Kimberley, South Africa

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Kimberley, South Africa

Region: Northern Cape

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Geographic Coordinates: -28.738300, 24.763900

Climate: Dry and hot climate with low precipitation, characterized by a rainy season from October to April and a dry season from May to September. Temperatures can reach up to 40°C in summer months.

Population: 500757

Language: English

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Kimberley, South Africa is a city situated in the Northern Cape province and is famous for its diamond mining history. The De Beers brothers discovered diamonds on a farm in 1871, Leading to a diamond rush and making Kimberley one of the most significant diamond mining towns globally. The Big Hole is one of Kimberley’s main attractions, Which was once an open-pit diamond mine that produced over 14 million carats of diamonds and now transformed into a museum. Visitors can learn about the history of diamond mining and try panning for diamonds.

The McGregor Museum houses exhibits on natural history, Archaeology, Local culture, Early human evolution with fossils dating back millions of years. Historic buildings such as Dunluce House (built-in 1897), Rudd House (built-in 1877), Magersfontein Battlefield Museum (built-in memory of Boer soldiers who fought against British forces) & Sol Plaatje House Museum are some notable places to visit. Kamfers Dam attracts tourists worldwide as it’s home to thousands upon thousands flamingos who migrate there every year from August through October.

Nature lovers can enjoy hiking trails nearby including Mokala National Park or Augrabies Falls National Park while exploring flora & fauna unique to this region. Kimberley offers traditional South African cuisine along with international dishes at various restaurants throughout the city. Visitors can also sample local wines from the Northern Cape region at various wine estates in and around Kimberley. Kimberley’s rich history and natural beauty make it an ideal travel destination for anyone interested in learning about diamond mining or exploring historic buildings while enjoying outdoor activities.

With its unique blend of culture, History & adventure – there is something for everyone in this vibrant city located at the heart of South Africa’s Northern Cape province.

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1. Big Hole and Kimberley Mine Museum – a historic diamond mine and museum showcasing the history of diamond mining in South Africa.
2. McGregor Museum – a cultural and natural history museum featuring exhibits on the archaeology, geology, and anthropology of Kimberley and the surrounding region.
3. Kamfers Dam – a large artificial wetland that is home to thousands of flamingos during breeding season.
4. Sol Plaatje House Museum – a restored Victorian-era house that was once the home of South African writer, journalist, and political activist Sol Plaatje.
5. Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre – an archaeological site featuring ancient San rock art dating back thousands of years.
6. Mokala National Park – a wildlife reserve located just outside Kimberley that is home to rare species such as black rhino, roan antelope, and sable antelope.
7. Duggan-Cronin Gallery – an art gallery showcasing photographs from early 20th-century South Africa by photographer Alfred Martin Duggan-Cronin.
8. Magersfontein Battlefield Museum – a museum dedicated to one of the most significant battles fought during the Second Boer War in 1899-1900.
9. William Humphreys Art Gallery – an art museum featuring works by South African artists as well as international artists such as Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall.
10. Rhodes’ Cottage Museum – a historic house museum dedicated to Cecil John Rhodes who played an important role in shaping South African history during colonial times.

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• Mining (diamonds, manganese, and iron ore)
• Agriculture (livestock farming and crop cultivation)
• Tourism (historical sites such as the Big Hole and museums)
• Manufacturing (textiles, clothing, food processing)
• Retail trade
• Healthcare services
• Education (universities and colleges)
• Banking and finance

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Noteable History

1. Discovery of diamonds: In 1866, diamonds were discovered in Kimberley which led to a diamond rush.
2. Siege of Kimberley: During the Second Boer War (1899-1902), the town was besieged by Boer forces for 124 days.
3. Cecil Rhodes: The British colonialist and mining magnate played a significant role in developing Kimberley’s diamond industry.
4. Sol Plaatje: A prominent South African writer and political activist who was born in Kimberley played a key role in forming the African National Congress (ANC).
5. Barney Barnato: A Jewish immigrant who became one of South Africa’s wealthiest men through his involvement in diamond mining.
6. Robert Sobukwe: A prominent anti-apartheid activist who studied at university in Kimberley before becoming a leader of the Pan-Africanist Congress.
7. The Big Hole: One of Kimberley’s most famous landmarks is an enormous open-pit mine that was once one of the world’s largest diamond mines.
8. The McGregor Museum: This museum houses collections related to natural history, archaeology, and ethnography from around southern Africa, including exhibits on early human evolution and San rock art.
9. De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd.: This company founded by Cecil Rhodes controlled much of South Africa’s diamond industry and remains one of world’s largest producers today.

