The Brits and Boers really had it out in the land surrounding Kimberley between 1899 and 1902. The siege of Kimberley lasted for 124 days before the British army of Lords Roberts and Kitchener relieved the town on 15 February 1900. The Honoured Dead Memorial, for those who lost their lives in the siege, is at the intersection of Memorial and Dalham Rds, south of the city centre. The large gun is Long Cecil, built and used in Kimberley during the siege.
Several major battles were fought in the vicinity of Kimberley, both during the siege and after. The most important was Magersfontein on 11 December 1899, when entrenched Boers decimated the famous Highland Brigade. The visitors centre has details on the well-marked 120km long Diamond Fields N12 Battlefields Route south of Kimberley.
For specialised private battlefield tours contact Frank Higgo or Veronica Bruce; both are registered with the local visitors centre.
