Tour the Cullinan Diamond Mine

Fascinating and informative tour booked with Cullinan Tours through Ms. Grace Masango. I arrived on a Friday morning travelling solo and was given a wonderful tour led by Ms. Sharon who was competent, well-informed, and very personable. Definitely recommend a visit to Cullinan to see the source of some of the world's largest diamonds that continues to operate after over 100 years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

+1

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 !

Nice visit, short, well organized. Initially you see a short video and then you take a short walk inside the mining facility. You never enter the mine, just in the middle of some surface machinery.

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.

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.