The Dinokeng area is famous as the place where one of the
world’s largest diamonds, the Cullinan diamond, was wrestled from the earth and
brought into the light. Situated a few minutes away from Pretoria, Dinokeng is
a great destination for people who want to take a look at how people lived at
the turn of the 19th century near the early diamond mines.
Dinokeng falls into the catchment zone of the Pienaars and
Elands Rivers. This small town is just a few minutes away from Pretoria and is
home to the third richest diamond mine in South Africa. Even though the famous
Cullinan diamond was found here over a century ago, the mine is still active,
bringing out a large number of high quality stones every year. The mine is open
to visitors and there are mine tours allowing visitors to see how the mine
worked a century ago and how diamonds are mined today with modern technology.
Dinokeng offers visitors the chance to see how people lived
at the turn of the 19th century. Perhaps the best example of the old way of
living is the Sammy Marks Museum.
South Africa’s first industrialist built a home in Dinokeng
that is the very image of the Victorian era. The Sammy Marks House Museum is an
impressive mansion with an extensive garden that was once the home of wealthy
industrialist Sammy Marks. A tour through the Sammy Marks house gives visitors
the chance to see how a wealthy family of the time lived.
The Dinokeng area is also home to many ruins from previous
conflicts and inhabitants. Some of the old battlefields and forts are marked
while others are semi-forgotten, waiting for visitors to uncover them and to
remember.
For an interesting excursion into the diamond country of
Gauteng, a journey to Dinokeng is in order. Situated only a short distance from
Pretoria or Johannesburg, the area is a great place for visitors to see and
learn about the diamond mining enterprises of the turn of the 19th century.
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