The Big Hole Travel Guide: Top Sights in South africa, Tours & Travel

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The Big Hole- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; South Africa; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 3 hours

The Kimberley Big Hole, standing as a monumental testament to diamond fever that swept through South Africa over a century ago, offers a profound glimpse into human tenacity and the allure of fortune. This colossal hand-dug excavation, once a nondescript hill, transformed into a bustling hive of activity as thousands of prospectors descended upon the area, armed with simple tools and fueled by dreams of wealth. Their relentless digging over decades gave birth to what is now known as the largest hand-dug excavation on the planet. Spanning a surface area of 17 hectares and reaching depths of 240 meters, the Big Hole presents an awe-inspiring sight, dramatically illustrating the scale at which human ambition can alter landscapes. With its 463-meter width and a cavernous pit descending 200 meters below the surface, the site encapsulates the fervent diamond rush era from 1871 to 1914. It's not merely its physical dimensions that capture the imagination but also its role in shaping Kimberley into one of South Africa's most authentic historical destinations.

Operators offering tours in South Africa

Attractions in Kimberley

The Big Hole Museum

Reviews of The Big Hole

Jacques Koekemoer

5
Reviewed: 2024-08-08

Very pleasant experience. The staff were super friendly, the car guard had an amazing sense of humor and it was clean. If they made another hole then 10/10 would visit again
Abrie Muller

5
Reviewed: 2024-07-28

Our tour guide, Elisa, was absolutely amazing! She made the tour great fun and she was very informative. There is a lot of information and it really is an interesting place to visit.
Nicola McLeod

3
Reviewed: 2024-06-17

It was an interesting experience. The entry fee is a little high for what you get, in my opinion. There is plenty of parking, but it's across the street, which can also be confusing. You watch a 20-minute movie as part of the tour, the same movie that showed 20 years ago. The movie is also kind of all over the place. Then they rush through a quick tour to finish in the hour. You can at least walk around after and explore by yourself, and the tour guide was very sweet. The look of the old school town was my favourite part! The only thing is, if you take the latest tour, you probably won't see the other exhibits as they lock them up as early as they can, it seems. It's one of the main attractions in Kimberley, I feel like they could step it up a tiny bit. The lady working at the concessions store was really rude, and when we were done with our tour, the other shops inside were also already closed. Why have a late tour if everyone leaves before 5? I'm glad I experienced it, and I would recommend everyone go at least once, especially if you like history or diamonds. The machinery and mining tunnel are also very interesting on their own.
Thirasha Pillay

5
Reviewed: 2024-05-29

Great historical site to visit. It started with a short movie on the history of diamond mining in Kimberly, followed by a tour from David who was excellent in sharing facts about our history and on diamonds itself. He made jokes and answered all our many questions with ease. I was pleasantly surprised by this experience. A must see for local and international tourists.
Jandri Davis

4
Reviewed: 2024-05-03

Our tour guide, Jacky, was very friendly and gave a lot of interesting information. My kids (12 & 8) enjoyed the tour as well. Every South African should go there at least once in their life to experience the big hole and exhibits of underground mining.