JAGERSFONTEIN, South Africa - The Diamond that Lost its Sparkle

Hi everyone! In this video, I explore the South African town of Jagersfontein, situated in the Free State province. It is about 120 kilometres from Bloemfontein and only 11 kilometres from Fauresmith. The town experienced a diamond rush in the late 19th century - in fact, two of the most famous diamonds ever found were located in Jagersfontein. The town has an impressive array of historic buildings and sites, and it has the largest largest hand-excavated hole in the world. However, strolling in the town in the 21st century, it is clear that Jagersfontein has seen better days, with limited tourism and lack of economic opportunities. The town experienced a disaster in 2022 when a tailings dam collapsed. As I walk through the town, I notice several buildings that were erected in the 19th and 20th centuries, but appear to be in a derelict state or unused. I also visit the site of the largest hand-excavated hole, but I am in for a surprise. I continue to walk through various parts of the residential and commercial areas, and find some interesting architecture and beautiful gardens. Throughout the vlog, I also engage with some locals and visit some shops. I meet a group of Sotho men who show me their traditional dress and teach me some Sotho words. Towards the end of the vlog, I meet local resident and historian Giel Venter, who invites me into his house and shows me the history book he wrote on Jagersfontein. Finally, I reflect on my visit and offer up some views on what Jagersfontein can do to boost tourism in their town and the wider area. Please note that I have not been sponsored in the production of any parts of this video. I hope you enjoy this video of Jagersfontein! If you haven't done it yet, please hit the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons, and leave a COMMENT for me in the comments section. Happy exploring! Willie