The 9 things to do in Kimberley

Are you going to visit Kimberley in the heart of South Africa? Discover the 8 essentials of the diamond city.

Kimberley is located in the Cape North region of South Africa. Far from sightseeing tours, Kimberley remains a place ignored for most of its visitors. And yet, the one called the “town of the diamond” is full of treasures to discover. When you come to visit Kimberley, first start exploring the Big Hole, which is one of the largest wells in the world. Then discover the city and its rich history, its colonial architecture, its old tram, its national parks and the many animal species there.

Kimberley owes her name diamond city discovered in 1866 a rough diamond by a child. This discovery led to a real diamond rush in the Cape North region. It was at that time that the Big Hole was dug to find the most precious stones in the region. Kimberley was the first city receiving electricity in Africa to allow miners to explore the area. Today Kimberley lives mainly in the mining industry, as it is one of the largest asbestos deposits in the continent.

If you want to discover South Africa from another perspective, visit Kimberley and its must-sees.

1. Big hole

What to do to Kimberley? The Big Hole, of course! It is a must not to be missed.

Each year, this impressive site attracts many visitors from all over the world. It is a huge open-air mine. Specifically, the mine measures 240 meters in depth and not far from 500 meters in diameter. If you can’t see the distances, it’s normal! So imagine eight football pitches; This is the size of the Big Hole. Once on site, you will see, it’s simply spectacular.

It took several hundred miners to dig this huge hole. They were all looking for the famous brilliant stone. For several decades (from 1871 until 1914), miners extracted no less than three tons of diamond. Due to its depth, the activities had to cease in 1914. It became too dangerous for all minors working in the Big Hole. At the time of the diamond rush, five holes were dug for the research of the famous stone. At present, these holes have been refilled, leaving only the Big Hole, the most impressive of all. So when you go visit Kimberley, don't miss the hole!

2. Mokala National Park

Southwest of the city of Kimberley is the Mokala National Park. Close to 27,000 hectares, the park aims to protect endangered species. So, when you come to visit Kimberley, you will be able to go to the Cape Buffle, Black Rhinoceros, Hippotrague and many other wild animals.

Beyond an exceptional fauna, this getaway is an excellent way to discover exceptional landscapes. Between open plains and sand dunes, it is the guaranteed escape. During your trip, don’t forget to lift your eyes to the sky to admire the many birds that fly over the park.

3. Kimberley Mine Museum

Not far from the Big Hole, the Kimberley Mine Museum teaches you the secrets of the mine. This is the first diamond found in the region in 1866; it is Eureka. Visiting Kimberley will let you know everything about diamonds and their history.

During your visit to this open-air museum, jump in time and browse Kimberley at the time of the diamond rush. Most of the buildings present are of time and have been moved to carry you to another universe. You will discover the old church, the old houses and the old shops of the miners, or the private railways of the mine operators. Obviously, an exhibition of rough diamonds and precious stones is presented to all visitors.

A guided tour of a mine is also possible for the most expensive. Indeed, you will descend a staircase of 840 meters below ground. You must not be claustrophobic! Kimberley Mine Museum is open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. .

4. Karoo National Park

Kimberley is in the Karoo Desert. During your stay in the diamond city, explore the Karoo National Park. In other words, the Karoo is divided into two parts: in the north is the Grand Karoo and in the south, the Petit Karoo. The two spaces are separated by a mountain chain; the Swartberg . This extremely arid desert is completely deprived of water.

The Karoo National Park was created in 1979 and is located between the Petit and the Grand Karoo. It extends over 768 square kilometres and reaches up to 1,300 metres of altitude. During your visit to Kimberley, you can ask for a guide that will explain everything about the history of the region as well as the richness of the fauna and flora in the park.

If you want to fully enjoy the park, a campsite is at your disposal either in tents, caravans or chalets according to your preferences. You can stay as many days as you wish to evade yourself completely in the middle of nature.

5. Make a safari

What to do to Kimberley? Going to meet wild animals of course! Visiting South Africa without making a safari is almost inconceivable. And for that, Kimberley is one of the best places. Wildlife is present everywhere for the greatest pleasure of your eyes. The National Park of Mountain Zebras is ideal to admire the animals of the region.

The park was built in 1937 and covers nearly 300 square kilometres. As its name suggests, you will discover mountain zebras that are among the most endangered mammals in the world. Beyond this species, you will have the opportunity to admire buffaloes, impulses, gazelles, gnous, cheetahs, vultures, cobras, lions, and many more. It is also in this park that there is the largest variety of turtles. When you come to visit Kimberley, this is the ideal activity for the smaller as for the larger.

