spaces and endless dune horizons, its predators and clear starlit night skies filled with the sounds of barking geckoes, howling jackals and hooting owls creates a very magical atmosphere not to be missed.