Big Hole and Kimberley Mine Museum in Kimberley, Northern Cape (original) (raw)
One of Kimberley�s major attractions, the Big Hole and Kimberley Mine Museum, was once a flat-topped hill and is now an awesome hole - the largest hand-dug excavation in the world - dug by picks, shovels and sheer determination, measuring 215 metres deep with a surface area of some 17 hectares and a perimeter of 1,6 km.
The Kimberley Mine site started on or about 16 July 1871 and by 14 August 1914 all mining activities ceased. By that time it had yielded 2 722 kilograms of diamonds extracted from 22,5 million tons of excavated earth. Today the Big Hole is surrounded by original old buildings from days gone by, relocated from their earlier sites to form a magnificent open air museum.
The Big Hole has had a massive upgrade and now offers:
� The Underground Mine Experience enables visitors who enter a recreation of a mine shaft of the period to experience the perilous 19th century mining conditions.
� A fascinating fifteen-minute film introduces visitors to the story of diamonds at Kimberley.
� Inside the Exhibition Centre are photographs, archive material and original artefacts that illustrate the story of diamonds from the past to the present.
� Visitors can see the old jigging machines and grease tables specially designed to extract the diamonds from the ore in the Pulsator Building.
� The Real Diamond Display, which is housed in a vault, displays the largest uncut octahedron in the world, the famous 616, named for its carat and size.
� The new Viewing Platform offers visitors the opportunity to see The Big Hole from above, giving a sense of the Big Hole�s remarkable scale and grandeur.
� In the Old Town you�ll discover period buildings that have been preserved or restored to their original glory; these include, amongst others, a church built in Europe and shipped to Kimberley; Barney Barnato�s Boxing Academy; the Diggers� Tavern; an authentic digger�s sleeping quarters and the De Beers railway coach.
Need to Know
WhereTucker Street, Kimberley, Northern Cape.
WhenMondays to Fridays 08h00 to 17h00.
How muchPrices on request.
Telephone+27 (0)53 839-4600
More informationSee website
OvernightStay nearby in Kimberley, in Northern Cape
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Find Big Hole and Kimberley Mine Museum in these collections
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options by proximity
* Distances shown are "as the crow flies", not driving distances. Please confirm with the establishment should driving distance be a factor in your decision.
0.06 km / Guest House
New Rush Guesthouse
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0.25 km / Guest House
Victorian Guest Lodge
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1.04 km / Hotel
Nare Boutique Hotel
Situated 700m from The Big Hole, Nare Boutique Hotel features accommodation with a restaurant, parking, a bar and a shared lounge. The hotel has ...
1.11 km / Hotel
The Kimberley Club
The Kimberley Club, famous since 1881, is an historical 4-star boutique hotel situated in the Kimberley CBD area, providing luxury accommodation,...
1.5 km / Guest House
Kimberley Manor Guesthouse
Experience the tranquility, comfort and personal attention, found at our Luxurious accommodation, nestled in the heart of the "Diamond City". Her...
1.78 km / Guest House
Cecil John Rhodes Guest House
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1.85 km / Bed & Breakfast / Self Catering
Hadida Guest House
Hadida Guest House offers comfortable, private self-catering accommodation (breakfast on request) in fully equipped, self-contained units, conven...
1.9 km / Bed & Breakfast
Sweet Dreams Guesthouse
Sweet Dreams Guesthouse offers comfortable accommodation in Kimberley. Each one of our double rooms has a King-size bed and an en-suite bathroom ...
1.94 km / Guest House / Bed & Breakfast
Agros Guest House
Agros Guest House offers top-notch hospitality, ensuring you'll be well taken care of during your stay. The en-suite rooms are equipped with air ...
2.05 km / Guest House / Self Catering
Mc Kala Guest House
Guests enjoy a friendly reception and neat clean accommodation at Mc Kala Guest House. Rooms are equipped with comfortable beds, flat screen TVs,...
2.1 km / Bed & Breakfast
The Nook B&B
The Nook B&B is an establishment in Kimberley. Accommodation is offered on a bed and breakfast basis. There are five en-suite rooms which each sl...
2.54 km / Self Catering
Caledon Overnight Rooms
Located 3.1km from The Big Hole, Caledon Overnight Rooms provides accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, private parking, a shared lounge, ...
2.58 km / Guest House
Fancy Yellow Guest House
Fancy Yellow Guest House is an upmarket property offering fine accommodation in a quiet area in Kimberley. Of the eight rooms available, there ar...
2.64 km / Hotel
Halfway House Hotel
The Halfway House Hotel, Kimberley is situated on the Belgravia historic route and offers guests visiting the "Diamond City" accommodation in a c...
2.65 km / Guest House / Bed & Breakfast
Purple Steps Guest House
Introducing Purple Steps Guest House offers Kimberley accommodation in Royldene, Here you can expect a warm 'Home Away From Home' experience. The...
2.72 km / Guest House
Paljas en Kandas
Paljas en Kandas is a Kimberley guest house situated in a quiet and safe neighbourhood. The guest house offers clean, comfortable and secure acco...
2.81 km / Self Catering
Midway Overnight Rooms
Midway Overnight Rooms, a property with a garden, braai area and a terrace, is set in Kimberley, a short drive from the Kimberley Mine Museum. Th...
