Pretoria City and Cullinan Diamond Tour (2024)

Operates: Scheduled:  Tues/ Thurs / Saturday 

Duration: Full Day 

Includes: Transportation, Sightseeing & Entrance Fees as per itinerary

Notes: Minimum 2 passengers

No children under 10 years permitted on the mine tour Lunch included The Cullinan Diamond Mine is the site of the World’s oldest and South Africa’s third richest diamond mine. Premier mine opened in 1902 and together with it founded the pretty Victorian village of Cullinan. The Cullinan Mine produced the world’s largest gem quality diamond – a massive 3106-carats uncut! This diamond was chiseled into 98 individual diamonds including the Great and Lesser Stars of Africa, the 2nd and 3rd largest polished diamonds in the World which are now set in the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. The tour starts with a 15 minute video before we are led into the high security premises of the mine where we are shown the workings and machinery of the mine. We then visit the enormous open cast mine, excavated from Kimberlite rock which is now four times larger than the famous “Big Hole” in Kimberley. Continue to Cullinan Diamonds where we view diamond cutting & polishing before we are invited to browse the loose diamonds and exquisite jewelry and perhaps make that special purchase! After lunch (included) at a local restaurant, we continue with our cultural journey of exploration through our capital, the Jacaranda City, so called for its breathtaking purple-lined streets when the jacaranda trees are in full bloom. We’re ready and set to trace South Africa’s extraordinary history via a range of imposing, intriguing museums and monuments, beginning with the legendary Voortrekker Monument, a memorial to the early settlers. We travel on to the Kruger Museum, the private residence of President Paul Kruger of the old Transvaal Republic. We’ve chosen to end this City Tour with the Union Buildings, not only an architectural icon, but site of the emotionally charged scene which played out at Nelson Mandela’s joyful inauguration as president in 1994. You’ll be standing precisely where South African history turned the corner.