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A warm welcome to the "hottest" town in South Africa.
This is my first cache. I hope you enjoy it.
Thank you Chrisbloem for mentioning the blind spot. It is better to approach the turn off from the Upington side. Also the trick to get out, is to scope out the road from the rise to see in the distance if there's any cars approaching before making it out. Been doing this since child hood so did not think about it.
Mention Upington and the mind conjures up visions of a desolate, sunbaked, 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 geniune 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.
The elevation of Upington is 2742 feet (835 metres). It is the closest large centre to the Augrabies Falls, arguably the greatest of South African waterfalls. The landscape is very arid but the soil is fertile and crops such as fruit are grown in irrigated fields. The area is best known for its export-quality grapes, raisins and wines, which are cultivated on the rich flood plains of the Orange river.
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.
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 the Kalahari "Kuierfees" (Social festival)
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 metres of Palms planted 9m apart, which makes it one of the longest and densest palm avenues in the southern hemisphere.
Upington has a modern airport with scheduled flights provided by SA Airlink (an affiliate of South African Airways). The airport's runway, spanning 4900m[5], is one of the longest in the world and the longest in Africa.
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, Ostriche, 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.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ebpx cvyr