6. Mc Gregor Museum

The McGregor Museum was founded in September 1907. This is one of the must-see attractions when you visit Kimberley. This multidisciplinary museum covers several satellite organizations each with its speciality. One of the best known is gallery Duggan-Cronin . This gallery reproduces the photographs Alfred Martin Duggan-Cronin who studied African communities in a 120,000-kilometre journey across the continent.

Other organizations include: Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum , Dunluce , Memorial of the pioneers of aviation , Magersfontein Battlefield and Wonderwerk Cave and Site Museum .

The museum has exhibitions on aviation, botany, zoology, South African history, etc. It participates in research in many areas and ensures the conservation of several collections. The Museum is both a tourist site, but also educational for thousands of South Africans.

7. Culinary specialties

When you visit Kimberley, take the time to taste the region's culinary specialties. One of the favorite dishes of the inhabitants of the diamond city is the Bitong . This is a meal based on ostrich meat or dried beef. The meat is marinated in a mixture of vinegar, salt, coriander and spices. Then the meat is dried in the sun. To accompany the meat, don’t hesitate to taste them Tjips (this is in Afrikaans chips). The peculiarity of this dish is that the chips are soaked in vinegar to add taste.

Other dishes are also succulent like the roosterkoek , chakalaka , boerewors or even vetkoek . By the history of South Africa, Kimberley’s food consists of a clever mix between African and European cuisine due to colonizations, but also Indian and Asian. And all this, for the pleasure of your taste buds!

8. Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre

Sixteen kilometers the diamond city , is the Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre . This is one of the must-sees to do when you come to visit Kimberley. It is a centre combining ancient art and modern art. The goal is to allow visitors to connect with the past in a more or less spiritual way.

The visit begins at the reception where several exhibitions are present. An auditorium broadcasts a 20-minute documentary. Then you cross a path through a hill where more than two hundred images and engravings are displayed. Guides are available to travellers to answer questions about local or contemporary history, social themes, etc.

Note : the site opens every day of the week between 9am and 4pm and the weekend between 10am and 4pm. It's closed on holidays.

9. To see and do also to Kimberley

It’s hard enough to summarize everything Kimberley has to do. To be sure not to forget, here are some sites to visit to get out of the beaten paths:

• Africana Library : this building, created in 1887, is today the best bookshop in all of South Africa for everything related to research.
• William Humphreys Art Gallery Cullinan Crescent : this gallery has an impressive collection of Dutch and Flemish works.
• Steam Locomotives: As Kimberley was at the heart of the diamond rush at the end of the 19th century, the transport was heavily developed. Don’t hesitate to visit the transport museum to discover the old steam trains of the time.
• The Honoured Dead Memorial : this memorial commemorates those who defended their city during the Anglo-Boer War.
• Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Gardens and Diggers Fountain : This is a commemoration of the first mayor elected to Kimberley, Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, who was a diamond magnet.
• The Market Square : This is the former market place of the diamond city.
• Newton Dutch Reformed Church
• Memorial to Sister Henrietta Stockdale : this memorial commemorating Henrietta Stockdale who was the first materrone of the Kimberley hospital. It made it possible to institutionalize the registration of nurses by the country.
• School of Mines: the former School of Mines has now become a renowned university in the province of Cape North
• Seventh Day Adventist Church

How to go to Kimberley?

From France

If you want to visit Kimberley from France, know there is no direct flight linking the diamond city France. To go to Kimberley, you will have to go to Johannesburg the capital of South Africa.

Then, some internal flights are possible to get to Kimberley. The airport is located seven kilometres from the city centre. You can then rent a car take a taxi or the airport shuttle.

If you want to get the most interesting rates, don’t hesitate to use a flight comparison as Ulysses . This site compares thousands of flights between France and South Africa. This will allow you to get the best prices in just a few clicks.

South Africa

If you are already in South Africa, several solutions are available to reach Kimberley:

• The train: the cities of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg serve Kimberley by train.
• The bus: There are many bus companies to go to Kimberley from South Africa (Big Sky Coaches, Intercape, Greyhound, Translux).
• Car rental

Where to stay in Kimberley?

If you are visiting Kimberley for several days or weeks, many options are available for accommodation. Hotels, Airbnb , camping, youth hostel; choices are almost infinite.

And if you want to save money, you can still opt for one Compare hotels to find the most suitable offer for your needs (and all that, at a lower cost). You can find the best hotels in the Big Hole area, Kimberley city centre, the airport or the city of Ritchie.

Good trip to Kimberley!