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In 1874 the Blaaubank Gold Mine was the first gold mine to be found on the Witwatersrand reef. Placed at the top of the hill overlooking Magaliesburg, the Historic Mine has a panoramic view of the settlement and its surrounding hills. The Mine has repaired its entry route over the low water bridge near Magaliesburg Railway Station. The soil track up to the mine is no challenge for a sedan driven at about 25km per hour.

The mine not only offers walking tours into the former hand-dug 1874 mine at R65 per head, but has tents for hire at R100 per head and will provide campers with breakfast for R45. Visitors who will need snacks or drinks are advised to buy them in Magaliesburg before going to the Mine because there is nothing for sale there. However, there are bathroom facilities and the vista is ideal for day picnickers who want to hike on the hillside or walk down to the pioneer cemetery. The trail from the mine down to the cemetery as well as the ruins of the original original Magaliesburg Hotel are overgrown with long grass. The part around the reception, the camp site and the mine entrance has lawn grass, but the veld will only be cleared of natural perils after the winter veldfires have chased away snakes etc.

The 45 minute tour requires more attention and durability than most children under 5 have. The terrain is also not suitable for little children and babies in prams or pushchairs.

Historic Gold Mine - part 2

Two guides have been trained to offer all the facts required on this historical mine. The mechanical plant was used after ore had been hand dug. Pestle and mortar style crushing released gold granules for panning. The mine has utilised the plant since 1874, and it still works for the modern-day mine shaft. A visit to the plant is an absorbing section of the tour. Gold panning in the earliest manner is experienced at the end of the tour. Visitors may retain any gold they find in their pan. Weather permitting, the Mine will also offer a 90 minute tour into the new mine shaft. However, the access is steep and not for folks who are unsteady on their legs. At the end of the tour visitors get a certificate to remember their visit to the Blaaubank Historic Gold Mine.

The Mine staff try to see to it that that visitors are kept safe. When ground water drips through the mine roof after rains, visitors are not allowed to enter the mine shaft. Hard hats have to be worn and appropriate footwear is highly advisable. There are insects and some risky creatures such as porcupines in the mine. Jeans and ankle boots are suitable to avoid bites or stings. Tours do not take place at certain times of the day. The tour guides are constantly geared up to take visitors on the tour whenever they are requested to do so. Individual contact with the guides makes each tour unique for clients. The mine can normally be reached for group bookings (discounted rate) on 011 565 6855.

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