The Big Hole in Kimberley is South Africa's diamond-rush landmark — a vast, hand-dug mine and the museum built around it. For expats it's the main reason to stop in the Northern Cape, and a genuinely interesting window into the industry that shaped the country.
What you're looking at
Dug largely by hand from 1871 during the diamond rush, the Big Hole reached around 240 m deep (now partly filled with water) with a perimeter of about 1.6 km, yielding a few tonnes of diamonds over its life. This is where De Beers — and the fortunes of Cecil Rhodes and Barney Barnato — began. The Kimberley Mine Museum around it recreates a diamond-rush street, with a viewing platform over the hole, an underground display, and a diamond vault.
Visiting as a resident
Kimberley sits roughly halfway between Johannesburg and Cape Town, so the Big Hole is a natural break on that long drive rather than a destination in itself. The museum is open daily; allow a couple of hours for the platform, exhibits, and old town.
Good to know
- It's an easy, worthwhile stop on the Joburg–Cape Town route.
- The viewing platform and reconstructed town are the highlights.
- Allow about two hours for the full museum.
- Good for a mixed-age group; it's walkable and accessible.
Related
- Living in South Africa — the full expat guide
- Getting around in South Africa — long-distance driving
- Johannesburg — one end of the classic drive