Tour the Cullinan Diamond Mine: An Exclusive Journey to the Heart of World's Diamond Glory

Embark on an exclusive journey to the Cullinan Diamond Mine, where you’ll witness the beauty and marvel of one of the world’s largest diamonds. Discover the history, extraction process, and unique characteristics of Cullinan diamonds. Don’t miss the chance to bring home your own Cullinan diamond!

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Johannesburg - You will be picked up from your hotel in Johannesburg or Sandton and transported safely by your guide to Cullinan. After the Cullinan mine tour you will be returned safely to your hotel in Johannesburg or Sandton by your guide.
  • Cullinan Diamond Mine - You will be transported from your hotel in Johannesburg or Pretoria to the world famous Cullinan Diamond Mine. Visit the Cullinan Diamond Mine where a diamond of 3106 Carats were discovered in 1905.

The Surface Tour will comprise of a nine minutes DVD that tells you all about the mine and diamonds, a model of an underground tunnel - giving you an idea of the tunnels underground, the mine shaft, the hoist room where you will see the hoist at work pulling up the hoist cage and the big hole that was dug to find diamonds. The Surface tour lasts for 1 and a half to about 2 hours.

After visiting the mine, you will get the opportunity to visit the Cullinan Diamond Mine market for an unforgettable diamond jewelry shopping experience.

What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • Entrance fees
  • Driver/guide
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
Additional Information

Embark on an exciting journey to the Cullinan Diamond Mine, where you will witness the beauty and marvel of one of the world’s largest diamonds. Located in South Africa, this mine has a rich history dating back over a century and is the source of some of the most magnificent diamonds in the world, including the largest rough diamond ever discovered.

As you arrive at the mine, you’ll be greeted by knowledgeable guides who will take you on a tour of the facilities. You’ll learn about the history of the mine, how diamonds are extracted from the earth, and the unique characteristics that make the Cullinan diamonds so special.

Next, you’ll be taken on a journey to see where the diamonds are found. You’ll be amazed by the scale of the operation and the technology used to extract these precious stones from the depths of the earth.

Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase a Cullinan diamond of your own to take home as a souvenir of your visit.

  • Minimum age is 18 years
  • No mobile phones will be allowed underground, but normal cameras are allowed.
  • Not recommended for travelers that have difficulty walking long distances
Location
Johannesburg
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(14 Ratings)
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Dalety5941ll
Jul 17, 2024
Surface diamond mine tour - Although we were limited to surface viewing, the mine tour was very informative and our guide was great. The mine moves great quantities of rock for a small handful of diamonds.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
El_cid_11
Jun 30, 2024
Efficient, interesting and good guides - There was so much to see and learn at the diamond mine tour! Jason picked us up and provided informative commentary, answered questions and provided smooth safe transportation. He took us around to get a great photo on the other side of the big pit. He was courteous and kind. The tour of the mining complex was thorough and our guide in the mine area was also very good.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scouter50
Mar 23, 2020
Great experience - Had a great experience visiting one of the most profitable diamond mines in the country the "Cullinan diamond mine" and we went down to underground level of 839 mts the current mining area and then to an upper level of 763 mts. It was an amazing experience seeing how ore with diamonds are mined, sorted and produced. We had a brilliant guide who has been working in this mine for over 40 years and now consults and does tours for them. We also made some good friendships with several other people who were doing basic training so that they could work in the mine. We finished our tour just as the day's shift end, great experience. Once on the surface we were taken to the original open cut above the actual mine and also the Diamond sales room where we could purchase what we liked.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Teresa_c
Mar 4, 2020
The only active mine tour in the world - The tour is good but very long walk. Wish we allow to take photos underground. Our tour started but got delay because other couple was late.
Review provided by Viator
Clemzeye
Jan 24, 2020
A "brilliant" experience! - Ed was our tour guide during this unique and life-time experience. Very informative. You walk at more than 700 levels underground for a total of 3 km feeling a little bit the every-day life of a mine worker. At arrival you are asked to wear the working clothes as well as cask, torch and security system of a real worker.. it is a REAL tour and not a tourist walk. It's a pity that mostly tourist do it..I wish South African will support more the activities and resource that this beautiful country has to offer. To enjoy after the 4 hour tour, a beautiful lunch in the miner village. EXCELLENT.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sylvie
Dec 19, 2019
Excellent underground tour of Cullinan mine - We went for the underground tour and this was most insightful on the diamond extraction process and mine working conditions. Our guide was a very knowlegeable man who worked 37 years in the mine and willingly shared his experience with us... Will be remembered !
Review provided by Viator
Gayle25121958
Oct 29, 2019
AMAZING DIAMOND MINE TOUR - I was fortunate enough to have Jason Pollard as my driver on this excursion also. Jason is very punctual, professional, a real gentleman and very knowledgeable. The guide for the underground mine tour was a former employee named Toy who explained everything so well and was very thorough. There is a lot of walking involved but well worth it. I would recommend this tour as it was just amazing to see all the workings of the mine. Thank you once again Jason for a wonderful tour. Kind regards, Gayle, Melbourne, Australia.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shirley
Aug 28, 2019
A unique, fascinating look at an operating diamond mine - We took the underground tour. The drive out from Joburg took 90 minutes; our driver (Jason) provided interesting commentary along the way. Our mine guide, George: 80+ years old, 50 years underground; worth the price of admission by himself. George knows everybody, so along the way we got to talk with mining engineers, equipment operators, charge installers, etc. Coveralls, helmets and boots, with ten pounds of safety equipment on our belt, we toured topside, then got in an elevator and descended 800 meters to one of the working levels. We hiked over 7 kilometers, got up close and personal with both operating equipment and crews, spent two hours underground and loved every minute of it. Cullinan is small and quaint, has nice appearing restaurants that Jason offered to let us buy a late lunch at, but the day was getting on so we headed back to our hotel. Two caveats: 1) You're going to work to get the full experience. You'll be sweaty and a bit dusty by the end, so be prepared. 2) Mine safety is paramount, so mornings are often spent inspecting, no visitors allowed. We arrived at 0900, but weren't allowed to descend until 1200. On the plus side, Cullinan is the only mine in South Africa that allows tourists to mingle with workers. We rode the elevator back up during a shift change, picking up dozens of laughing, chatting workers; although we'd only been underground for two hours, I felt like I was getting off work as well. A fascinating, unique experience; highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
James
Feb 13, 2019
Great underground tour by former employee - This is no amusement park type ride tour. You walk for at least a couple miles over a 2 hour period. The outfit you with coveralls, socks, boots, hard hat, miners lamp, emergency breathing equipment, and a carry bag with a bottle of water. The former retired employee "George" took us 763 meters (2,500 feet) below the surface to a real working mine. We walked the areas where the miners work. George gave us a very detailed tour of many areas of the mine, plus a walk around above ground showing us the above ground processing. You walk through water and mud, so the coveralls/boots, etc. are required. At the end you can see/purchase cut diamonds. This is a fantastic tour if you like this type of thing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dearbaskar
Jun 5, 2019
Underground tour - We were many thousand feet underground and it was a good one time experience. You walk around the mine and they explain everything clearly on how they work. We were there on a Saturday, were mostly you wont have chances of seeing people working. I dont know is that a pros or cons. We really had a nice experience, you must be ready to carry extra weight to your body and walk some distance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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