Flamingos of fortune Are you aware of an eerie and tickling 'lucky' feeling today? Have you perhaps recently dreamt of numbers, of people laughing and bells ringing out, of cards dealt and dices rolling, roulette wheels spinning and spinning. Do you long for an outstanding meal in a turn-of-the-century setting? Don't know what to do tonight? Are the kids missing their favourite video games? If so, now is the time to take to the elegant Flamingo Casino, Kimberley's own Sun International operated casino situated adjacent to the splendid Kimberley Golf Club. This first-class entertainment venue offers Victorian-inspired décor, state-of-the-art smart-card technology, inviting slot machines and tables, a wonderful restaurant with bar and an arcade with sizzling video games on offer. There are even a 200 seat conference centre and a fine ninety room lodge to rest in after a late night's searching for that lucky combination and winning numbers. Don't delay. Take your chances because the 'flamingos of fortune' are calling right here in Kimberley!

So we don¹t have anything on Madiba, Winnie, Luthuli and Tutu. We¹re not very big on popular liberation history either, even if there was significant local uprising. However, we¹ll share with you the delights and sorrows of our famous Township Number Two, one of the oldest such locations or townships in South Africa, re-named Galeshewe after Kgosi (Chief) Galeshewe. We promise you a township tour with a difference! What we do have in abundance are ordinary people, real people, people with remarkable stories to tell. Our Galeshewe tour will give you a glimpse of everyday-life in a township. Among others, you¹ll talk to Rastas, a true Oangel¹ who raised more than 2 000 street children and maybe even a Oskelm (a rogue). You¹ll visit the home of the Premier of the Northern Cape, artists, old digger's homes, Club 2000, buy fresh fruit at 24 hour spaza shops, sample traditional African cooking and much more while your trained community guide entertains you with the lore of township street talk.
You will also be shown the homes of the founder of the PAC (Pan Africanist Congress), Robert OProf Sobukwe - as well as his restored law office – and a founder member of the ANC (African National Congress), Solomon T. Plaatje who was also a prolific journalist and campaigner against racial discrimination. Township Number Two was also home to noted South African political leaders such as Z.K. Matthews, Dr Arthur Letele and former ANC President, the Reverend Z.R. Mahabane. We recommend that you arrange with your guide to accompany you to one of the many lively shebeens in Galeshewe to enjoy some traditional food and lovely African jazz music that enhances the ambience of a truly wonderful township experience.

Check out this exciting opportunity to outfox the aggressive yellow fish (Barbus species) which thrives in local rivers. Set in breathtaking scenery amplified by the world¹s best sunsets, catching yellow fish on a wet or dry fly is certainly an experience with a difference. This species is regarded as one of the toughest and most spirited fish species to conquer - they are the OTop Guns¹ of our rivers indeed!

Beautiful scenery, adrenalin rushes, and gripping camp-fire tales are part and parcel of river rafting on the Diamond Fields. Our reputable South African Rafter Association (SARA) registered guides will ensure you confidently negotiate the rapids as well as to enjoy the stretches of mirror smooth water.

An abundance of species either nest in or visit the region. These include a huge variety of water fowl, song birds and raptors such as the pygmy falcon and the martial eagle. Kimberley has a very active birdwatching fraternity who will be most willing to assist in finding those mega ticks you¹re after.

Many of the private game farms and reserves offer photographic safaris, game drives and picnics in the veld. Prior arrangements for this will however be necessary.

The availability of trophy game of Rowland Ward standard and the variety of birds in a setting of exceptional natural beauty, with impeccable facilities, makes the Diamond Fields one of South Africa¹s most remarkable and popular hunting destinations.

William Sokolin once pondered over the definition of a good wine. His answer, quite aptly: ³it should start and end with a smile²! Well, it is our promise that you will be pleasantly surprised by the wines from our cellars - all carefully fermented and joyfully, no, proudly presented to our visitors. Many of our wines regularly outperform South Africa¹s better known cellars at important wine tastings such as the Veritas Awards. So we have no hesitation in declaring that virtually nowhere else in South Africa will you find a wine that offers better value for money than the ones born in our vineyards!

Started in 1968, this is one of the oldest cellars north of the Orange River. Situated in the vicinity where the Orange, Vaal and Riet Rivers converge, right in the geographical centre of South Africa. This cooperative cellar, bottling under the Avoca label, produced the first South African champion young wine for an up-country cellar with its 1995 Red Jerepigo fortified wine. Pou le Roux is the cellar¹s wine maker.

Situated in the Modder-Riet River irrigation area, this cooperative cellar has produced many award-winning wines. Recently its White Muscadel won a gold medal and its Pinotage a silver medal at the prestigious international Michaelangelo Wine Show. It produces a wide variety of wines ranging from Chardonnay to Merlot besides many excellent fortified wines. Ian Sieg makes the wines.

This cooperative, bottling under the Elements and Hinterland label, boasts the most modern wine-making operation on the Diamond Fields which ensures excellence and consistent quality in wine-making. It produces a string of quality and award-winning wines ranging from fortified wines to natural wines such as Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Therona, Fernao Pires, Pinotage and Ruby Cabernet under the Hinterland label. Hartswater recently introduced a new range of top class modern-styled quaffing wine under the Elements label. The cellar claimed a silver medal for its Ruby Cabernet, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc at recent Veritas Wine Awards as well as a bronze medal for its sparkling wine. Roelof Maree makes the wines here.

