Cullinan has lost a tourism gem
Cullinan Diamond Mine's underground tours have been cancelled.
The cancellation of the underground tours at the Cullinan Diamond Mine (CDM), one of the only working mines in the world to offer tours such as these, will have a significant impact on the historic village that surrounds it.
This is according to councillor Johannes Bekker, who said the mine, which has been in operation for over a century, has been a major tourist attraction.
“It has drawn visitors from all over the world to explore its depths and learn about the diamond mining process,” said Bekker.
“The tours have been a source of income for many businesses in the village, including restaurants, shops, and guesthouses. With the cancellation of the tours, many of these businesses are likely to see a decline in revenue, which could have a ripple effect throughout the community.
“Additionally, the village’s cultural and historical significance may also suffer, as the mine and its tours have been a part of the area’s heritage for generations.”
He said the underground tours have been one of the top attractions taking place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays for more than 20 years.
“It was an experience of a lifetime to spend three hours exploring CDM underground, knowing we were more than 600m below the surface yet far from the Cullinan residential areas.”
He pointed out that visitors from around the globe have joined groups to explore the place where the world’s largest diamond was discovered.
Streeknuus joined one of last tour groups on April 26 to visit the diamond mine.
The tour began with a nine-minute-long DVD about the mine and its workings, which included extensive safety training and PPE equipment and experienced, retired employees from CDM guiding the groups. The grand finale was to see the hole from the surface at the lookout point.
“It was one of the best tours I have ever experienced and it is such a loss to Cullinan that these tours will no longer be operational,” said Dorette Labutte, journalist of Streeknuus.
The tours of the surface mine will continue without any disruptions, with visitors still being able to experience some of the wonders. As with the underground tours, these are also led by an experienced guide.
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There is an introductory DVD in English, French, German, or Mandarin which explores the formation of diamonds 1.2 billion years ago, as well as the underground and surface procedures involved in mining them.
The diamond display room, a must-see, features replicas of world-famous diamonds. Tourists get to experience a life-sized model of an underground tunnel.
Guests also have the opportunity to witness shafts in operation, where Kimberlite Rock, a type of diamond-bearing rock, and miners are hoisted from 934 meters underground to the surface.
At the lookout point of the Big Hole, visitors can see where a volcanic eruption had occurred. And before leaving, visitors can check out the on-site jewellery shop to view or purchase diamond jewellery.
