Diamond Fields

The frenetic activity, the extraordinary web of pulley cables leading to a six-story staging platform and the sight of up to 30 000 miners working 3 600 claim over 17ha have faded into the sepia memories of photographic archives.

Yet somehow, memories of the Kimberley tent-town’s days linger. Many old buildings, museums and one of South Africa’s most important art galleries lend an historic ambience to the city that thrust its way to prominence during the diamond rush.

A reconstruction of the original “rush town” stands alongside the incredible Big Hole, the largest hand-dug excavation in the world, offering visitors insight into the lives of those who lives and worked through the dreams and nightmares of a vibrant history we take for granted. During the Anglo-Boer War, Kimberley was besieged by the Boers for four months. In this time, many heroes rose to prominence. Boer forces surrounding Kimberley showed how a determined, small and under-resourced force could keep the British army at bay for months. But Kimberley’s diamond story and siege are part of only the most recent history here. A rich archeological heritage, including stunning examples of ancient rock engravings, reflects a past that reaches back to the very origin of humankind.

Tour 1- The Big Hole & Mine Museum: 1 Day
Tour 2- Kimberley and surroundings: 2 Days/1 night

Mokala National Park
Mokala National Park is very conveniently situated 80m south of Kimberley, just off the N12 to Cape Town. The grassy plains studded with camel thorn trees (Mokala is a Stswana name for camel thorn) are the new home to endangered species that were translocated from Vaalbos National Park. Temperamental black rhino as well as white rhino, elusive roan antelope, and Cape buffalo are amongst many mammals that roam freely amongst the rocky hillocks. There are also San rock art engravings and Anglo-Boer War battlefields to be explored in the area. The Park includes three lodges, Mosu, Mofele and Lilydale. Masu and Mofele are relative close to each other and can host sixty guests. Both lodges have restaurant, pub and conference facilities, A new camping area, about 10km from the main lodge, is being established around a waterhole. Lilydale, which is perched above the Riet River, consists of a fully-equipped conference centre which can accommodate up to 8 people. Twelve luxurious air-conditioned chalets overlook the river each with sundeck and braai area. The Riet River is famous for its fly fishing with large quantities of smallmouth and largemouth yellowfish.

Tour 3 - Mokala National Park - 2 Days/1 night
Tour 4 - Mokala National Park - 3 Days/2 nights

Vaalharts Valley
This beautiful yet little known valley is only one hour’s drive north of Kimberley. The surrounds are like a breath of fresh air with the lush green farmlands highlighted from the usual yellows and browns of the nearby countryside. Two mighty rivers, the Vaal and the Harts, feed an intricate irrigation scheme that supports more than 1250 high production agricultural farms.

The development of an Agri Tourism Route is currently taking place, which will allow the tourist to experience all the activities of surrounding the harvesting and production of popular local farming products, such as olives, pecan nuts, peanuts, citrus, wine cotton and stone fruit. Wheat, mealies and Lucerne are also grown. Although agriculture is the mainstay of the valley there is plenty more to do and see. You can cool off in our canals (or even ride down them); explore the region on a 4x4 trip; enjoy a breathtaking view of the valley in a microlight; take a peaceful morning horseriding; watching the waterbirds on a shallow lake during late afternoon or reminisce about the one that got away on the banks of the Harts River. Hartswater and Jan Kempdorp are the two main centres in the irrigation area and have golf clubs, bowling greens, restaurants and accommodation to suit most tastes