A Tribute to the Donkey: Visiting the Kalahari-Oranje Museum in Upington

Upington is a town located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River. The town is home to the Kalahari-Oranje Museum, housed in buildings built by Reverend Schröder in 1875 as a church and mission station.

The museum displays household items dating from that era and items relating to the history of Upington and the Lower Orange River. One of its most notable features is a life-sized statue of a donkey sculpted in bronze by Hennie Potgieter. The statue represents the unselfish contribution made by the donkey in developing the Lower Orange River Valley during the pioneer days.

The museum is open Monday to Friday from 09h00 to 12h30 and 14h00 to 17h00. It’s worth a visit if you’re interested in learning more about the history of our home town Upington and the role of donkeys in its development.