Jagersfontein – OFS

A detour off the N1 between Cape and Johannesburg to the old diamond mining town of Jagersfontein, 110 km S.W. of Bloemfontein, can be well wort it for the nostalgic

Diamonds were discovered here in 1870 by a farmer and the town founded in 1871. The mine boasts being the largest hand dug hole in the world with a surface area of 19.65 hectares and a hand dug depth of 275m. The mine was open for 30 years and the underground section reached levels of about 1000ft.

 The most famous diamond was the  972 Excelsior diamond, which now resides on the crown of Queen Victoria.

 The town has some interesting churches dating back to the 1880’s and the oldest Masonic Lodge in the Free State. The town has an air of the past, with very few recent developments to spoil the old wild west mining town feel.

The mine is now a museum and can be visited. Contact 00-27(0)51-514114300 to confirm opening hours.