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The diamond capital of the world and home of the famous
Big Hole, Kimberley has a fascinating and well preserved
history. The largest town in the Northern Cape, surrounded
by diamond diggings and dry, flat farming country, is
also an ideal destination for travellers en route to
the Kalahari and Namaqualand. There is much for the
tourist to enjoy in this quiet but exceptionally interesting
part of South Africa.
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Experience the "Roaring Dunes" of Witsand,
Orange River Wine Cellars, Haakskeen Pan, one of
the biggest dry pans in the Kalahari, early morning
and night game drives accompanied by a Zoologist
and bushman tracker in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier
Park, and the beauty of Augrabies Falls National
Park... |
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- The Big Hole and adjacent Mine Museum, a replica
of the city in the frenetic days of the diamond rush.
To get there, take the tram ride from the City Hall
- The world's only guided tour of an operational
diamond mine, 840 metres below earth.
- The McGregor Museum, for dazzling displays of natural
history and the environment, the origins of humankind
and the history of the region
- The Duggan-Cronin Gallery, a collection of 8 000
priceless ethnographic photographs taking on expeditions
into rural Southern Africa between 1919-39
- The Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre and !Xun &
Khwe Kamatoka Shop, showcasing contemporary San paintings,
prints, fabrics, offers an audio tour, rock art movie
and a walk back through time.
- Magersfontein Battlefield Museum, has a video-based
sound and light depiction of the famous battle; a
must for any Anglo-Boer War history buff
- The William Humphreys Art Gallery, South Africa's
only Grade 1 art gallery specialising in South African
artists and offering a fine collection of 16th and
17th century Flemish, Dutch, English and French masters.
Kimberley has air, rail and bus links with most major
cities.
SA Express 053 838 3337
SA Airways 053 838 3337
The airport is eight miles from the city. There is
no airport shuttle, but taxis are available on request
The railway station is on Florence Street, close to
the city centre. Three main line trains stop at Kimberley
each week. (For information, call 086 000 8888)
Intercape 054 332 6091
Greyhound 053 831 4548
Translux 053 832 6040
From Johannesburg, via the N1 to Bloemfontein (430
kms) and west via the R64 from Bloemfontein (175 kms).
From Cape Town (960 kms), take the N1 to Three Sisters
in the Karoo and the N12 to Kimberley.
| Diamantveld Visitor Centre |
053 832 7298 or www.kimberley-africa.com |
| Kimberley Airport |
053 851 1241 |
| Big Hole and Mine Museum |
053 839 4902 |
| Magersfontein War Museum |
053 833 7115 |
| McGregor Museum |
053 842 0099 |
| Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre |
053 833 7069 |
| William Humphreys Art Gallery |
053 831 1724 |
Links to Useful
Sites
www.kimberley.co.za
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