See what the experts are saying about Upington. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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Introduction
People come to southern Africa for its natural beauty, wildlife, and sunshine, and few leave disappointed. With an immensely varied terrain supporting a rich diversity of fauna and flora, the region offers a correspondingly diverse range of e... Continue reading »
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Frommer's favorite experiences
Spotting Zebra Grazing on the Mountain from the Highway (Cape Town): Zebra, wildebeest, and various antelope graze on Table Mountain's slopes, literally minutes from the city center. Look out for them from the highway as you drive in from the... Continue reading »
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Best dining bets
Ordering a Cape Malay Dish (Cape Town): Typified by mild, sweet curries and stews, this cuisine is easy on the uninitiated palate. The most authentic restaurant is Biesmiellah, located in the Bo-Kaap in Cape Town, but many of the top restaura... Continue reading »
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The best ecolodges & wilderness resorts
Morukuru (Madikwe, North-West): With no schedules, no rules, and absolutely no pressure on guests to do anything other than relax, this wonderful little lodge combines the finest in safari luxury with fabulous service and really memorable gam... Continue reading »
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The best national parks
De Hoop Nature Reserve (Whale Coast, Western Cape): A magnificent coastal reserve featuring deserted beaches, interesting rock pools, beautiful fynbos (uniquely diverse shrublands), a wetland with more than 200 bird species, and a number of s... Continue reading »
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The best outdoor pursuits
Throwing Yourself Off Lion's Head and Landing on Camps Bay Beach (Cape Town): It's a breathtaking ride hovering over the slopes of Table Mountain. As you slowly glide toward the white sands of Camps Bay, lapped by an endless expanse of ocean,... Continue reading »
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The best places to experience culture & history
Diagonal Street (Johannesburg, Gauteng): On one side of the street, sangomas (healers) enter a pungent muti (folk medicine) shop to purchase jars of crushed baboon skull, lizards' feet, and crocodile fat, while on the other, businessmen flash... Continue reading »
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The wildest animal encounter
Staring Down a Roaring Lion (private game reserves in Mpumalanga, Limpopo Province, the North-West, and Botswana): Tourists are notoriously hungry for shots of big cats, and if you spend 2 nights at one of the top private game reserves, you w... Continue reading »
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Planning a trip
Most first-time visitors to South Africa are amazed at how sophisticated the infrastructure is here, but it's still a developing country -- the high levels of poverty can be disturbing, and service standards can be patchy. Although generally... Continue reading »
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Fast facts
American Express -- In South Africa -- Report card loss to the National Call Center Johannesburg branch at tel. 086-032-1555. Other branches are located in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, and Richard's Bay. Business Hours -- S... Continue reading »
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Visitor information
South Africa South African Tourism (www.southafrica.net or www.southafrica.info). In the U.S. -- 500 Fifth Ave., 20th Floor, Suite 2040, New York, NY 10110 (tel. 212/730-2929; info.us@southafrica.net). Brochure line: tel. 800/593-1318.... Continue reading »
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When to go
Because southern Africa is such a large area, with each region offering different seasonal benefits, the time you go should help determine where you go. South Africa The summer months (Nov-Feb) tend to attract the majority of visitors (... Continue reading »
