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Departure from your hotel or guesthouse in the Johannesburg area.
08:00AM – 12:00PM
13:00PM – 17:00PM
Just an hour’s drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria, the Cradle of Humankind is a must-visit for archaeology enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by the story of human origins. This World Heritage Site offers an unforgettable journey through time, revealing the remarkable discoveries that have shaped our understanding of humanity’s past.
Spanning 53,000 hectares, the Cradle of Humankind is the world’s richest hominin fossil site, with around 40% of known human ancestor fossils unearthed here. The area is steeped in ancient history, brought to life through fossils and archaeological findings that tell the story of our early beginnings.
In addition to its archaeological significance, the region is also a haven for biodiversity, home to a variety of bird species, animals, and plants — some of which are rare or endangered.
Please note: The Sterkfontein Caves have been closed due to flooding since 2022.
In 1947, scientists made a groundbreaking discovery in the Sterkfontein Caves: an almost complete skull of an adult female, initially named Plesianthropus transvaalensis (“near-man from Transvaal”). Today, she is more famously known as Mrs. Ples, one of the most iconic hominin fossils ever found.
Decades later, in 1997, another extraordinary find emerged from the same area—a nearly complete skeleton belonging to a different species of Australopithecus. Nicknamed Little Foot, the skeleton was named after the first bones discovered in 1995, which happened to be parts of a small foot. Together, these two fossils have provided crucial insights into early human ancestry.
Please note: The Sterkfontein Caves have been closed due to flooding since 2022.
The Maropeng Visitor Centre is the official gateway to the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, visitors embark on an interactive journey through the story of human evolution. The centre showcases fascinating fossils, archaeological discoveries, and thought-provoking exhibits on topics such as human origins and climate change.
The New Scientific Exhibition at Maropeng takes visitors deeper into the science behind the discoveries. It includes a life-size reconstruction of a mined cave and explores themes like geology, early life forms, and fossil formation. Visitors can learn about major fossil finds, paleobotany, and the ancient landscapes that shaped the evolution of life on Earth.