2.82 km / Guest House
Kimberley Boutique Guest Lodge
Kimberley Boutique Guest Lodge is located in Hillcrest, Kimberley. The lodge offers comfortable accommodation within easy reach of numerous shops...
2.86 km / Self Catering
Padlangs
Padlangs offers accommodation in Kimberley. This historical town is well known for the Big Hole, the Mine Museum, the Belgravia Historical Walk a...
2.87 km / Self Catering
Padlangs Self Catering
Padlangs Self Catering offers comfortable self-catering accommodation in Kimberley. The establishment is close to all the major attractions of th...
2.88 km / Self Catering
The Solomon
Located on Solomon Street, The Solomon offers accommodation in tastefully converted and furnished with high quality fixtures and fittings, The So...
2.89 km / Bed & Breakfast
Oak Rest Bed & Breakfast
Oak Rest offers luxury accommodation, great hospitality and a wonderful atmosphere under a large oak tree in Kimberley. Accommodation is offered ...
2.9 km / Guest House
Hillcrest Hosting
Hillcrest Hosting offers cosy overnight accommodation in Kimberley in two rooms located on the owner's property in Hillcrest. The property is ide...
2.97 km / Guest House
Villa Mexicana Guesthouse
Villa Mexicana in Kimberleyoffers modern, spacious accommodation ideally situated for both business or leisure travellers. Villa Mexicana offers ...
3.01 km / Hotel
Kimberley Anne Small Luxury Hotel
Kimberley Anne Small Luxury Hotel has accommodation where you can be at home in an exquisite work of art. All the suites have been designed with ...
4.68 km / Hotel
House Of Eden
House Of Eden offers comfortable accommodation to couples or groups visiting Kimberley in the Northern Cape. The lodge has 20 well-appointed gues...
11.26 km / Hotel
Ein Gedi Premier Lodge
Ein Gedi Premier Lodge offers hotel accommodation in Kimberley. The rooms overlook the bushveld area where you can spot a variety of birds and en...
14.69 km / Self Catering
Marrick Safari
Nestled in 3000 hectares of unspoilt savannah thornveld close to Kimberley, Marrick Safari offers accommodation in fully equipped cottages. The b...
15.65 km / Self Catering
Mein Heim Estate
Mein Heim is a beautiful farm only 15 minutes drive from the Kimberley city centre. This accommodation in the Kimberley area also offers pony rid...
33.75 km / Hotel
Cygnature Boutique Lodge
Cygnature Boutique Lodge offers accommodation on the Magersfontein Memorial Golf Estate in the lovely area of Modderrivier. Each room is equippe...
90.48 km / Bed & Breakfast / Self Catering
Broadwater River Estate
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101.24 km / Guest House
The Last Eve Guesthouse
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101.47 km / Guest House
Rene's Guesthouse
Rene's offers luxurious and comfortable accommodation for both travellers, businessmen and those looking for a fabulous getaway. Situated in Doug...
Other things to do in the area
0.92 km / Museums
Belgravia Historic Walk
The historic suburb of Belgravia plays host to 33 of the Kimberleys' most historical sites. Much of the Kimberley�s opulent lifestyle of days gon...
0.92 km / Monuments
Kimberley Town Hall
When visiting Kimberley make sure you take a turn past the town hall. The architecture alone is stunning. This beautiful building was constructed...
1.05 km / Museums
Alexander McGregor Memorial Museum
Across town from the McGregor Museum - housed in the beautiful Sanatorium in which Cecil Rhodes had rooms in Kimberley - is the Alexander McGrego...
1.23 km / Museums
Kimberley's Vintage Trams
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1.27 km / Museums
Sol Plaatje Museum
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1.56 km / Museums
Transport Museum
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1.59 km / Museums
William Humphreys Art Gallery
The William Humphreys Art Gallery opened in 1952 was named after its principal benefactor, William Benbow Humphreys and is located in Kimberley�s...
2.11 km / Family Entertainment
Kimberley Town & Country Market
Having moved from the outskirts of Kimberley, the diamond capital of South Africa, this little market has grown in leaps and bounds as it is now ...
2.32 km / Museums
Rudd House
This low-eved typical example of a residence of the late 19th century in Kimberley looks every bit the part of its haunted reputation. Regarded a...
Noteworthy attractions
0.42 km / Museums
Kimberley Mine Museum
Situated next to The Big Hole, this open-air museum (one of the finest in the world) depicts Kimberley in its Victorian heyday during the diamond...
0.42 km / Museums
The Big Hole
Kimberley developed around this huge hole in the ground, formerly a small hill known as Colesberg Koppie, where diamonds were discovered early in...
0.93 km / Popular Tourist Routes
Diamond Route
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1.4 km / Landmarks
St Cyprian's Anglican Cathedral
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1.96 km / Landmarks
Cenotaph
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11.58 km / Nature Reserves
Benfontein Nature Reserve
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112.93 km / National Monuments
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12.3 km / Archaeological
Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre
More than a thousand years ago, the area that is now known as the Northern Cape Province was home to indigenous San tribes (also known as Bushmen...
14.16 km / Game Farms / Game Parks
Dronfield Nature Reserve
Lying just off the N12, a mere 10km north of Kimberley, Dronfield Nature Reserve is on the De Beers Diamond Route. The game farm is a favourite w...
Accommodation convenient to Big Hole and Kimberley Mine Museum
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