Upington is in a land of contrasts. Situated deep in the Kalahari desert, Upington is found in the rich fertile valley of the Orange River. The river brings life-giving water to the harsh barren land, turning it into a lush green delta ribbon. Upington is the centre of this region, with modern shops, highly productive agriculture and top-class tourism facilities. The SA Dried Fruit Co-operative is based here and packages tons of raisins and sultanas daily. The Orange River Wine Cellars Co-operative - the second largest in the world - is also worth a visit for cellar tours and wine tasting.
The Kalahari is home to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, one of the world's truly unspoilt ecosystems. Guests can experience endless dune horizons and vast open spaces, predators and clear starlit night skies that are filled with the sounds of barking geckoes, howling jackals and hooting owls. This is a magical atmosphere that will eventually become a part of you, and you'll soon heed the call to return to this vastly different landscape.
Upington is also the closest city to the Augrabies Falls, one of South Africa's greatest waterfalls. Slightly off the beaten track, the Augrabies Falls lie in a 28000-hectare park named the Augrabies Falls National Park. Home to Eland, Springbok, Klipspringer, Giraffe and Black Rhino, the national Park has some beautiful hiking trails that last from 3 hours to three days depending on how you feel.
