Accommodation Near Kimberley Big Hole
*All distances listed are as the crow flies, and not actual travel distances.
Kimberley Big Hole Reviews
More info about Kimberley Big Hole
The largest hand-dug hole in the world, the Big Hole in Kimberley, South Africa is the result of a frenzied diamond rush that began in the 1870s when thousands of diggers staked their claim and used pick and shovel to gouge out a hole to a depth of 240m. Incredibly, the hole was once a hill called Colesberg Hill and when taking the hill height into consideration, the digging was essentially a lot deeper. By the time the De Beers Mining Company took over operations, the open pit had reached a diameter of 500m. The company sent shafts down to over 800m and continued to mine underground until 1914 when it closed after yielding approximately 3 tons of diamonds.
To view the hole requires an entrance fee into the Kimberley Mine Museum. Catch the old tram to the Big Hole that leaves every hour from the Kimberley city hall. The museum is a great way to... Show more