AGATE COLLECTING TOURS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The agates of South Africa have, until very recently, received little attention, except from our local gemcutters, who sometimes collected and cut some. The agate collecting concept started with the idea of making our agates available to international collectors, and it developed in negotiating a deal with the various farm owners and mines to make collecting tours available to everyone interested. This has never been possible sofar and is a milestone in agate collecting in South Africa. Obviously agates from sites , which will not be visited or are no longer accessible or exhausted will also be available to the participants of those tours. We have the largest collection of agates in the country.

The recent changes of ownership of mineral rights in South Africa may make it more and more difficult, as time goes on, to secure access for amateur collectors and gemstone-cutters.

Todays rules are simple: what you find is yours to keep at no cost. (It is however not permitted to collect fossils). It is possible to collect up to 50kg of excellent material during a single visit to a collecting site. There is also currently no restriction to export collected rough gemstones and specimen on a non-commercial basis.

 

We offer the following to make the concept reality:

    1.12 day collecting tour to the ancient riverbeds of the Vaal and Caledon Rivers combined with Musina and the Kruger National Park.

    2.7 day collecting tour to the ancient riverbeds of the Vaal and Caledon Rivers.

    3.5 day collecting tour to Musina and Kruger National Park.

    4.17 day agate collecting trip from 12 April 2006 until 28 April 2006 combined with our annual Gemboree (only one of those trips per year will be offered).

 

We are however very flexible and can accommodate your requirements regarding other collecting sites, shorten the proposed tours, include anything other or extend them to suit the time you have available.

We have tried to make the tours as comfortable as possible, but some of the sites are in remote areas, where luxuries are not available.

Accommodation may vary due to availability and holiday times.

You can view the agates to be collected at the various locations during the tour on our website:

http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/g_debeer/homepage.html

The proposed itenery for those tours are as follows:

1.12 day Agate collecting tour in the ancient riverbeds of the Vaal and Caledon rivers (minimum 4 participants, maximum 12) at any suitable date - to be booked and finalised at least 3 months in advance.

 

    Day 1 Meet in Johannesburg

    Organised visit of city and Soweto.

    Stay overnight  in Johannesburg

     

    Day 2 Early morning departure to Lichtenburg - a trip of 220km. From there to

    the alluvial diamond fields of Bakerville to collect agates and carnelians

    at Pienaars Pothole diamond diggings and at the Jewel Box pipe .

          Overnight stay in Lichtenburg.

 

    Day 3 Early departure to Wolmaransstad via Ottosdal a distance of 124km.

    Collect agates at the Soutpan diamond mine.

    Travel another 64km to Bloemhof

    Overnight stay in Bloemhof.

     

    Day 4 Collect agates on a private farm off the Amalia road and the Muller Shooting Range.Overnight stay in Bloemhof.

    Day 5  Travel to Kimberley via Warrenton, a distance of 162km, visit to the De Beers "Big Hole" diamond mine and mine museum. After lunch depart to Hobhouse via Boshof, Dealesville, Bloemfontein, Thaba Nchu and Ladybrand. A distance of 345km.Overnight stay in Hobhouse or Ladybrand.

    Day 6            Collecting at the old alluvial riverbeds of the Caledon River at the Lesotho border .Overnight stay in Hobhouse or Ladybrand.

    Day 7            Return to Johannesburg - 485km. Possible short stop at Loch Vaal.Overnight stay in Johannesburg - prepare parcels for sending off.

    Day 8     Depart for Kruger National Park. This well known park in the Lowveld ranks amongst the best in Africa. Nightdrive in evening.Overnight stay at Satara camp.

    Day 9       Gameviewing in Kruger National park.Overnight stay at Satara camp.

    Day 10 Early morning drive to Letaba. After breakfast through Palaborwa gate to Tshipise via Tzaneen and Makhado - a distance of 376km. Collecting Sardonyx near Nzhelele Dam. Overnight stay in Tshipise.

    Day 11 Collecting agates at Musina Road, look for Unakite and Feldspar along the Limpopo riverbed, visit the baobab trees in the Musina Nature  Reserve before returning to the Tshipise overnight spot.

    Day 12 Return to Johannesburg - 550km. Depart from Johannesburg International .

       

    2.7 day collecting tour to the ancient riverbeds of the Vaal and Caledon

    Rivers (minimum 4 participants) at any suitable date - to be booked and finalised at least 3 months in advance.

    Day 1   Meet in Johannesburg. Organised visit of city and Soweto.Stay overnight  in Johannesburg

    Day 2      Early morning departure to Lichtenburg - a trip of 220km. From there to the alluvial diamond fields of Bakerville to collect agates and carnelians at Pienaars Pothole diamond diggings and at the Jewel Box pipe .Overnight stay in Lichtenburg.

    Day 3     Early departure to Wolmaransstad via Ottosdal a distance of 124km.Collect agates at the Soutpan diamond mine.Travel another 64km to Bloemhof.Overnight stay in Bloemhof.

    Day 4            Collect agates on a private farm off the Amalia road and the Muller Shooting Range. Overnight stay in Bloemhof.

    Day 5            Travel to Kimberley via Warrenton, a distance of 162km, visit to the De Beers "Big Hole" diamond mine and mine museum. After lunch depart to Hobhouse via Boshof, Dealesville, Bloemfontein, Thaba Nchu and Ladybrand. A distance of 345km.Overnight stay in Hobhouse or Ladybrand.

    Day 6            Collecting at the old alluvial riverbeds of the Caledon River at the Lesotho border . Overnight stay in Hobhouse or Ladybrand.

