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Self-Catering in Kimberley - Essential Travel Info
South Africa Northern Cape Kimberley | holiday apartments, holiday flats, hotel cottages, condominiums, chalets, suites, resort villa in Kimberley Northern Cape South Africa
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Self-Catering in Kimberley Northern Cape South Africa (4 Results)
Hadida Guest House- Kimberley Northern Cape South Africa Self-CateringHadida Guest House is conveniently situated in a quiet street, less than 3 km from the city centre and the Kimberley Big Hole. We offer comfortable and private accommodation in fully-equipped single, double and family units with en suite bathrooms and self-catering facilities. Breakfast is available on request. A TV with 12 DSTV channels and air- conditioner are standard in all units.
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Marrick Safari- Kimberley Northern Cape South Africa Self-CateringA choice of value-for-money facilities in an exhilarating environment. A pristine 3000 ha dotted with indigenous game and prolific birdlife. Accessible, only 10 min from Kimberley. A family experience for those seeking a relaxing domestic holiday. Meals by prior arrangement or self-catering cottages. Many outdoor activities.
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Mac's Sportsmans Inn- Kimberley Northern Cape South Africa Self-CateringServiced 2-roomed (4-bed) garden flat with lounge, kitchenette, bathroom and patio. Snooker and lock-up garage.
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Riverside Country Club And Caravan Park- Kimberley Northern Cape South Africa Self-CateringSituated on the banks of the Riet River, 35km south of Kimberley. 3km off the N12 between Cape Town and Johannesburg. Relax on the lush lawns or by the swimming pool. Excellent fishing and boating facilities are at the sites. Enjoy riverine bird life, a meal in the restaurant or have a game of pool in the licensed pub.
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Geography: The town famous for its rich association with diamonds can be found on the N12, which runs from Johannesburg before meeting the N1 link to Cape Town. As such it makes a great stopover on the Johannesburg to Cape Town route.
History: The name Kimberley is synonymous worldwide with diamonds. In 1871 on Colesberg Koppie a 15-year-old boy found a shiny pebble. It turned out to be a massive diamond and by 1873 there were 50,000 people digging in the small area. Once the hill had been dug away the prospectors simply carried on digging and digging, resulting in the biggest man-made hole in the world. It was here that the Eureka diamond and the famous Star of Africa were found, the latter being a magnificent 83.5-carat gem. The diamond deposits were found on the farm Vooruitzig that belonged to the De Beer brothers with the town initially being called New Rush. In 1873 the name was changed to Kimberley in honour of the Earl of Kimberley, the British Secretary of State for the colonies at the time. Although initially a shanty town of tents and tin shacks, a few people did get seriously rich. The fortunes that the mining magnates made at Kimberley were paramount in shaping the economic future of South Africa, as these men were then able to further the development of the Witwatersrand gold mines by investing their diamond money. The town is synonymous with the colonial names of Barney Barnato and Cecil John Rhodes who developed a power struggle of immense proportions. Later on in 1888 the two merged and formed the De Beers Consolidated Mines with the agreement involving the transfer of <\#163>5 million from Rhodes to Barnato! Kimberley was quite heavily involved in the South African (Anglo-Boer) War and some of the most important battles were fought here. In 1899 the Siege of Kimberley lasted 124 days with the entire town besieged. The siege lasted for four months and often women and children were sent down into the De Beers Mine to protect them from the gunfire. Peace returned and although mining is slower today, Kimberley still has much to offer its inhabitants and visitors to the area.
Arts and Culture: The Northern Cape has a rich heritage of diverse people, cultures and traditions many of which still survive today. At the Wildebeest Kruil Rock Art Centre visitors can see rock art in both paintings and engravings. The modern town of Kimberley, with its rich and fascinating history has much to offer the traveller looking for a glimpse into the art and culture of the town and many of these sights can be seen on Du Toitspan Road. The Belgravia and The Great Kimberley North Walk are two walks that take you around Kimberley and past all the historic sights. Even today, a number of elegant Victorian buildings grace the leafy streets of Kimberley. Most of these are now museums or provincial heritage sites and a good example is Dunluce, an elegant Victorian house at 10 Lodge Road built in 1897. The Jewish synagogue in Memorial Road was built in 1902 in Byzantine style, while the Dutch Reformed Church dating back to 1871 houses the Concentration Camp Memorial, in honour of the people who died in the Newton Concentration Camp during the South African (Anglo-Boer) War. The McGregor Museum has interesting exhibitions and provides research and advice to a wide range of community projects. Fine art enthusiasts will enjoy the William Humphreys Art Gallery, which is one of South Africa's most important galleries. It houses a collection of traditional and contemporary South African graphics, sculptures and paintings while many special exhibitions are often hosted. Visitors interested in the early days of steam locomotion and transport will find the The Transport Museum, with its fine collection of railway memorabilia fascinating, while at Rhodes' Boardroom visitors can imagine the heady days of the diamond rush and glitzy glamour. At the Sol Plaatje Museum, or by taking a trip in a taxi through Galeshewe, visitors can find out more about the life of one of the founder members of the ANC. Plaatje was also an outstanding journalist and writer.
Science and Nature: Kimberley is famous for its big hole, which comes in at a record measurement. The surface area is 15ha, the diameter is 457m and the perimeter is 1.6km. It is roughly 400m deep, but a shaft was dug to allow further mining to a depth of 800m! It must have been quite a sight in its heyday, when thousands of miners dug while hanging on criss-crossing ropes and pulleys. This awesome, but dormant hole yielded 14.5-million carats of diamonds from 28-million tons of diamond-rich "blue ground" and still literally dominates the area.
Did You Know? Kimberley was home to South Africa's first Stock Exchange.
South Africa Northern Cape Kimberley | holiday apartments, holiday flats, hotel cottages, condominiums, chalets, suites, resort villa in Kimberley Northern Cape South Africa