<< go back to News Index

Big Hole closed from July to November 2006

31 July 2006 De Beers has invested R50 million in the upgrade of the the Big Hole heritage site into a world-class tourist facility. In the interest of safety the Big Hole area will be closed to visitors from the end of July to the end of November 2006.

SPECTACULAR VIEWING PLATFORM GOES UP AT BIG HOLE

Construction started in July on a spectacular new viewing platform at the Big Hole, Kimberley. Once completed, the cantilevered platform will give visitors a thrilling viewing experience as the end of the platform will suspend them right over the edge of the hole.

The viewing platform is yet another step in the construction work that is proceeding at the Big Hole precinct. The facade and audiovisual theatre is rapidly taking shape and the underground experience is being constructed at the same time.

The safety of visitors now becomes paramount in this heavy construction phase and for this reason the Big Hole area will be closed to visitors from the end of July to the end of November 2006 when the new facility will be launched, after which it will reopen to visitors.

De Beers has invested R50 million in the upgrade of the museum to transform the Big Hole heritage site into a world-class tourist facility. The project has been run as a public private partnership with the key players being the provincial government, Sol Plaatje municipality, Frances Baard District municipality, Northern Cape Tourism and De Beers.

Once completed, the Big Hole is expected to attract a significant number of visitors and tourists to Kimberley and the Northern Cape. The project has been a robust vehicle which has enabled De Beers to support local and black empowerment companies.

Other News Articles Northern Cape Tourism Authority Tender NCTA /001/2012 Namaqua National Park Flower Report - September 2012 Namaqua National Park Flower Report Cape West Coast and Namaqua Flower Report August 2012 Some recent archaeological findings in the Northern Cape Kathu Nominated for Town of the Year Northern Cape Tourism in Upward Curve Northern Cape Youth Celebrate Through Skateboarding Visit Northern Cape Tourism at Namibia Tourism Expo in Windhoek and win great prizes! Northern Cape Aims at Namibian Market Love the Northern Cape in February Maloof Money Cup Karoo Fly-Inn 15 - 17 September 2011 Northern Cape in Full Bloom Hat and tea Part at the Big Hole Go Offbeat with the Namaqualanders The Spirit of Africa Trophy 2010 4x4 Challenge vs Northern Cape Extreme Arid Regional Cultural event in Celebration of Heritage Month, Namaqua National Park 4 Stage Mountain Bike Race Flowers of Namaqualand Vote For Springbok As Northern Cape’s Town of the Year World Skateboarding Championships for the Northern Cape Northern Cape Dazzles the World at Indaba 2010 "The Northern Cape Race" promises compulsive TV viewing for South African viewers! 1,000 mph car: The Adventure Builds Service Excellence Award Winners 2009 Heritage in Tourism Week Tourism Month September 2009 New 4x4 trail opens in Namaqua National Park Press Release: iXerry Wilderness Trail Northern Cape Tourism Service Excellence Awards 2009 Marrick Challenge MTB race Afrikaburn 9-13 September 2009 Meshack Nkadimag Hotel Kgalagadi Mokala National Park Cream of Tourism Excellence Son of the Wind Production Become a Tour Operator in the Northern Cape Youth Tourism New Venture Creation Competition and Awards Ceremony COSAFA U20 Championship NCTA Launches Top Entrepreneurs Pocket Guide Northern Cape Scoops Up Prestigious DSTV Getaway Reward South Africa wins bid to host Paragliding Cross Country Open World Series Tourism Industry Awards 2008 Northern Cape Tourism Month 2008 Tswalu in the Kalahari opens after extensive refurbishment Fractional Ownership of a Kalahari Golf Estate Provincial Tourism Resource Audit To Boost Development and Job Creation Dare to experience the Wild flowers of Namakwa NC Tourism Service Excellence Awards 2008 Northern Cape Scoops Up Considerable Tourism Awards at Indaba 2008 Top Emerging Entrepreneurs of the Northern Cape Mattanu Game Ranch re-opening a great success New Protea Hotel adjacent to Big Hole Local crafts used to decorate !Xaus Lodge Golden Lions train at Khamkirri Namakwa Festival Ouma Grietjie Adams SA Tourism FUNDI takes flight in the “Real Province” Two new border crossings for the Northern Cape Northern Cape Tourism wins Gold Heerengracht Guest House get ETEYA Award The 2007 Flamingo Casino Barney Barnato Golf Week 2007 Flower Report Baby Landy conquerors the big Northern Cape !Kimmies Route – A Namaqua cultural experience Mokala National park proclaimed ER scenes shot in Northern Cape The Kimberley Big Hole is open Revamped Kimberly Big Hole to re-open 25 November 2006 Heritage Month at Wildebeest Kuil Kalahari Gemsbok National Park – 1931 to 2006 Namaqualand flower show continues A New National Park in the Northern Cape Namaqualand flowers are blooming already! Big Hole closed from July to November 2006 Special Report: Namaqualand Flower Report, 14 July 2006 Northern Cape Launches its new branding identity First Provincial Northern Cape Tourism Conference Northern Cape Tourism website already number one << go back to News Index