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Kimberley, thanks to the fevered diamond rush of the 1870s, has a glittering past. Take a guided tour of a once-operational diamond mine, which descends a staggering 840m below the earth. For those who prefer being above ground, visit the city's glittering choice of jewellery stores.

Kimberley, the capital of the Northern Cape province, is known as the Diamond City.

Start your exploration of the city at its main attraction: the Big Hole. Imagine a hand-dug hole the size of eight football fields and you have some idea of the labour that went into creating the Big Hole.

Adjacent to the Big Hole is the Kimberley Mine Museum, which brings to life the way the city was during the frenetic days of the diamond rush. Many of the buildings here are originals that have been moved over the years to this spot. If you are not claustrophobic, take the guided tour of a once-operational diamond mine which descends a staggering 840m below the earth.

A few kilometres from the city centre lies Kimberley’s oldest residential suburb, Belgravia, which dates back to the 1870s. These homes were built at the peak of diamond trade. This is where South Africa's mining dynasty's patriarch, Harry Oppenheimer, was born. It's said that there once was more millionaires in this area than anywhere else in the world.

Art lovers are also in for a treat. The Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre showcases San art, both ancient rock art and contemporary creations. Not far away is the William Humphreys Art Gallery, specialising in South African artists but also offering a fine collection of 16th and 17th century Flemish, Dutch, English and French masters.

And if you're a battlefields buff, you're in for a treat. The Boers besieged Kimberley for several months during the South African War (also called the Anglo-Boer War), and many battles were fought in the vicinity. Visit the evocative Magersfontein battlefield, dating to 1899, and museum about 30 kilometres from Kimberley.

Being the diamond capital of the world, Kimberley is well-known for its exquisite. individually crafted jewellery, offering a precious personalised memento of a trip to Kimberley.

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Things to do
Wildlife safari

Weddings in Northern Cape: lush riverside farms and dramatic desert landscapes

Wildlife safari
Weddings in Northern Cape: lush riverside farms and dramatic desert landscapes
Northern Cape is a vast arid province bisected by the Orange River – a superb wedding destination, whether among lush vineyard greenery, spring wildflowers, or the stark dry beauty of the Kalahari.

Kimberley’s McGregor Museum

Kimberley’s McGregor Museum
The central McGregor Museum in Kimberley takes you on a journey from cave dwellers to the dawn of humanity, ancient tools and hand-axes, the Stone Age, the arrival of Europeans in South Africa, conflict over minerals, Olive Schreiner, Chief Galeshewe (a local hero) and right through to the Siege of Kimberley.

The Diamond Fields of the Northern Cape

The Diamond Fields of the Northern Cape
A visit to Kimberley’s Big Hole and Mine Museum is an opportunity to relive the days of the diamond rush; then head into the Northern Cape’s Diamond Fields some of the battlefields of the South Africa War (also known as the Anglo-Boer War).

The Kimberley Club: from colonial gentlemen’s refuge to boutique hotel

The Kimberley Club: from colonial gentlemen’s refuge to boutique hotel
The Kimberley Club, once the social hub of the Diamond City’s upper crust, today includes a nostalgic Victorian boutique hotel to delight visitors exploring Northern Cape province.

The outlaw, Scotty Smith

The outlaw, Scotty Smith
Scotty Smith was a legendary outlaw who spent most of his time roaming the Northern Cape in search of diamonds and horses, occasionally sharing his loot with the poor, and evading the police at every turn.

Kimberley - the diamond capital of South Africa

Kimberley - the diamond capital of South Africa
Kimberley is known as the Diamond City because of the city’s main attraction, the Big Hole, but it also has specialist art galleries and jewellery stores for visitors, as well as being a battlefields site.
Active adventure

Fly-fish in the rivers around Kimberley

Active adventure
Fly-fish in the rivers around Kimberley
There’s excellent fly-fishing in the rivers near Kimberley in the Northern Cape. The largemouth yellowfish is generally regarded as South Africa’s largest freshwater fish species, with trophies weighing more than 3kg.

The Kimberley Mine Museum, Northern Cape: recapture the heady days of the diamond rush

The Kimberley Mine Museum, Northern Cape: recapture the heady days of the diamond rush
The Kimberley Mine Museum in Northern Cape, overlooking the famous Big Hole, is a fascinating place to learn about the wild diamond rush and Kimberley’s transition into a respectable Victorian city.
Vibrant culture

Kimberley Africana Library: a fine collection of Africana in a historic Northern Cape building

Vibrant culture
Kimberley Africana Library: a fine collection of Africana in a historic Northern Cape building
The Kimberley Africana Library’s exquisite collection of documents and photographs specialise in the history of the diamond fields, Kimberley, Northern Cape and the South African War.
Vibrant culture

The Duggan-Cronin Gallery, Kimberley: cultural heritage in Northern Cape, laid out in pictures

Vibrant culture
The Duggan-Cronin Gallery, Kimberley: cultural heritage in Northern Cape, laid out in pictures
The Duggan-Cronin Gallery in Kimberley, Northern Cape, hosts the Thandabantu permanent exhibition: a small selection of Alfred Duggan-Cronin’s extraordinary photographs of southern African peoples.
Active adventure

The ultimate adrenaline-soaked itinerary for South African thrill seekers

Active adventure
The ultimate adrenaline-soaked itinerary for South African thrill seekers
From our incredible coastlines and mountain passes all the way through to some of the most innovative urban attractions, this is an adventurer's playground supreme.
Vibrant culture

Battle for the diamond fields – the Siege of Kimberley

Vibrant culture
Battle for the diamond fields – the Siege of Kimberley
Cecil John Rhodes and Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Kekewich were key players in defence of the Boer forces in the Siege of Kimberley during the South African War (formerly the Second Anglo-Boer War).

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