Cullinan Diamond Mine Day Tour from Pretoria: Surface tour

Walk the rim of the pit where the world's largest rough diamond was pulled from the ground

A guided surface tour of the Cullinan diamond mine near Pretoria takes you to the site where the 3,106-carat Star of Africa was discovered in 1905. You see the kimberlite rocks, walk around the half-kilometer-wide pit, watch the skip system unload ore, visit the hoist room, and explore the diamond town of Cullinan. The tour also includes the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria's capital city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cullinan diamond mine surface tour

• Guided tour of Cullinan surface mine
• See where Cullinan diamond was found
• Learn about diamond mining and diamonds
• See kimberlite rocks
• View the big hole
• See skips unloading kimberlite
• Visit the hoist room
• Buy diamonds
• Visit Voortrekker Monument
• Explore diamond town Cullinan

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
• bottled water.
• hotel pickup from Pretoria.
• live English-speaking guide.
• all fees and taxes.

Times

• Every day 08:30

Before you book

Group Up to 15

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 1h before

Ages Adult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Not recommended during pregnancy Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems

Operated by MHLANGANISI TRAVEL AND TOURS

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

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The experience

The tour starts from Pretoria and runs five hours round-trip with hotel pickup included. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a live English-speaking guide who explains the geology and the history of the mine. Before entering the active mining area, you'll pass a breath test and show your passport. Closed shoes are required. The mine sits on an active operation, so the rules are strict: no wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks, moon boots, or children under 12.

At the mine itself, you walk the surface around the pit (roughly half a kilometer wide and a kilometer long), and see where the Cullinan diamond was extracted. The kimberlite rocks are visible, and you watch the skip system in action as it unloads ore. The hoist room shows how the mine operates. You can buy diamonds on-site if you choose. The tour wraps with a visit to the Voortrekker Monument and time to walk through the town of Cullinan itself, which grew around the discovery.

Bottled water and WiFi on board keep you comfortable during the drive. Lunch is not provided, so plan to eat before or after the tour. If you're over 65, the on-site medical staff will do a quick blood and pulse check before you enter the mine area: a standard safety step for the underground environment.

Top questions

What exactly is the Cullinan diamond and why is it famous?

The Cullinan diamond was discovered at this mine in 1905 and weighed 3,106 carats in the rough: the largest gem-quality diamond ever found. It became known as the Star of Africa and set the record that still stands today.

Can I actually go underground into the mine, or is this a surface-only tour?

This is a surface tour only. You walk around the pit, see the kimberlite rocks and the skip system, and visit the hoist room, but you do not descend into the active mine itself.

What happens at the Voortrekker Monument, and how much time do we spend there?

The Voortrekker Monument is a historical site in Pretoria dedicated to the journey of the Voortrekkers, the early settlers who moved inland from the coast. The tour includes a visit as part of the five-hour itinerary, though the exact time spent there depends on the guide's pacing and your group's interest.

Do I need to bring anything specific, or are there rules I should know before booking?

Bring your passport and wear closed shoes. You'll take a breath test before entering the mine area. If you're over 65, the on-site medical team will check your blood pressure and pulse. Wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks, moon boots, and children under 12 are not permitted in the mine zone.

Is lunch included, and where can I eat during the tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour. You'll want to eat before departure or plan to grab food in the town of Cullinan after the mine visit. Bottled water is provided on the vehicle.