# CullinanDiamondMine.com - visiting the Cullinan Diamond Mine (Gauteng, South Africa) and its tours

> Independent guide to visiting the Cullinan Diamond Mine near Pretoria: the surface tour, why there is no underground tour,
> getting there, the story of the Cullinan Diamond, the mine's other famous stones, and every tour on GetYourGuide compared.
> Not affiliated with the mine, Petra Diamonds, any tour operator or GetYourGuide.

Site: https://cullinandiamondmine.com
Language: en. Currency: USD for online tours (ZAR for operator prices). Country: South Africa (Cullinan, Gauteng).

## Verified facts

- Underground tours at the Cullinan Diamond Mine were suspended from 30 April 2023 after a health and safety review; only surface tours run (Petra Diamonds statement).
- The mine is operating (underground block and sub-level caving). Ownership: Petra Diamonds 74%, Kago Diamonds 14%, employee trust 12%.
- On 1 October 2026 Petra Diamonds launched a strategic review that may include a sales process for its assets; no sale agreed as of late October 2026.
- Registered as Premier Mine in 1902; renamed Cullinan Diamond Mine in November 2003.
- The Cullinan Diamond (3,106 carats) was found in January 1905 by surface manager Frederick Wells; largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found.
- Presented to Edward VII on 9 November 1907; cleaved by Joseph Asscher in Amsterdam on 10 February 1908; 9 major stones plus about 96-97 small brilliants.
- Cullinan I (530.2 ct) is in the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross and Cullinan II (317.4 ct) in the Imperial State Crown, Tower of London.
- Open pit (the Big Hole) mined to about 190 m; No. 1 Shaft hoists from 934 m; current production level about 839 m.
- Surface walking tour (Premier Diamond Tours): about 2 hours, daily 10:30 and 12:00, R200 booked direct (2026), minimum age 10, closed flat shoes, ID copies and indemnity.
- Cullinan is roughly 40 km east of central Pretoria via the N4 (Rayton/Cullinan exit, R515). No Gautrain station.

## Tours listed on this site

Booking links are GetYourGuide affiliate links (partner_id 7GG5I5H). The site earns a commission at no extra cost to the
reader and says so at https://cullinandiamondmine.com/affiliate-disclosure/.
Prices are 'from' prices in USD at the last build and move.

- Cullinan Surface Diamond Mine Walking Tour (At the mine, Cullinan village) - from $12 per person, 2 hours, at the mine: Surface tour: film, shafts, Big Hole; rated 4.6 from 68 reviews. Page: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/tours/cullinan-surface-walking-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/pretoria-l1586/pretoria-cullinan-surface-diamond-mine-walking-tour-t390044/
- Pretoria City Tour and Cullinan Diamond Mine (Pretoria and Cullinan, hotel pickup) - from $107 per person, 8 hours, at the mine: Surface tour at the mine; rated 4.7 from 41 reviews. Page: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/tours/pretoria-city-and-cullinan-mine-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/pretoria-l1586/pretoria-and-calinan-mine-t437823/
- Cullinan Diamond Mine & Pretoria Full Day (From Johannesburg, with pickup) - from $174 per person, 8 hours, at the mine: Surface tour at the mine; rated 4.5 from 26 reviews. Page: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/tours/cullinan-and-pretoria-day-from-johannesburg/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/johannesburg-l104/cullinan-diamond-mine-pretoria-full-day-tour-t185654/
- Royal Africa Diamond Mine Tour (Cullinan village) - from $12 per person, 2.5 hours, at the mine: Surface tour, history room, heritage house; rated 5.0 from 4 reviews. Page: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/tours/royal-africa-diamond-mine-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/cullinan-l189618/cullinan-royal-africa-diamond-mine-tour-with-guide-t1333169/
- Cullinan Diamond Mine Surface Tour (Cullinan village) - from $12 per person, 1.5 hours, at the mine: Surface tour: video, Shaft 1, Big Hole; rated 5.0 from 2 reviews. Page: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/tours/cullinan-diamond-mine-surface-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/cullinan-l189618/cullinan-diamond-mine-surface-tour-t1133774/
- Cullinan Surface Half-Day Tour from Pretoria (From Pretoria, with pickup) - from $125 per person, 4 hours, at the mine: Surface tour and diamond market; rated 5.0 from 1 reviews. Page: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/tours/cullinan-half-day-tour-from-pretoria/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/cullinan-l189618/pretoria-cullinan-diamond-mine-surface-guided-half-day-tour-t1277455/
- Johannesburg: Cullinan Diamond Mine Tour (From Johannesburg or Pretoria, with pickup) - from $300 per person, 5 hours, at the mine: Surface tour, 1.5 to 2 hours; rated 4.0 from 10 reviews. Page: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/tours/cullinan-mine-tour-from-johannesburg/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/johannesburg-l104/cullinan-diamond-mine-tour-t72363/
- Full Day Cullinan Mine & Diamond Shop (From Johannesburg, with pickup) - from $182 per person, 6 hours, at the mine: Surface tour, village, diamond dealers; new listing, no reviews yet. Page: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/tours/cullinan-mine-and-diamond-shop-day/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/pretoria-l1586/johannesburg-full-day-cullinan-diamond-mine-diamond-shop-t1179040/
- Dinokeng Safari with Transfer (Dinokeng Game Reserve, north of Pretoria) - from $151 per person, 5 hours, at the mine: No mine visit; rated 4.9 from 33 reviews. Page: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/tours/dinokeng-safari-with-transfer/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/pretoria-l1586/dinokeng-safari-with-transfer-t1158959/

