Discover Upington

Upington can be explored through a variety of stories: the Camel and Rider Statue commemorates mounted police officers and their horses, Grietjie is a retired steam locomotive at the railway station, and the Kalahari-Oranje Museum is housed in historic buildings. There is also the tasting centre of Orange River Cellars. Together, these offer ways to explore the area through remembrance, technology, architectural history and wine. If you are planning a trip to Upington, you can consider which subjects interest you most and how you would like to plan your stay before looking for a holiday apartment.

Places of Remembrance and Technology

In front of the Upington police station, the Camel and Rider Statue commemorates the mounted police officers and their horses who patrolled the harsh desert region. The monument connects a specific activity with the landscape in which it took place. For visitors interested in local history, its particular point of interest lies in this connection between mounted service and the harsh desert region.

The retired steam locomotive Grietjie stands at Upington railway station. Its proper name, design and retired status provide specific points of reference: it can be understood as a named example of steam technology, whose former status differs from that of an active mode of transport. In contrast to the statue, the focus shifts from the memory of mounted patrols to a technological object. Two different subjects from the past thus stand side by side.

The History of a Building

The Kalahari-Oranje Museum is housed in the buildings that Reverend Schröder had constructed in 1875 as a church and mission station. Their original functions are therefore clearly identified: the buildings served religious and missionary purposes before becoming the home of the museum. This sequence offers a distinct way to explore history, focusing on the buildings’ former use. Unlike a single monument or a named vehicle, the interest here lies in the changing function of a historic building. Those interested in buildings and their history will find a specific point of difference from Upington’s other places of remembrance.

Wine Tasting with a Regional Perspective

The Orange River Cellars tasting centre is located in Upington and is open to city visitors and local residents, who can taste wines there. Visitors can also get information about the wine range and tourist offerings in the Northern Cape. The wine tasting therefore takes place at the tasting centre in Upington, while the tourist information relates to offerings in the Northern Cape. Check the centre’s current operating details before your trip so you can include the wine tasting in your plans accordingly.

Choose Accommodation to Suit Your Interests

When looking for a holiday apartment in Upington, you can use these themes to help guide your travel priorities. Consider whether you would prefer to set aside time for historic places of remembrance, the history of a building, or wine and regional offerings. If you are travelling with family, the different subjects can spark conversations about what each family member is most looking forward to.

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