Location:
The Cullinan Diamond Mine is situated 40km east of Pretoria in the town of Cullinan. Situated within the 200 000 hectares of Dinokeng. Meaning the "place of rivers", lying in the catchment area of the Olifant's and Limpopo Rivers. This in African culture makes this a sacred place with great healing powers.
Mine Tours:
1. The Surface Walk Tour:
This tour covers the history of the mine, mining methods and the geological processes of that are responsible for the creation of diamonds. The tour demonstrates how diamonds are extracted from the ground; visit the big hole, mine shaft and the hoist room. Guests can view the polishing and delicate cutting operations done by master diamond cutters, which shape the diamonds into the jewelry you can buy around the world. You can also view replicas of the world famous diamonds found at Cullinan.
2. The Surface Motorized Tour:
A diamond mine Safari. Weather permitting, travel up 800 meters in a special vehicle to the highest point of the mine with a rare panoramic view of the surface areas of mining operations and the Cullinan village. As you will traveling in an area where diamonds may be found, you will not be able to leave the vehicle.
3. The Underground Tour:
The adventurous tourists can take an underground tour of a working diamond mine, which involves changing into special safety gear and heading down in the cage more than 700 meters below the surface. The temperature on the underground tour is a comfortable 28C. You may purchase your overalls as a souvenir of your adventure.
4. Historical tour of Cullinan:
A guided tour of the village with many fine buildings surviving from the early days of the mine in the early 1900's. McHardy House - the first house built in Cullinan (1903) and preserved in original state. The Herbert Baker Anglican Church, Recreation Centre built in 1912 and the 1909 Masonic Hall. Visit the mine hostels which housed the mine workers in the early 1900s, also preserved in their original state. See the Italian Prisoner of War Camp and Murals painted by POWs during the Second World War, Prisoner of War cemetery, the old hospital and the old mine compounds and other heritage sites in and around Cullinan Village. A unique tour of Cullinan's history - an absolute must see!
History:
The mine was discovered in 1890 and established in 1902 as the premier diamond mine in South Africa. The Cullinan diamond pipe is the oldest diamond pipe in the world and in 1905 was only 9 meters from the surface. The volcanic pipe shaped in the form of a carrot, has a surface area of 42 hectares - approx 40 soccer pitches.
In January 1905 the world's largest rough gem, the Cullinan Diamond at 3,106.75 carats was discovered by the surface manager, Frederick Wells. The diamond was named after the mine owner, Sir Thomas Cullinan. The diamond was cut into many stones including 2 very large diamonds, and given to King Edward VII in 1907 on his 66th birthday and forms part of the British crown jewels. The diamond was posted to England in normal package post.
Over 250 diamonds of over 100 carats have been found in this mine including a 101.27 carats diamond, sold for $6.2 million. Diamonds of a total of more than 120 million carats have been mined since this diamond mine was opened. This is the only site in the world where blue diamonds have been found. In 2003 the mine was renamed the Cullinan Diamond mine and in 2007 it was sold by De Beers (the world's biggest diamond producer) to Petra Diamonds.
The Mine Today:
Today, the Cullinan Mine's open pit is four times the size of South Africa's famous Kimberly diamond hole. It remains a fully operational diamond mine and produces 25% of the entire world's production of gem quality diamonds.
Perfect tour options to include with the Cullinan Diamond Mine to create a full day tour:
For Tour details or bookings - please Contact us
Soweto Tour - Johannesburg Tour - Apartheid Museum - Constitution Hill - Gold Reef City - Lion Park
De Wildt Cheetah Sanctuary - Elephant Sanctuary interaction - Pretoria Tour - Pilanesberg National Park
Sun City and the Lost City - Cullinan Diamond Mine - Rhino and Lion Park - The Origins Centre
Adventure Sports - Nile Crocodile Farm - The Lesedi Cultural Village - Cradle of Humankind
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