|
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.
|
|
|
2010 Accommodation bookings and enquiries
|
|
