Infrastructure
All major roads to Upington are tarred.  Two intercity coach services link Upington with all major centres in South Africa and Namibia on a daily basis.  Major car rental agencies are located at the airport.  Transport from and to the airport is also provided by most accommodation facilities on request.  For off-road excursions 4x4 vehicles can be hired from the local private companies.

Among Upington’s amenities are highly quality medical care, banking facilities with Foreign Exchange available from 09:00 – 15:30, computer services, cell phone agencies as well as email and internet facilities.

Tap water in houses and public areas is purified and perfectly safe for human consumption.  Electricity is supplied at 220/230 V at 50 Hz.

Fuel Stations
Fuel Stations in Upington operate 24 hours, providing leaded, unleaded fuel and diesel.  In smaller towns fuel is only available during the day; confirm availability of unleaded fuel prior to departure.

Airport
The airport, situated a mere 4km from town, is renowned for its longest runway in the southern hemisphere.  It is an international airport, strategically situated and accommodating domestic flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town on a 7 days-a-week basis.  Major car rental agencies available.

Postal service
Business Hours:
09:00 – 17:00 Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri.
08:00-13:00 Saturdays

Mail can be addressed Poste Restante for collection at the counter.  Telephones are automatic with direct dialing to most countries.  Dialing certain towns in the district requires utilizing the specific area’s manual exchange facility.

Education
Upington boasts a variety of educational institutions.  Apart from the Vaal University of Technology and the Upington College for Vocational Education, Upington has 7 secondary and 13 primary schools giving the student access to some of the distinguished schools in the Northern Cape.

Accommodation
Upington is a tourist’s dream with regard to the town’s high standard and variety of accommodation:  most luxurious to budget style.  Contact the friendly personnel at the Information Centre for more detailed information. The town also hosts two central reservation offices for accommodation: Sociable Weaver 082 426 9920 and Seek and Stay 083 3110206

The Eiland Holiday Resort
In the hustle and bustle of city life it is hard to imagine that there are places of exceptional calm and tranquility.  Such a place is the Eiland Holiday Resort, on the banks of the Orange River in Upington, where a peaceful atmosphere serves as a balm to the work weary.

When some good exercise is required, take to the tennis courts or cool down next to a large swimming pool, soaking up the sun or simply lazing around under the big trees on the vast, shaded lawns.

Bowls and angling are also offered while the resort is a mere 9km from a lovely 18 hole golf course.  A walk on the date palm avenue, which serves as entrance to the resort, is highly recommended. Its symphony of bird chatter will most certainly lift your spirit even further.

You can bed down in our comfortable chalets of cottages, blending perfectly with the cool river island feeling.  Five and four-bed chalets are fully equipped.  So reserve a room or caravan site for a weekend or more, the hall or group accommodation for a week.

The Eiland is the ideal stop-over for you and your family or your company’s next indaba.  Contact the Eiland Holiday Resort Personnel on 054 334 0286.

 

Restaurants
Upington boasts many excellent privately owned or franchised restaurants.  Enjoy a range of culinary delights, especially the sizzling steaks and traditional tender lamb chops the region in renowned for.

Conference facilities:
Standard and upmarket conference facilities are available.  Contact the Information Centre for more details.

Sport
Upington has an Olympic-size swimming pool and the following to indulge in:  tennis, 18 hole championship golf course, squash, canoeing, fishing, bowls.  Be daring and let your motor boat spray the waters of the Orange River with a water skier trailing.  Or go to the extreme and observe the territory from the azure skies in a micro light.

Geography

Location
Upington is centrally located en route from Cape Town, Durban or Johannesburg to Namibia; or forming part of the Cape Town-Johannesburg route.  Refer to road kilometer distances between Upington and the mentioned towns in opposite column.

Size
Upington covers an area of 30 901 hectares of which 3642 hectares are developed.  Upington falls within the 53 456km² Gordonia District.