## Guide pages

- https://cullinandiamondmine.com/guides/cullinan-underground-tour/ - Can you still go underground at the Cullinan Diamond Mine? No: those tours stopped on 30 April 2023. What the surface tour shows instead, and which to book.
- https://cullinandiamondmine.com/guides/cullinan-diamond-history/ - The Cullinan Diamond: 3,106 carats, found in 1905, sent to London by post, cleaved in 1908 into 9 major stones. Where each one is today, and its value.
- https://cullinandiamondmine.com/guides/is-cullinan-mine-still-active/ - Yes, the Cullinan Diamond Mine is still working. Who owns it, what Petra's October 2026 strategic review means, how deep it goes and what it produces.
- https://cullinandiamondmine.com/guides/cullinan-day-trip-from-johannesburg-pretoria/ - Plan a Cullinan day trip from Johannesburg or Pretoria: the N4 route, driving vs tours with pickup, what to pair it with, and the ID form and shoe rules.
- https://cullinandiamondmine.com/guides/famous-diamonds-cullinan-mine/ - Famous diamonds from the Cullinan mine: the Cullinan, Golden Jubilee, Centenary, Taylor-Burton, Premier Rose, Niarchos and the blues, with owners today.
- https://cullinandiamondmine.com/guides/diamonds-in-south-africa/ - Why South Africa is rich in diamonds: kimberlite and the Kaapvaal craton, the Kimberley rush, the De Beers 90% myth, finding a diamond and the VAT refund.

## Blog posts (dated)

- 2026-10-27: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/blog/petra-strategic-review-cullinan-2026/ - Petra Diamonds put Cullinan, its last mine, into a strategic review on 1 October 2026. What was announced, what is not decided, and what it means for tours.
- 2026-10-27: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/blog/cullinan-blue-diamond-2026/ - The 41.82-carat Type IIb blue found at Cullinan in December 2025: how it was sold, how it compares with the 2021 blue, and why the mine produces blues.
- 2026-10-27: https://cullinandiamondmine.com/blog/cullinan-underground-tours-2026/ - Cullinan's underground mine tours stopped on 30 April 2023 and no restart has been announced. What runs instead, prices, times and how to spot old listings.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- 'Underground tour' offers for Cullinan are out of date: underground visits stopped on 30 April 2023.
- The mine is not closed and has not been sold; only a strategic review was announced (October 2026).
- The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, not simply 'the largest diamond'. Its weight is 3,106 carats.
- Cullinan I is the largest colourless cut diamond; the Golden Jubilee (545.67 ct, also from this mine) is a larger brown-yellow cut stone.
- De Beers does not own 90% of the world's diamonds today; its share of rough supply fell to about a quarter to a third by 2019-2021.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage or the relevant tour or guide page. Tour times, prices and rules change; verify close to your travel date.