Upington is a town located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa on the banks of the Orange River. Founded in 1873, it was originally named Olyvenhoutsdrift because of the high concentration of olive wood trees in the surrounding area. The settlement was later renamed in honor of Sir Thomas Upington, who served as both Attorney-General and Prime Minister of the Cape.
The town originated as a mission station established in 1871 by Reverend Christiaan Schröder. This historic site currently houses the Kalahari Orange Museum. A notable feature of the museum is a donkey statue, which serves to recognize the significant role these animals played in the development of the region during the pioneering era of the 19th century.