One of Cape Town’s most exclusive hotels, Ellerman House, has partnered with Benguela Diamonds to offer guests a once-in-a-lifetime proposal or anniversary concept: a “diamond safari” to the mineral-rich west coast of South Africa. The wild beauty and wealth of natural resources make this stretch of coastline perfect for an underwater safari experience. It’s also one of the few places in the world known for its ocean diamonds.
Your day begins with an early morning chauffeured limousine drive to Cape Town International Airport, followed by an hour-long private charter flight following the arid and dramatic coastline to Port Nolloth. Breakfast is served in a glamorous beachfront villa that overlooks Benguela Diamonds’ private offshore concession while veteran diamond diver and Benguela Diamonds founder, Wynand Hendrikse, presents an introduction to the day’s activities.
After the briefing, the adventure gets under way as you cast off for sea cruise to Wynand’s “special spot”. Guests have the option to join Benguela’s dive masters underwater (PADI Open Water 1 certificate required) and non-divers stay dry on board the boat. After 30-40 minutes, the divers will return with seabed gravel, which is sorted using a vibrating pan system—that way, heavier stones, including garnets and diamonds, are separated from the rest.
All that hard work is rewarded with a gourmet seafood lunch back at the villa, prepared by Ellerman House’s private chef and celebrating the coastal setting with fresh line-caught fish or west coast crayfish, depending on the season. The meal is paired with award-winning South African wines, handpicked from Ellerman House’s exceptional wine collection. The excitement continues after lunch as the sorting begins – an expert from Benguela’s sorting team takes you through the process of grading the stones and helps you select your rough diamond to be cut, polished and set into a piece of jewellery at the design studio in Stellenbosch. Your new heirloom will be ready within just three days.
The day draws to a close with the short flight back to Cape Town for Ellerman’s signature Dom Perignon Experience — a guided Champagne pairing and culinary program exclusive to the hotel. It’s the perfect way to end an unforgettable day.
Get in touch with our team of travel specialists to learn more about this unique, bucket-list adventure: Contact Us »