    Day 7            Return to Johannesburg - 485km. Possible short stop at Loch Vaal.Depart from Johannesburg International.

 

 

3.5 day Agate collecting tour to Musina and Kruger National Park (minimum 4 participants) at any suitable date - to be booked and finalised at least 3 months in advance.

     Day 1               Depart for Kruger National Park. This well known park in the Lowveld ranks amongst the best in Africa. Nightdrive in evening. Overnight stay at Satara camp.

    Day 2               Gameviewing in Kruger National park. Overnight stay at Satara camp.

    Day 3                Early morning drive to Letaba. After breakfast through Palaborwa gate to Tshipise via Tzaneen and Makhado - a distance of 376km. Collecting Sardonyx near Nzhelele Dam. Overnight stay in Tshipise.

    Day 4               Collecting agates at Musina Road, look for Unakite and Feldspar along the Limpopo riverbed, visit the baobab trees in the Musina Nature  Reserve before returning to the Tshipise overnight spot.

    Day 5               Return to Johannesburg - 550km. Depart from Johannesburg International .

           

4.17 day agate collecting trip combined with annual Gemboree (minimum 10 participants, maximum 12) to be booked and finalised by October 2005.

 

    Wednesday 12 April 2006.    Meet in Johanesburg. Organised visit of city and Soweto. Stay overnight in Johannesburg

    Thursday 13 April 2006.    Early morning departure to Lichtenburg - a trip of 220km

    From there proceed to the alluvial diamond fields of Bakerville to collect agates and carnelians at Pienaars Pothole diamond diggings and at the Jewel Box pipe. Overnight stay in Lichtenburg.

    Friday 14 April 2006.     Travel 640km to Kakamas via Vryburg, Kuruman and Upington. Visit to Oranje Rivier Wynkelders in Upington before registering for the annual South African Gemboree in Kakamas, a yearly gettogether of the South African rockhounds, to collect gemstones and minerals and to swop and sell. Proceed to the Orange River Augrabis Falls (28km). Overnight stay at Augrabis National Park.

    Saturday 15 April 2006Join in the activities of the Gemboree, organised by the Cape Town Mineral Society. George, who owns the blue lace mine will be invited to offer this beautiful agate for sale. Likewise John from Zululand will be encouraged to bring Zululand agates. Overnight stay in Kakamas.

    Sunday 16 April 2006      Full day Gemboree activities and collecting trips. Overnight stay in Kakamas.

    Monday 17 April 2006          Depart for Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, situated in the splendid red dunes of the Kalahari desert a 200km drive through dunes and desert and a possibility to encounter bushmen. Afternoon game viewing in desert. Nightdrive in evening. Overnight in Twee Rivieren Camp.Tuesday 18 April 2006Gameviewing in Kgalagadi. Overnight in Twee Rivieren Camp.

    Wednesday 19 April 2006      Leave Kgalagadi after early morning drive. Travel to Bloemhof via Upington, Kuruman, Vryburg, Schweizer Reneke - distance of 605km. Overnight stay in Bloemhof.

    Thursday 20 April 2005        Travel to Soutpan diamond mine to collect agates. Thereafter collecting agates on private farm off Amalia Road and Muller Shooting Range near Bloemhof. Overnight stay in Bloemhof.

    Friday 21 April 2006      Travel to Kimberley via Warrenton, a distance of 162km, visit to the De Beers "Big Hole" diamond mine and mine museum. After lunch depart to Hobhouse via Boshof, Dealesville, Bloemfontein, Thaba Nchu and Ladybrand. A distance of 345km. Overnight stay at Hobhouse or Ladybrand.

    Saturday 22 April 2006          Collecting agates in the old alluvial riverbed of the Caledon River at the Lesotho border . Overnight stay at Hobhouse or Ladybrand.

    Sunday 23 April 2006        Return to Johannesburg - 485km. Possible short stop at Loch Vaal for agates.  Overnight stay in Johannesburg or depart from Johannesburg International

    Monday 24 April 2006              Depart for Kruger National Park. This wellknown park in the Lowveld ranks amongst the best in Africa. Nightdrive in evening. Overnight stay at Satara camp.

    Tuesday 25 April 2006          Gameviewing in Kruger National park. Overnight stay at Satara camp.

    Wednesday 26 April 2006        Early morning drive to Letaba. After breakfast through Palaborwa gate to Tshipise via Tzaneen and Makhado - a distance of 376km. Collecting Sardonyx near Nzhelele Dam. Overnight stay in Tshipise.

    Thursday 27 April 2006        Collecting agates at Musina Road. Look for Unakite and Feldspar along the Limpopo riverbed. Visit the Baobabtrees in the Musina Nature reserve before returning to the Tshipise overnight spot.

    Friday 28 April 2006          Return to Johannesburg - 550km. Depart from Johannesburg International .

    Cost of the tours per person sharing:

1.12 day collecting tourSAR19,000-00

2. 7 day collecting tourSAR11,200-00

3. 5 day collecting tourSAR10,000-00

4.Gemboree tour - 12 day tourSAR19,000-00

    - 17 day tourSAR24,000-00

current exchange rate: US Dollar = 6,40SAR; EUR = 8.10SAR

This includes:

-all accommodation double rooms sharing (single room accommodation is around R250-00 extra per day)

-all meals

-all transport in air-conditioned vehicles

-collecting tools and gear for use on the sites

-all entrance fees, permits and access costs to collecting sites

-packing materials for 4 parcels of max. 30kg.

Excluded is:

-personal expenses

-additional drinks and tips

-postage for parcels

-personal travel insurance

-cost of flight to and from Johannesburg International

 

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The commercial advertisers are Elizabeth and Guido de Beer

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