Grootdrink, Green Kalahari
Despite the town's allusion to bigness - Grootdrink, translated from the Afrikaans, means 'big drink' - it is little more than a small town in the nether reaches of the Northern Cape on the N10, which leaves the N14 linking Upington with Kuruman, just outside the former town.
It is in the same league as towns like Postmasburg and Danielskuil - off the beaten track and seldom on travellers' itineraries, except if you are en route to Augrabies National Park or even further, the Richtersveld Transfrontier Park - then Grootdrink looks like a viable option for an overnighter or more, before heading on.
However, one stops to think again when hearing of Grootdrink Winery's domination of the Country Cellars competition for the Winemakers and Viticulturists of the Orange River Wine Cellars in 2010. Suddenly Grootdrink has earned its claim to any type of drinking at all, making off with Champion Wine Cellar, Champion Winemaker, Best Red Blend and Best Red Cultivar.
With the promise of good wine, and the peace and quiet and beautiful scenery - think red sand and quiver trees - that comes with staying up here in the southern Kalahari landscape, Grootdrink has more than earned its stripes as a place worthy of a visit.
Vineyards flourish along the banks of the Orange River and the vines are in stark contrast to the largely dry vicinity. If you think that there are twenty winemakers, one very big river, and yields that make the average co-op look tiny. Because of this accommodation in Upington is aplenty. It is little surprise then that areas close by, like Grootdrink, should follow suit. Next time you're in the neighbourhood, stay in Grootdrink, taste the wine and reflect on what it is to be miles away from everything.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options

Sun River Kalahari Lodge
Sun River Kalahari Lodge is a home away from home, situated in the heart of the Green Kalahari, stretched over five properties, on the banks of t...

Le Must Residence
Le Must Residence is a large villa close to the city centre and offers great views of the Orange River. The guest house offera 11 rooms that vary...

Plato Lodge
Plato Lodge is situated 50km west from Augrabies Waterfalls Natural Park. It is ideal for the visitor who wants to explore the waterfalls at Augr...

Ikaia River Lodge
Situated near Keimoes, the jewel of the Northern Cape, Ikaia River Lodge offers a variety of accommodation. The establishment is 40 kms from Upin...

Upington Inn
Upington Inn lies in a green oasis in Upington, Northern Cape. This Upington hotel offers a full range of amenities to ensure a comfortable stay ...

Pecanwood Manor
Situated on the skirts of a pecan wood plantation in Upington, Pecanwood Manor offers bed and breakfast accommodation in seven rooms. Attractions...

Desert Palace Hotel
Situated in the heart of the Kalahari at the Upington Golf Course, 7km from the CBD of Upington, the accommodation offered is tranquil and relaxe...

Vredelus Country Estate
Vredelus Country Estate offers accommodation in Upington with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and access to a garden and swimming pool. The air cond...

Tutwa Desert Lodge
Tutwa Desert Lodge is set on a 16 000 ha private game reserve in the heart of the Green Kalahari in the Northern Cape. With exclusive access to o...
Noteworthy attractions

Augrabies Falls National Park
The Khoi people called it 'Aukoerebis', the place of the Great Noise, referring to the Orange River thundering its way downwards for 60 metres in...

Spitskop Nature Reserve
The Spitskop Nature Reserve was named after Spitskop, an impressive granite koppie just outside the small town of Upington. Consisting mainly of ...

Witsand Nature Reserve
The Witsand (White Sands) Nature Reserve is a 2 500 hectares island of brilliant white sands surrounded by a sea of regular Red Kalahari sand. Al...

Upington Golf Club
Situated just outside of Upington on the N14 road to Johannesburg and Olifantshoek, next to Desert Palace Casino, is the Upington Golf Course. Th...

Orange River Wine Route
In a part of South Africa that is, for all intents and purposes, practically desert, one does not expect to find a wine route. But the Orange Riv...

Northern Cape Wine Estates
With a completely different climate to the Cape Winelands, the Northern Cape produces a number of ranges of wines that boast unique flavours. The...

Riemvasmaak Community Conservancy
North west of the town of Kakamas and bordering the Augrabies National Park is the Riemvasmaak Community Conservancy - 75 00 hectares of land bet...

Hakskeen Pan
Hakskeen Pan is a dry lake bed, and the world's largest unworked saltpan. It lies way up in the far north west of the Northern Cape, 300 km from ...

Kokerboom Food and Wine Route
The Kokerboom, or quiver tree, is one of the most idiosyncratic trees of the Kalahari (South Africa and Namibia). Also known, in scientific circl...
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