Mining Diamonds

Mining Diamonds

Anyone can go to a jewelry store and bring home South African diamonds, but how many people can say they got their sparkler from an actual mine? At Cullinan Diamond Mine (Mine: Oak Ave., west of Olienhout Ave.; Cullinan Tours:, 95 Oak Ave., Cullinan. 012/734-0260), not only can you buy diamonds, but you can get custom-made pieces from the resident jeweler, though don't expect your piece to include the world's largest diamond -- the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond unearthed here in 1905 is now in the Crown Jewels in London.

If you're interested in checking out the mine, tours are offered every day, ranging from the standard mine tour (R50, weekdays at 10 and 2:30, weekends at 10 and noon) to the four-hour underground tour (R400, daily at 8 AM); we suggest the underground tour -- you get to experience what it's like being underground and see the miners' working conditions. It's essential to reserve tours in advance. No children under 10 are permitted on the standard tour and no children under 16 are permitted on the underground tour.

If looking at all those carats makes you hungry, Cullinan's delightful old Victorian mine director's house has been turned into a guesthouse and tea garden. Oak House (103 Oak Ave. 012/305-2364) serves breakfast, lunches, and afternoon teas from 8 daily.