About Upington

Upington sits on the Orange River in the western Northern Cape, in the Green Kalahari region. It is the gateway town for the Augrabies Falls National Park (60 km west, where the Orange drops 56 metres in a single fall) and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (4 hours north). The local economy is built on table grapes, wine, sultanas, dried fruit and tourism. The town has its own airport with daily flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Where conferences happen

Protea Hotel Upington, Le Must River Manor, Kalahari Sands, plus a cluster of small country lodges and game farms handle local conferencing.

When to pick Upington

Far-northern-Cape industry events (table grape, sultana, wine industry conferences), Augrabies-and-Kgalagadi gateway programmes, and astronomy-sector events linked to the SKA. Strong for science and conservation-sector conferences.

Getting there

Upington Airport (UTN) handles daily flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town via SA Airlink. Drive from Cape Town is 9 hours; from Johannesburg 9 hours.

Climate and seasonality

Semi-desert climate — very hot summers (often 40°C+ in January), warm dry winters with cold nights. Among the driest cities in SA.

What to budget

Day-delegate packages R700–R1,400; accommodation R1,200–R3,200.