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Latest Kimberley hotel reviews
An appropriate entrance to the town
CatherineReichardt Says: It's only a small thing, but I really like it when the entrance to a town shows that a bit of thought and effort has gone into representing the character of the place. It sets the tone for your visit and gives you a taste of what's ahead: in other words, a lot of touristic...
The enchanting William Humphreys Art Gallery
CatherineReichardt Says: You virtually never stumble across public art galleries outside the major cities in South Africa, but of course, in this, as in so many other aspects, Kimberley is anything but your average South African town, and neither is the William Humphreys Art Gallery (known...
CatherineReichardt Says: The Honoured Dead memorial is an impressive pile of neo-classical art that is pretty well impossible to miss if you're driving into Kimberley from the airport.It was erected to commemorate British casualties incurred during the siege of Kimberley, when the city was encircled...
CatherineReichardt Says: Cecil John Rhodes is one of several gigantic personalities that emerged from Kimberley's diamond rush, and a man that I am absolutely convinced that I would have loathed had we ever met, so be warned that there will be only limited objectivity in this tip!Rhodes is often...
The more things change,the more they stay the same
CatherineReichardt Says: If you've read this far, then by now you'll have worked out that my Day Out in Kimberley was thought provoking experience - and never more so then when I got to this exhibit in the (free) Big Hole museum.As I drove into town from the airport, I passed a sprawling group of...
The apparently excellent McGregor Museum
CatherineReichardt Says: Everyone that I have spoken to tells me that the McGregor Museum is a wonderful resource, but as the staff decided to go on strike the day I visited, I can't verify this!I can however confirm that the museum is housed in a gorgeous Victorian building which was built by De...
CatherineReichardt Says: I have long been fascinated by Sol Plaatje, perhaps the most forgotten of South Africa's black leaders, and the opportunity to visit the small museum that has been established in one of his former homes was the thing that I was most looking forward to doing in Kimberley...
The low key loveliness of St Cyprian's cathedral
CatherineReichardt Says: The surprisingly low key Anglican cathedral in Kimberley is dedicated to St Cyprian, a 3rd century North African martyr. Not exactly the obvious choice, and why he should have been selected is not entirely clear to me. St Cyprian is best known for the quote: "He cannot have...
Go flamingo spotting at Kamfers Dam!
CatherineReichardt Says: I think it's fair to say that most tourists to Kimberley don't expect to have a wildlife experience, and yet the town is an absolute Mecca for 'twitchers' (that's bird watchers for the uninitiated) as the Kamfers Dam is home to one of only four breeding colonies of lesser...
The Big Hole: the world's largest hand dug hole
CatherineReichardt Says: Most tourists come to Kimberley and only see the Big Hole. This is a tremendous pity given that the town offers so many other attractions, but I am not going to dispute that if you only have time to do one thing in Kimberley, it should be this!Firstly, let me regress briefly...
The gorgeous Department of Public Works building
CatherineReichardt Says: Yet another of Kimberley's stunning Victorian buildings, about which I can find very little! I am quite sure that this will feature on the Eldorado (CBD) walk as outlined in the excellent Kimberley Meander guide, and is just one more excuse to explore this fascinating city...
The monument to the relocated Malay community
CatherineReichardt Says: Until my recent visit to Kimberley - when I happened across this simple memorial - I had no idea that there had ever been a significant Malay presence in the city.The Malays - who were classified as 'coloured' in terms of apartheid - are descendents of slaves that were...
The gorgeous proportions of Kimberley House
CatherineReichardt Says: I confess that despite my best efforts, I have been able to find out nothing about Kimberley House, except that it's gorgeous!!!It has fantastic Regency proportions, and I assume it's got something to do with Kimberley's heydays at the end of the 19th century, but if you...
CatherineReichardt Says: Sadly I can't tell you what the Transnet railway museum was like, because it was closed when I got there!The odd opening hours - particularly the very early closing time of 15:30 - are indeed noted in the tourist literature, but I admit that I simply didn't read them...
The Halfway Inn: Reputedly the world's first 'drive through' bar
CatherineReichardt Says: The Halfway Inn is located half way between Kimberley and neighbouring suburb of Beaconsfield, and legend has it that Cecil John Rhodes used to stop here for a beer on his way home. Being a man who didn't believe in wasting time (and who habitually enjoyed looking down on...
Star of the West: Raise a pint at Kimberley's oldest pub
CatherineReichardt Says: The Star of the West is the oldest pub in Kimberley and is a veritable institution!Located just by the Big Hole, the Star of the West is almost a caricature of an Empire frontier pub - the sort of establishment that wouldn't look out of place in Kalgoorlie, Bendigo or...
Kimberley tram STILL not operating
CatherineReichardt Says: At the time of writing (June 2011), the Kimberley tram was not operating, and, when I enquired with Tourist Information, it appears that it has been out of commission for the past year. This is at odds with the information provided by the otherwise excellent and reliable...
The vastly improved Kimberley airport
CatherineReichardt Says: Kimberley has a long and proud history of aviation, including the following South African 'firsts' (with thanks to the Kimberley Meander magazine):1911: The first public flight in the first South African built aircraft1913: The first airplane accident1913: The first ten...
The brilliant Kimberly Meander publication
CatherineReichardt Says: When I was at the Big Hole museum, I picked up a free copy of the fantastic Kimberly Meander publication.This is also available online at www.kimberleymeander.co.za and is a brilliant guide to Kimberley, with a particular emphasis on walking tours, which are either...
An excellent Kimberley tourism website
CatherineReichardt Says: When I was researching what to do during my Day of Fun in Kimberley, I stumbled across this excellent website:http://www.bdb.co.za/kimberley/index.htmlOther than the one error (stating that the tram is now operational, when in fact it is still out of commission - see my...
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Plan a Kimberley vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Kimberley locals
This is the only hotel in South Africa where they will serve you with a beer outside the hotel whilst on horseback. The story goes that Cecil John Rhodes was in...
4 members live in Kimberley
Q: We would really appreciate accommodation suggestions for Kimberley for mid July (post world cup). Prefer a central location with...
A: Hi Paula & John, I remember your last visit 3 years ago - nice to hear that you are coming back again. Unfortunately we havn't visited Kimberley for many years and don't...
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A cracking good day out in Kimberley!
What possessed me to visit Kimberley on the coldest day of the year - and the day after a huge unseasonal rainstorm had wreaked havoc over the entire interior of the country, leaving the usually...
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On 5 July 2003 the city name of “Kimberley” will have been in use exactly 130 years as it was gazetted on that date in 1873, although diamonds were discovered in Beaconsfield in 1869 and in Kimberley...
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Kimberley is known for its big manmade hole, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near Douglas where you will find the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has...
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I've got some interesting experiences in Kimberley. I'd love to share with you the 7 tips I've written, the 3 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created.
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