Depart from Johannesburg for a tour of Pretoria, also called The Jacaranda City for the thousands of Jacaranda trees which line its streets and transform the city to a purple wonderland during Spring when the trees are in full bloom. We visit the Union Buildings, designed by the famous Architect, Sir Herbert Baker and regarded as one of the country’s architectural masterpieces. We also visit the Voortrekker Monument which bears testament to a people’s pioneering spirit before visiting the period museum which is Melrose House. The Anglo Boer War officially ended here with the signing of the peace treaty of Vereeniging in 1902 After lunch (optional) an excursion is made to the working Cullinan Diamond Mine, also known as the Premier Diamond Mine. This mine has uncovered some of the largest diamonds in the world today and the mine lies over one of the biggest kimberlite pipes in the world. The mine is also the original source of the famous diamond in the British Crown Jewels. A 2 hour conducted surface tour of the mine consists of a video of underground mining, a display of rough diamonds in Diamond House, visit the mine shaft in operation, see the 32 ha big hole and view diamond cutting and polishing
