Diamondfields - Cape  - Accommodation, Safaris, Adventure

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Province: Northern Cape
Region: Diamond Fields

Towns: 
Belmont  |  Kimberley  |  Barkley West  |  Campbell | Delportshoop  |  Douglas  |  Griquatown  |  Hartswater  |  Jan Kempdorp  |  Warrenton  |  Windsorton  |  Witput


The frenetic activity, the extraordinary web of pully cables leading to a six-storey staging platform and the sight of up to 30 000 miners working 3 600 claims over 17ha have faded into the sepia of memories of photographic archives. Even the delirious laughter of a digger striking it rich and the sobs of a bankrupt "stayer" have been translated into the assets and liabilities of succeeding generations. But, somehow, memories of the Kimberley tent-town's halcyon days linger. 

Many old buildings, museums and one of South Africa's most important art galleries lend an historic ambience to the modern city that thrust its way to prominence through the heat, dust, flies and fever of the diamond rush. A partial reconstruction of the original 'rush town' - or open-air museum - alongside the incredible Big Hole, the largest hand-dug excavation in the world, offers visitors insights of startling clarity into the lives and minds of those who lived and worked through the dreams and nightmares of a vibrant history we take for granted. 

Today, motivated by an urge as old as time itself, prospectors still sift for treasure at their claims in the gravels of the Vaal River at Delportshoop, site of the first alluvial diggings in 1869. 

During the Anglo-Boer War, Kimberley was besieged by the Boers for four months. In this time, many heroes rose to prominence, great names were tarnished and a lot of people died. The defense of Kimberley showed how a determined, small and under-resourced force could keep the British Army at bay for months. Lt-General Lord Methuen's struggle to reach Kimberley from Orange River Station just 120km south of the town is an epic story of courage. One of several conflicts on Methuen's northerly march, the Battle of Magersfontein ranks as one of the Boers' greatest victories and one of Britain's most humiliating military defeats. The town was finally relieved by General John French's cavalry on 15 February 1900. 

Yet, for many the events on the Diamond Fields in the late 19th century obscure the fascinating and hard-fought struggle of South Africa's indigenous peoples to forge their identities. The legacies of the Griquas live on, however, and a visit to Griquatown is well worthwhile for any traveller keen to explore the origins of our developing nation.