A trip to Kimberly is not complete without visiting the Magerfontein battlefield about 30km south of the City. Here between 9 and 12 December one of the most important battles of the Boer War took place in which the Boer forces under generals Cronje and De La Ray gained a major victory over the British forces under Lord Methuen. The Boer forces occupied the koppies and terrain at the foot of the Magersfontein hills while the British who were trying to relieve the siege around Kimberly advanced along the flat low ground to the south of Magerfontein.

The site is reached via a 10km gravel road which was in quite good condition. In recent years a very nice museum has been set up on Magerfontein Koppie with excellent exhibits and artifacts from the battle. There is also a restaurant at the site. A road leads to the west of the main site where it is possible to view some of the old trench lines and Boer fortifications. Across the main road that leads to the Magersfontein Battlefield site, is a network of roads that go past the various graves and memorial sites of the British. This is the area the British occupied during the battle.

Area of Magersfontein Boer War Battlefield Site Map