Kleinzee and Koingnaas

Kleinzee and Koingnaas on the Diamond Coast, are situated in the area that has been restricted to the personnel working for the De Beers Diamond Mining Company – and for good reason. The company did not want visitors picking up diamonds from the beaches (yay!) – a dangerous pursuit anyway, considering the stringent punishment for illicit diamond trading. It is illegal to have rough stones in South Africa.

The real benefit of this beautiful area being restricted from Joe Public, is that the strandveld has remained pristine, with a rich biodiversity of miniature succulents, stem succulents, low leaf succulents and bulbs.

The area has endemic species such as the strandvygie, vaalvygie and knoppiesblaar and the Kleinzee Nature Reserve, an area no bigger than eight rugby fields has in excess of 100 species and 25 families, showing all the splendour of Namaqualand.

The diamond coast has more than 100 bird species, especially at the Buffels River estuary at Kleinzee and 27 mammal species (including the brown hyena and bat-eared fox).  Chameleons, snakes, geckos, frogs and tortoises also abound. A resident colony of more than 450 000 seals on the admiralty is protected by the adjacent mining area and can be visited.

Now, De Beers has worked out how to share this jewel with us, by offering tours that are managed by approved operators. There are a number of options, and arrangement must be made with the De Beers Office, five days in advance. Office Contact Details:  Telephone No: +27 (0) 27 8770028: Fax No: +27 (0)86 694 6770: E-Mail: Website.

Tour options:

Mine Tour – mine tour showing the workings of a modern alluvial diamond mine. Meet the toughest of the tough, those mortals who wrench these diamonds from the bowls of the earth.  Board the massive dragline and watch the operator hoist up to 70 tons of sand with each scoop (production permitting).   Weather permitting, the tour departs 08h00 from Kleinzee Mine Museum and returns at 12h00. Note: Children under 16 and pregnant ladies are not allowed on the mine tour because of entry and exit requirements to the mining area.

Shipwreck 4×4 Trail –  guided, self-driven, 37km trail along the coast or Strandveld 4×4 Trail – guided, self-driven, 27km trail through dune systems in a game park. Your journey starts at Noup or Koiingnaas Caravan Park, 13 km from Koiingnaas.

We will visit three shipwrecks, namely the Piratiny, Arosa and Border, on pristine beaches, as well as other places of interest.

Strandveld 4×4 Trail, you will visit the game reserve where gemsbok, springbok, ostriches, and smaller antelope such as steenbok and duikers roam the fields. Carnivores such as bat-eared foxes and suricates can also be seen. The tour includes some spectacular dune riding opportunities on mobile dunes. These are dunes that have no vegetation growing on them; therefore no harm will come to any fauna or flora.The 4×4 trails depart at 9h00 and return at 14h00. Read up about the trails.

Diamond Coast Hiking Trail – 3 day, guided and portaged hike over 48 km.

The town is a cosy little place, like a seaside resort, with shops, primary school, a hospital, libraries, sports grounds and even a 9-hole golf course…  and tight security.

Neatly stacked mounds of rocks are kept intact to remind us of days gone by when mining diamonds was hard manual labour. Take the “Boulder Heritage Route” – an easy 5 km walk down the rich history of diamond mining at Kleinzee.

Visit to the Kleinzee Museum, established in 1985, which offers exhibits depicting the history of Namaqualand Mines, shipwrecks, geological, palaeontological and archaeological finds as well as a heritage display.

There are caravan parks, guest houses and a backpackers in the town and surrounding area. Self-catering guesthouses: Boathouse and Lorelai (Koingnaas); Joanne’s (Kleinzee); Noup Divers’ Huts. Caravan parks/Camping sites: Koingnaas Caravan Park; Kleinzee Caravan Park.

Kleinzee and Koingnaas, (with 65km tarred road in between), are 60km south of Port Nolloth and 103km west of Springbok.