Kimberley, Northern Cape | Kimberley is the capital city of the Northern Cape Province in South Africa, famous for the "Big Hole"

Kimberley, Northern Cape

Northern Cape, South Africa

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Northern Cape, Kimberley

KIMBERLEY - DIAMOND FIELDS
Kimberley Mine MuseumKimberley: Say the name Kimberley, and nine times out of ten the phrase evoked by the name will be ‘big hole’. And indeed, Kimberley, the capital of the Northern Cape that is a perfect detour on the N12, just off the N1, that functions as an alternative route between Cape Town and Johannesburg, is ‘the’ place for diamond mining. It not only has a history immersed in diamonds but the Big Hole - a huge circular pit right in the middle of town - is a huge crater dug almost entirely with picks and shovels in an effort to reach the stones.

Kimberley’s Big Hole, measuring over a kilometre deep with a surface area of 17 hectares (although it isn’t the biggest hand-dug hole; the Jagersfontein Mine takes the credit for that) formed part of the diamond rush of the 1870s where men, with little more than man-made tools, managed to remove three tons of diamonds and 22,5 million tons of earth in the process.

The Big Hole in KimberleyToday the hole is not as deep. Not only was it used as a receptacle in which to throw debris after it was abandoned, but ground water seeps into the hole leaving only 175 metres of the 215 metre depth visible.

The Big Hole today continues to draw attention and has been converted into an open air museum with a rather daring lookout point directly over the hole. But Kimberley isn’t just about its hole, although the guided underground tours of De Beers diamond mine are always exciting. Take a walk through the historical city centre and visit the museums, monuments and art galleries that grace some of the old Victorian homes. And there’s a Kimberley ghost trail that reveals all the haunted corners of the city.
Overnight at Kimberley accommodation or find Kimberley Hotels.

Vaalbos National Park
Vaalbos National Park: The Vaalbos National Park is an extraordinary area along the Vaal River where wildlife such as black rhino, white rhino, buffalo, eland, red hartebeest and tsessebe are to be seen in the former heart of the the alluvial diamond diggings near Kimberley. The name Vaalbos ... more » Vaalbos National Park

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Kimberley, Northern Cape | Kimberley is the capital city of the Northern Cape Province in South Africa, famous for the "Big Hole"

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