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Museums and Things To See

1. The Big Hole and Kimberley Mine Museum is the largest hand-dug excavation in the world, and visitors can learn about the history of diamond mining in South Africa.
2. McGregor Museum focuses on the natural and cultural history of Kimberley and its surrounding areas.
3. William Humphreys Art Gallery has a collection of South African art from the 19th century to modern times.
4. Sol Plaatje Museum is dedicated to Sol Plaatje, a prominent figure in South African history who was born in Kimberley.
5. Kamfers Dam is a wetland area that is home to thousands of flamingos during breeding season.
6. Duggan-Cronin Gallery showcases images from southern Africa taken by Alfred Duggan-Cronin during his travels in the early 20th century.
7. Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre is an outdoor museum that features San rock art dating back thousands of years.
8. Mokala National Park is a nature reserve located just outside Kimberley with diverse wildlife including black rhino, giraffe, and lion.
9. Honoured Dead Memorial is a monument built to commemorate soldiers who died during the Siege of Kimberley during the Second Boer War.
10. Magersfontein Battlefield Museum is dedicated to one of the most significant battles fought during the Second Boer War, which took place near Kimberley in 1899-1900.

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Sports Teams

1. Griquas Rugby Club: This rugby team was established in 1886 and is one of the oldest rugby clubs in South Africa. They have been participating in the Currie Cup since 1899 and won it once, back in 1970.
2. Kimberley Boys’ High School: The school’s rugby team, the Kimberley Boys’ High XV, has a long-standing history that dates back to the early 1900s. Over the years, they have produced several Springbok players.
3. Northern Cape Cricket Union: The Northern Cape cricket team represents Kimberley and surrounding areas in domestic cricket competitions within South Africa.
4. Sol Plaatje University Football Club: Founded recently in 2015, this football club has already made an impact by winning promotion to the third tier of South African football.
5. Diamond Oval Cricket Stadium: This historic cricket ground has hosted many international matches over the years and is home to both Northern Cape Cricket Union and Griquas Rugby Club when they play their home games there.

Overall, Kimberley boasts a diverse range of sports teams with rich histories that reflect its status as an important sporting city within South Africa.

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Cultural Events

1. Kimberley Diamond Cup Skateboarding Festival
2. The Northern Cape Cultural Festival
3. Kimberley Arts and Culture Festival
4. Sol Plaatje Jazz and Heritage Festival
5. Magersfontein Battle Re-enactment
6. Boeremark Farmers Market
7. Wildeklawer Youth Arts Festival
8. Kgalagadi Jazz and Heritage Experience
9. Mampoerfees Liquor Tasting and Music Event
10. Kalahari Desert Festival

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Cuisine

1. Pot & Plow is a restaurant that serves traditional South African cuisine, including bobotie, boerewors, and pap. They also offer various meat dishes.
2. The Halfway House Hotel is a historic hotel with a restaurant that specializes in local delicacies such as game meat, potjiekos (a stew cooked in a cast iron pot), and biltong (dried meat).
3. The Kimberley Club provides an upscale dining experience with an extensive wine list and classic South African dishes like ostrich fillet and Cape Malay curry.
4. Star of the West Restaurant is known for its seafood but also offers traditional South African fare such as braai (barbecue) meats and sosaties (marinated skewered meats).
5. Duggan-Cronin Gallery Cafe is located within the McGregor Museum and serves light meals made with local ingredients like sandwiches and salads.
6. Nando’s Kimberley is a popular chain restaurant famous for its peri-peri chicken.
7. Spur Steak Ranches is a family-friendly chain restaurant offering grilled meats like steaks, burgers, ribs, etc.
8. The Diamond Pavillion Mall Food Court has many fast-food chains such as KFC, McDonald’s, Debonairs Pizza along with some local eateries serving Indian cuisine or shawarma wraps.
9. Wimpy Kimberley serves all-day breakfasts along with burgers toasted sandwiches etc., making it an excellent spot to grab breakfast at any time of day.
10. Muchachos Mexican Restaurant specializes in authentic Mexican food such as tacos al pastor burritos etc., bringing some Latin flavor to Kimberley’s food scene!

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Parks and Recreation

1. Kimberley Big Hole and Diamond Museum
2. Kamfers Dam
3. Mokala National Park
4. McGregor Museum
5. Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre
6. Sol Plaatje Museum and Library
7. Kimberley Mine Museum and Steam Locomotive Tour
8. Northern Cape Nature Reserve
9. The Big Hole Water Park
10. Magersfontein Battlefield Site

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Travel And Be Free.

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