This is the youngest of the wine cellars on the Diamond Fields. Wine-maker Charl Wilken is the driving force behind this privately owned wine cellar which began wine-making in 1996. Today Charl makes 18 quality wines and was instrumental in establishing the region Wine of Origin Northern Cape. The Wilreza wines are the first to be bottled in this new wine region. Wilreza labels carry animals of the Northern Cape such as the caracal, gemsbok and suricate, also known as meerkat. The Wilken family are regarded as the pioneer vine farmers of the Riet River irrigation area.

A stone¹s throw from Kimberley are three top resorts - Riverton, Langleg and Rekaofela. These three resorts offer family fun and activities second to none in the Northern Cape.

Home of Riva Chestnut! Situated 27km from Kimberley on the banks of the Vaal River. Facilities include fully equipped self-catering accommodation, a caravan park, 24 hour security, a walk-in bird park, power boat jetty and other recreational facilities such as putt-putt, volley-ball, swimming in large sparkling pools, a water worm, angling, canoeing, water skiing and many more. Visitors are encouraged to book a fun-filled trip or a sunset cruise on the river ferry named Riva Chestnut.

Rekaofela is the Setswana word for Oplace of gathering. This resort is home to the Rekaofela Adventure Centre and is situated only five kilometres from the town of Barkly West. Being on the banks of the Vaal River, it radiates an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. This resort offers group accommodation for 104 people as well as recreational facilities such as canoeing, archery, rock climbing, hiking and orienteering. The Adventure Centre presents courses in social, personal and leadership development, team-building and problem-solving.

Sculpted by Herman Wald, this magnificent larger-than-life-size bronze monument situated in the Ernest Oppenheimer Memorial Gardens, honours and recognises the role and effort of the diamond diggers who brought Kimberley into existence. It portrays five diggers holding a diamond sieve on high, each digger representing one of the five major Kimberley mines.

By 1880, the Kimberley Tramways Company was formed. Many of the early diamond mining personalities, including Cecil Rhodes, served on the company board. However, it took considerable time to get any trams going as funding could not be raised. All such money was urgently required by Rhodes and Barney Barnato for their famous struggle over control of the diamond fields. Eventually by 1886, the Gibson Brothers set up the Victoria Tramways Company and construction on the first tramways started in 1887. It was a 3'6" gauge tramway linking Kimberley and the then separate borough of Beaconsfield. These first tram cars were pulled by mules.
In 1905 an electrified tramway was opened by De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd linking Kimberley with the posh Hotel Alexandersfontein, while the Beaconsfield route was electrified in 1906. Overhead electrical wire and trolley collection was finally introduced in 1906. Buses began to replace trams in Kimberley in 1939. The Kenilworth trams ran until 1947 while the last trams were used in the mining area until as recently as 1964, after which virtually all tramway infrastructure was demolished.
A decision was taken to reintroduce a tramway between the historic City Hall and the Big Hole as a tourist attraction. The first rails were laid in June 1985. However, the restoration of the present tram, which was donated by De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd, had commenced already in 1983. This tram, identified as Car Number 3, was first used by De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. It was also known as the tower car, a name derived from the adjustable platform which had been fitted in order to carry out overhead maintenance to the tram poles and wires. It is believed that the tramcar was originally built by John Stephenson Company and the J.G. Brill Company of Philadelphia and originally ran between 1906 and 1914. The livery of the tram follows closely the yellow and black livery of the original Kimberley & Alexandersfontein Electric Railway. The wording added on the frames is Kimberley Tramways, and so Car Number 3 was restored to its former operational condition and gloriously reintroduced on 12 October 1985.
Today tens of thousands of tourists annually take a trip down memory lane on Car Number 3. They literally get carried away by the travelling tram’s screeching sounds, its gentle swaying and the sound of a foot operated warning bell as they pass some of Kimberley’s most historic sites such as the Head Office of the De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd and the original Big Hole mine dumps.

This building was the original headquarters of Barney Barnato’s Kimberley Central Diamond Mining Company. Today it is the seat of the internationally renowned and influential diamond mining company, De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd.

Go on the world’s only guided tour of an operational diamond mine! Have yourself kitted out with real miner’s gear - an overall with light reflecting strips, safety boots, hard hat, battery cell with headlamp and your own Osizamoya which is an oxygen generating survival pack. Now you¹re ready to safely tread the womb of Mother Earth - a plunge of 840 metres – to explore the source of those much wanted, glittering diamonds. You’ll rub shoulders with real mineworkers. You’ll become one with the rhythm and pulse of the world’s oldest diamond mines. You’ll taste dust from ancient Kimberlite rock and you¹ll know that you¹re on the educational experience of a lifetime!

Rocking at the cradle, sifting all day,
That¹s the life we diggers lead.
Rocking at the cradle, sifting all day,
That¹s the life for me

Today, this Diamond Rush anthem still applies to the hundreds of hand diamond diggers around Kimberley. These Knights of the Shovel offer you lasting and exciting experiences of living history in quaint little diggers villages such as Longlands, Waldeck’s Plant, Moonlight Rush, Moonlight Pool, Three Kêret Koppie and Last Hope. Learn all about the stuff, the baby, illicit diamond dealing, local diamond markets, romantic tales and glorious fables behind it all during a guided tour to the alluvial diamond diggings!