Camel and Rider Statue, The

In front of the police station, the statue honours the ‘mounties’ who, on camels, patrolled the harsh desert territory.

Date Palm Avenue

The attractive entrance to Die Eiland Holiday Resort was declared a national monument in 1982. The palms were planted in 1935 by officials of the Department of Lands. The avenue of more than 200 date palms planted 9m apart is 1 041m long, making it one of the longest and densest palm avenues in the Southern Hemisphere.

Dutch Reformed Church

Schröder Str. Completed in 1911.

Hortentia Windmill, The

Built by the Reverend Christian Schröder in 1879, it can be seen from the bridge on the Groblershoop road.

Kalahari Kuierfees

Test yourself in the SAD-triathlon before shopping ‘til dropping at fleamarkets offering everything from the ?delectable to the divine. The Kalahari Kuierfees is loads of fun with first-class entertainment. Tel 054 332 1100.

Kalahari Oranje Museum, The

Built in 1875 as a church and mission station, it houses domestic items reflecting the history of Upington and the Lower Orange River. The monument of the donkey, sculpted in bronze, symbolises the unselfish contribution made by this beast of burden in developing the Lower Orange River Valley during the pioneering days. Tel 054 331 1373

Memorial Stone of Abraham ‘Holbors’ September

Regarded as the founder of the region’s irrigation system.

Microlight and Gyro Flights

Experience the spirit of freedom. Tel 083 717 2340

Mill Community Craft Centre

Inhabitants from Raaswater and Paballelo earn an income by creating intricately decorated crafts. Tel 054 332 6064.

Oasis Development Centre

People with disabilities can learn life skills by means of selling handmade arts and crafts and organising donkey cart drives. Tel 054 339 0662.

Orange River Wine Cellars

A short drive from the town centre into the industrial area takes you to the five-cellar co-operative – the largest in the country and the second-largest in the world! Wine tasting and tours are offered. Tel 054 337 8800.

Roman Catholic Church

Le Roux Str. Built in 1861 and renovated in 1947, it has been a national monument since 1982.

Sakkie se Arkie

A sundowner cruise on the Orange River. Tel 082 575 7285.

Scotty Smith

George St Leger Gordon Lennox, legendary rogue and Robin Hood of the Northern Cape, died in Upington during the 1918 flu epidemic and is buried in the local cemetery.

Semiprecious Stones

You can view rainbow-coloured stones fashioned by the ancient earth at the Museum Office and in the foyer of the Oranje Hotel. Stones include beryl, amethyst, agate, tourmaline, aquamarine, jasper, rose quartz and tiger’s eye.

Siyanda Cotton Ginnery

Cotton cultvated in the Siyanda irrigation region is considered among the purest in the world. Tel 054 334 0015.

South African Dried Fruit Co-operative, The

On the Louisville road, the co-operative is the second-largest and most modern of its kind in the world. More than 8 000ha of sultanas and 1 000ha of hanepoot grapes are cultivated on the Lower Orange River. Freshly-packed dried fruit is sold at the Kalahari Oranje Museum premises. Tel 054 337 8800.

Spitskop Nature Reserve

A small game park about 13km north of Upington, stocked with gemsbok, zebra, springbok, ostrich, eland, hartebeest and mountain zebra. Tel 054 332 1336.

Upington 26 monument

This monument was erected on the field in Paballelo township where about 3 000 anti-apartheid protesters were teargassed by riot police in 1985. A municipal policeman living nearby was killed in the ensuing chaos.

The “Upington 26” went on trial for participating in what was controversially deemed to be a crowd killing, under the doctrine of common purpose. Twenty-five were found guilty of the constable’s murder, with 14 of them sentenced to death, and one was convicted of attempted murder.

The case sparked an international outcry, and the death sentences were later overturned, with most serving prison terms and subsequently being released as political prisoners.