Points of Interest in Kimberley
3 points of interest in Kimberley, Northern Cape with CastAwayZA. Get GPS directions on the free app.
Points of Interest
The Big Hole Viewing Platform
Kimberley, Northern CapeThe Big Hole Viewing Platform in Kimberley, is a specialized observation deck that projects directly over the world's largest hand-dug excavation pit. Structurally designed to honor the site's history, the steel platform measures exactly 30 Cape feet by 30 Cape feet, which mirrors the precise size of a standard diamond mining claim from the 1870s diamond rush. Visitors utilizing the cantilevered deck can look down into the 17-hectare crater, which plunges to an exposed underground depth of 240 metres and features a accumulation of vibrant, turquoise-coloured water at its base. Located within the secure grounds of the Kimberley Mine Museum complex on South Circular Road, the wheelchair-accessible platform operates seven days a week from 08:00 to 17:00, requiring a paid general admission ticket for entry.View details →Points of InterestDe Beers Mine
Kimberley, Northern CapeThe De Beers Mine, situated on Merriman Street in Kimberley, is a historically significant diamond mine that was discovered in May 1871 on the Vooruitzigt farm belonging to the De Beers brothers. The site features a kimberlite pipe that extends to a depth of approximately 800 metres and was initially excavated as an open-cast mine until operations ceased in 1908. Following a lengthy period of dormancy, it was re-opened for underground mining in 1963 and remained operational until its final closure in 1990. Although often confused with the nearby Kimberley Mine (the Big Hole), the Merriman Street mine remains a distinct geological and historical landmark that originally provided the name for the global De Beers diamond conglomerate.View details →Points of InterestKamfers Dam
Kimberley, Northern CapeKamfers Dam is a 400-hectare permanent wetland located just north of Kimberley in the Northern Cape that serves as one of only four primary breeding sites in Africa for the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor). Originally a seasonal pan, the site transformed into a perennial water body due to urban runoff and municipal wastewater discharge, prompting the construction of a specialized S-shaped artificial breeding island in 2006 that successfully supported tens of thousands of nesting birds. However, the ecosystem has faced a severe environmental crisis caused by the chronic influx of untreated sewage from the poorly maintained Homevale Wastewater Treatment Works, which raised water levels, submerged the breeding island, and triggered outbreaks of avian botulism. This ongoing ecological degradation led to a 2025 Northern Cape High Court structural interdict ordering the Sol Plaatje Municipality to repair its infrastructure, though the site remains a critical and closely monitored focus for international conservation groups like BirdLife South Africa.View details →See all 3 points of interest in Northern Cape — free
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