Population
Approximately 76 000 people reside in the Upington region.

Elevation
Upington lies 805m above sea level

Weather
Upington is renowned for mild to hot days all year round and minimal rainfall.  Humidity is very how which makes the hot days agreeable.  The azure skies are clear and unpolluted.  The average recordings over the last five years are as follows:

Average summer temperature:
Min.17,8°C    Max 34,6°C

Average winter temperature:
Min. 3,5°C     Max20,6°C

Average summer humidity:            16% - 81%
Average winter humidity: 26% - 97%
Average annual rainfall: 195mm

 

DISTANCES
Augrabies Falls National Park                  120km
Bloemfontein                                                            588km
Boegoebergdam                                          156km
Cape Town                                                   894km
Groblershoop                                                121km
Johannesburg                                              804km
Kakamas                                                       81km
Keimoes                                                        40km
Kenhardt                                                       130km
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Par                       268km
Kimberley (capital city of province)           411km
Pofadder                                                        206km
Rietfontein                                                    219km
Springbok                                                      374km
Windhoek                                                      973km

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Upington is regarded as the fastest growing town in the Northern Cape.  //Khara Hais Municipality being awarded one of the top three performing municipalities, applies the Abantu Bayalawula principle: to go the extra mile in working with the communities.  Therefore Upington and its people are the source of the region’s success.

An investment in //Khara Hais is an investment for life in Upington.  Owing to Upington’s strategic location, a pollution free climate and //Khara Hais Municipality’s comprehensive plan including incentives, Upington offers business opportunities for business, entrepreneurs and tourists.

A five year plan to provide basic services to the eight newly incorporated communities into //Khara Hais’s municipal boundaries is ahead of the orininal schedule.  The main objective of upgrading and implementing programmes is twofold: stimulating local job creation whilst simultaneously accelerating service delivery which improves social and economic growth.

The Local Economic Development and Tourism Committee aims at poverty alleviatin by means of “emerging –contractor –friendly” tender documentation and purchasing material from local suppliers.  Prepaid water and electricity meters have been installed to assist households.  Innovations such as labour intensive construction methods are prescribed, and cash flow of emerging contractors is attended to by a system of payment.

The consistent administration approach creates an environment conducive enough to lure potential investors and developers to Upington, the gigantic capital on the forefront of progress, situated in the heart of the Green Kalahari.  Contact the Economic Development, Tourism & Resorts Unit at 054 338 7151.

Upington

Bound by the Orange River and the Kalahari, Upington is the principal city in the Northern Region, an ideal winter holiday resort with all the modern conveniences on the major routes to Namibia and Kalahari, Augrabies, Fish River Canyon and Northern Cape

Mention Upington and the mind conjures up visions of a desolate, sun baked, southern Kalahari desert town, where man's existence is a daily struggle. But how wrong can one be. Through this harsh landscape that surrounds Upington runs a glittering green ribbon - the fertile Orange River Valley which brings life-giving water from the distant highlands of Lesotho to the town.

This is a town of beautifully landscaped gardens, many rosebeds and large, graceful trees - all wrapped in a genuine atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

The water that gives Upington its cool and emerald character is also essential for the intensive irrigation in the area.

The central business district hums with business activities, also those from a lively informal sector present in town. The bustling, fast growing town of Upington has the fitting motto of "Progressus" (progress). Upington's economy relies on agriculture, tourism and the services industry. Its modern shops, excellent facilities and easy accessibility makes it the centre of this vast region. A large number of major regional economic role players have their offices in Upington.

One is constantly aware of the fact that all these activities are made possible by the Orange River with its never-ending supply of water. Irrigated fields and vineyards stretch for 300 km along the lower Orange River. Here one finds sultanas and raisins,
export grapes, champion wines and cotton that stand its own on the world market. 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.

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 flavors.

The Kalahari Kuierfees has a colorful 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, Ostrich, 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 also 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.