The Big Hole is the largest in the world, with some three tonnes of diamonds removed from here

Situated well off the beaten track in South Africa's north, Kimberley has long been synonymous with diamond mining.

Some 845km from Durban, almost 1,000km from Cape Town and more than 500km from Johannesburg, Kimberley is more than worth the slog.

While not as exciting as Cape Town or Jo'burg, Kimberley is nonetheless a captivating city with old-world charm. Nineteenth-century buildings, museums and one of South Africa's most important art galleries give the city a great cachet.