Upington Area Information

Upington at a glance

Upington is a well-known business, agricultural and residential hub of the Northern Cape. It is known as a gateway from which to experience the beauty of Namaqualand's flowers and the Augrabies Falls National Park. The area has an outstanding international reputation for the quality of its grapes, raisins and wines. Jawitz Properties provides the lowdown on Upington and all that it has to offer its residents.

Getting to know Upington better

Upington was originally named Olyvenhoutsdrif in honour of the abundance of olivewood trees in the area. Its name was changed to Upington in 1898 in honour of the Cape Colony's attorney general, Sir Thomas Upington. In its earliest days, it was a Christian mission station.

Temperate days and cold nights are standard for Upington, where the mercury can rise into the high 30s on a summer's day and plummet to about 5°C on a winter's night. The area typically gets no rainfall from May to September.

Upington is located 820km north of Cape Town and 875km west of Johannesburg. Upington is served by its own airport, which is renowned for having the longest civilian runway in the Southern Hemisphere, measuring 4 900 metres. Airlink offers flights from Upington to various local and international destinations.

Upington is set in the Northern Cape and is both the largest and the most sparsely populated of the South African provinces. This leaves the vast majority of the countryside unspoilt, maintaining a natural integrity that is quite magnificent.

Upington real estate includes beautiful homes overlooking the mighty Orange river, farms with breathtaking views and sunsets to reconnect with your soul in the Kalahari and Boesmanland.

Schools, medical facilities and shopping centres

There is an array of great schools in Upington where your children and teens can take their first steps on the road to success. These include Laerskool Oranje-Noord, Hoërskool Upington (known locally as Uppies) and Hoërskool Duineveld.

Mediclinic Upington provides top-quality healthcare, and a wide range of doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, optometrists and other medical professionals in the area ensure that your health is well taken care of.

Kalahari Mall is the place to go to get the shopping done in Upington. From electronics and cellphones to clothes and groceries, this mall has your needs covered. You'll find a wide array of department stores including Woolworths, Game, Jet and Edgars.

Restaurants, special attractions and things to do

Whether you're looking for fine dining or a casual meal, you'll find a great restaurant in Upington. Café Zest is a well-known eatery in the area, serving a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week - and a local's suggestion is to try the homemade pizzas or craft burgers. Bi Lo Bistro is another great restaurant to visit, and the espetada and pizzas come highly recommended.

Indisputably, one of Upington's top attractions is Sakkie se Arkie. You can enjoy a breathtaking sunset river cruise, complete with unsurpassed birdwatching, relaxation and an opportunity to soak up the Kalahari sun. There are also opportunities to have a braai, go tubing or waterskiing or camp out for a weekend.

Upington is just a stone's throw from Bezalel Wine & Brandy Estate, where locals and visitors can explore a boutique wine cellar and artisan distillery as well as a tasting room and garden café, all set in picturesque castle-like settings.

History buffs in the area can visit the Kalahari-Oranje Museum, where an abundance of items relating to the history of Upington and the Lower Orange River precinct can be found.

Upington is also the closest large town to the majestic Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, so for those keen to explore the very best of what South Africa has to offer, this is a fine place to call home.

If you're looking to buy, sell or rent property in Upington, contact the Jawitz Properties team today. Let us help you find the perfect home in the Kalahari sunshine so that you can relax and reconnect with the beauty of nature. It is our great privilege to serve in this great area which manages to remain something of a secret to the rest of the world.