South African Hotels

Kimberley Tourism Information

Quick Facts: Kimberley

  • Kimberley City Hall: neo-classical
  • Building of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature
  • Dunluce: late Victorian
  • Harry Oppenheimer House: modern
  • Kamfers Dam: located north of Kimberley is an important wetland area which is home to a breeding colony of Lesser Flamingos
  • Museums, momuments and memorials in and around Kimberley, Northern Cape (South Africa)
  • The city of Kimberley is home to numerous museums, monuments and memorials
  • The Big Hole / Kimberley Mine Museum
  • McGregor Museum
  • William Humphreys Art Gallery
  • Kimberley Africana Library
  • Dunluce and Rudd House Museums
  • Pioneers of Aviation Museum
  • Sol Plaatje Museum
  • Transport Spoornet Museum
  • Clyde N. Terry Hall of Militaria
  • Freddie Tate Museum
  • Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre
  • Nooitgedacht Glacial Pavements
  • Magersfontein Battlefield Museum
  • Miners' Memorial / Diggers' Fountain
  • Honoured Dead Memorial
  • World War I memorial in Kimberley
  • Henrietta Stockdale statue
  • Statue of Frances Baard
  • Sol Plaatje Statue
  • Burger Monument near Magersfontein Battlefield
  • Mayibuye Memorial
  • Rhodes equestrian statue
  • Malay Camp Memorial

Introducing Kimberley

Kimberley is often referred to as the diamond city of South Africa, it is the capital of South Africa's Northern Cape.  In 1866, a boy found a small brilliant pebble on the banks of the Orange River on the farm De Kalk near Hopetown.  This brilliant river pebble turned out to be a 21.25 carat / 4.25 g diamond, known as the Eureka.  Three years later Schalk van Niekerk sold another diamond also found in the De Kalk vicinity, which is know as the Star of South Africa for £11,200.

Kimberley, which is oftern referred to as the diamond city of South Africa, is located in the Northern Cape of which it is the capital.  This South African town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War.  Notable South African personalities such as Cecil Rhodes made their fortune here and the roots of the De Beers corporation can also be traced to the early days of Kimberley's mining town.

In 1866, a little boy called Erasmus Jacobs found a small brilliant pebble on the banks of the Orange River on the farm De Kalk near Hopetown. The pebble was sold by his father and purchased from Jacobs by Schalk van Niekerk, who later sold it.  This brilliant river pebble turned out to be a 21.25 carat / 4.25 g diamond, known as the Eureka. Three years later Schalk van Niekerk sold another diamond also found in the De Kalk vicinity, which is know as the Star of South Africa for £11,200. The second diamond was promptly resold in the London markets for £25,000.

In 1871, an even larger 83.50 carat / 16.7 g diamond was found on the slopes of Colesberg Kopje on the farm Vooruitzigt belonging to the De Beers brothers.  The news of the diamond discovery in this region spread quickly and thousands of fortune seekers were attracted to this area.

Big Hole / Kimberley Mine Museum in Kimberley, Northern Cape (South Africa)

The famous Big Hole in Kimberley is a recreated townscape and museum featuring a viewing platform over the Big Hole.   The Kimberley Mine Museum / Big Hole displays a great collection of artefacts and information from the early days of the city's existance. One of the exhibits is Cecil John Rhodes's grand railway carriage which carried him as governor of the Cape of Good Hope toRhodesia .  

Also situated at the mine museum is the first house built in the developing Kimberley, as well as the first church. Barney Barnato, Cecil John Rhodes's partner in the developing De Beers, had a boxing academy here. This boxing academy can be found alongside the Rhodes rail carriage.  On the wall is the framed original cheque which was signed by Cecil John Rhodes and Barney Barnato in the amount of £4,5 million pounds to establish the De Beers Consolidated mines.

Museums, momuments and memorials in and around Kimberley, Northern Cape (South Africa)

The city of Kimberley is home to numerous museums, monuments and memorials amongst which are:

  • The Big Hole / Kimberley Mine Museum
  • McGregor Museum
  • William Humphreys Art Gallery
  • Kimberley Africana Library
  • Dunluce and Rudd House Museums
  • Pioneers of Aviation Museum
  • Sol Plaatje Museum
  • Transport Spoornet Museum
  • Clyde N. Terry Hall of Militaria
  • Freddie Tate Museum
  • Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre
  • Nooitgedacht Glacial Pavements
  • Magersfontein Battlefield Museum
  • Memorials in and around Kimberley, Northern Cape (South Africa)
  • Kimberley features several memorials which include:
  • Miners' Memorial / Diggers' Fountain: located in the Oppenheimer Gardens and designed by Herman Wald
  • Honoured Dead Memorial: commemorates those who died defending the city during the Siege of Kimberley in the Anglo-Boer War
  • World War I memorial in Kimberley
  • Henrietta Stockdale statue
  • Statue of Frances Baard
  • Sol Plaatje Statue
  • Burger Monument near Magersfontein Battlefield
  • Mayibuye Memorial
  • Rhodes equestrian statue
  • Malay Camp Memorial.

The Maloof Money Cup, Kimberley

Taking place in Kimberley, during the last weekend in September, is the Maloof Money Cup. The Maloof Money Cup is one of the greatest events of the skate boarding world, where skateboarders from all around the world can come and compete and show off their mad skills.

At the Maloof Money Cup you will get to see both amateur and professional skaters such as; Danny Cerezini, The Lizard King, Chad Fernandez and many more.  Come and watch these dare devils as they grind pipes, air walk grab and kick turn their way to becoming the Maloof Money Cup Champion.

Hotels that we can recommend for accommodation during this time include the following: