Flights to Kimberley land at Kimberley Airport (KIM). The drive to the city from the airport is about 15 minutes. Kimberley is your gateway to the beautiful Northern Cape and the diamond rush era of South Africa. Wandering through the streets, passed Victorian houses and vintage trams, you will feel as though you are walking into the past. Kimberley is an interesting city with a robust history that lures history buffs and collection of attractions that draws people wanting to feel the strange rhythm of a city stuck in the past. You don’t need a visa for Kimberley if you are a South African citizen. Visitors from abroad might need a Visitor Visa for South Africa.
There are many interesting attractions and things to do in Kimberley. Staring into the gaping void of the Big Hole is of course a major attraction and something you have to do during your time in the city. After a diamond was discovered on the banks of the Orange River in 1866, fortune seekers flocked to the city and began digging the land. When the digging stopped in 1914 and the Diamond Rush was over, all that was left was a 214 metre chasm that became known as the Big Hole. For something a little different, the Haunted Corners and Ghost Trail tour will take you to various spots in the city where ghosts are said to roam. And the Sol Plaatje Museum was once the residence of Sol Plaatje, the first black novelist in South Africa. If you want a bit of nature, Mokala National Park is a tranquil Savannah and Nama-Karoo biome that is home to buffalo, black and white rhino, and tsessebe. Or there is Kamfers Dam which offers a pink spectacle to bird watchers. It is home to over 60 000 Lesser flamingos, which makes it the largest breeding colony in Southern Africa.
Diamond Pavilion Mall is the go to shopping centre for everyday essentials, clothing, and everything else. It is the leading shopping centre in the Northern Cape, offering speciality stores, outdoor goods and gear, supermarkets, footwear, fashion, and department stores. Kimberley Town & Country Market is a lovely little farmers market that is open on the second Saturday of everything month. For a night out on the town, Kimberley has a nice collection of bars and restaurants. Crazy Horse Bar, Occidental Bar, and The Half (or Halfway House) are great places to have a few drinks and catch some live music, and when it’s time for dinner, Annabell’s Restaurant offers up home-style food in a cosy pub setting and Laurier Blanc is known for its relaxing ambience and excellent menu.
Renting a car is the best way to get around Kimberley. There are a few car rental agencies at Kimberley Airport and in the city. Metered taxis are also available if you would rather not drive.
A variety of accommodation options are available in Kimberley. The guest houses in Kimberley are grand old houses with friendly staff and there are also several luxury hotels in Kimberley if you want something high end. Self-catering accommodation and bed and breakfasts are also available.
Direct flights to Kimberley depart from Cape Town and Johannesburg, while connecting flights to Kimberley depart from most cities in South Africa. Airlink is the main domestic airline operating flights to Kimberley. For international flights to Kimberley, connecting flights are available from most cities around the world and usually stop in Johannesburg..
The Belgravia Historic Walk is a two kilometre walk passed 33 of the most historical sites in Kimberley. You will get to see some of the most beautiful relics from a forgotten time, such as the Dunluce House, a stunning Victorian homestead that hints at the opulence of bygone days when Kimberley was a bustling town where fortunes were made and dreams came true. Step into the 19h century on a vintage tram. The first tram came into operation in 1887 and served to take diggers to and from their favourite bar to the Big Hole. Today, you can go on a 20 minute ride in one of the earliest trams. You will visit the mining shaft that began the Diamond Rush, the West End Bar, and the famous Big Hole. During the Diamond Rush, socialising and drinking was such a big part of daily life there were more bars than churches and pharmacies, and some of those bars are still standing today. A Historic Pub Tour will take you to some of the best and oldest bars, including the Phoenix Hotel, Kimberley Club, Savoy Hotel, Star of the West, and Australian Arms.
