Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site
Description
Escape the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg and Pretoria to explore one of the world’s richest concentration of hominid fossils with a tour of The Cradle of Humankind. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, the region of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai, the fossil sites cover an area 53,000 hectares, split across the border of Gauteng and North West provinces. Trapped in a bed of dolomite rock that was deposited 2.5 billion years ago, over 950 hominid fossil specimens have been discovered to date. Rediscover your ancestral roots with Stephenson Adventures on this combination tour of Sterkfontein Caves and award-winning Maropeng.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The combination of Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng is an ideal tour outside the city if you are keen on learning about the history and origins of humankind from millions of years ago to present. Maropeng is a Setswana word meaning “returning to the place of origin”. It is an archaeological treasure house of Mrs. Ples (the oldest skull in the world aged 2.5million years), Taung Child and “little foot”. Evolution of humankind is shown through fun and interactive displays of scientist discoveries of many hominid and other animal fossils dating back to more than 4 million years ago to the birth of humanity. Visiting this place is like traveling through time to the place of origin and rediscovering your roots.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(42)
We enjoyed our tour with Mo very much. He was very knowledgeable and I loved his summary of the history of Johannesburg. He was a safe and careful driver. The tour of the Cradle of Humankind was wonderful and we are very glad we chose to do it with this company.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your tour with Mo. It’s fantastic that his knowledge, historical insights, and safe driving made your experience so enjoyable. We’re also pleased you had a wonderful visit to the Cradle of Humankind. We truly appreciate your kind words and are glad you chose to tour with us. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Mo gave us an informative trip to the Caves and the Centre. The pick up was simple and the drive was easy. Thank you
Thank you for your feedback. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit to the Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng Visitor Centre. It’s wonderful that Mo’s knowledge made the tour informative and that the pickup and journey were smooth and hassle-free. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again soon!
I had a wonderful day exploring the Cradle of Humankind with Stephenson Adventure. The entire experience was exceptionally well organized from start to finish. A special thank you to my guide, Mo, who was punctual, professional and friendly. He made the journey enjoyable and stress-free, sharing interesting insights throughout the day while ensuring everything ran smoothly. The cave visit was the highlight of the day. It was fascinating to explore such an important archaeological site, and it made the experience both enjoyable and memorable. I highly recommend Stephenson Adventure to anyone looking for a well-organized, informative, and memorable tour. Thank you, Mo, for making this such a fantastic experience!
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We’re delighted to hear you had such a memorable experience exploring the Cradle of Humankind with us. It’s fantastic that everything was well organized and that Mo’s professionalism, punctuality, and friendly approach made your day enjoyable and stress-free. We’re especially pleased that the Sterkfontein Caves were the highlight of your visit. We truly appreciate your kind recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon!
Great service, answered messages even the reservation having been made in the morning. The guide, Marc, was very kind and helped us a lot, taking us from one place to another always with disposition and care. If you come here, you can call this company who will be satisfied!
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We’re delighted to hear you had a great experience with our team. It’s fantastic that our prompt communication and Marc’s kindness, care, and professionalism made your tour smooth and enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon!
Very interesting tour of the Sterkfontein caves and Maropeng visitor centre! Our guide Mo was super nice and knowledgeable. We had great conversations on the drive to and from the Cradle of Humankind and learned a lot about South Africa. Everything worked perfectly. I can highly recommend this tour.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit to the Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng Visitor Centre. It’s fantastic that Mo’s friendly nature and knowledge made the journey as enjoyable as the destinations themselves, and that you learned so much about South Africa along the way. We truly appreciate your kind recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon!
Mo was a great guide. Very friendly and knowledgeable. I’d recommend others to do this trip and others with Mo.
Thank you for your feedback. We’re delighted to hear you had a great experience with Mo. It’s wonderful that his friendly personality and extensive knowledge made your tour enjoyable and memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon!
It was great experience with our amazing driver, Mo. Highly recommended.
Thank you for your feedback. We’re delighted to hear you had a great experience with Mo. It’s wonderful that his excellent service helped make your tour so enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon!
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that covers 53,000 hectares and contains more than 300 cave systems. Its importance lies in the fact that more than 40% of the world's hominid fossils have been found in this region, offering crucial insights into human evolution. The Maropeng museum serves as a central point for the exhibition of fossils. Some caves are privately owned or difficult to access, making the museum essential for inclusive public access, especially for visitors with medical or mobility issues. The Maropeng museum was built underground to honor the origins of the fossils and features interactive exhibits and reconstructions that allow visitors to engage with the history and science of human evolution. It is recommended to complement the visit to the museum with a tour of the Sterkfontein Caves located near Maropeng.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We’re glad you found the Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng informative and meaningful. It’s wonderful that you highlighted the importance of the site, the fossils, and the educational value of the museum. We appreciate your insights and hope you had an enriching experience exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fantastic tour, great for an afternoon! Our driver Mo was very knowledgeable about history and all kind of other things. I recommend it!
Thank you for your feedback. We’re delighted to hear you had a fantastic afternoon tour with Mo. It’s wonderful that his knowledge of history and local insights made the experience both enjoyable and informative. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon!
So interesting and great guides! Byron was terrific and very responsible. Stephenson Adventures made it a breeze for us to experience Johannesburg with three generations of family members.
Thank you for your feedback. We’re delighted to hear you had such a meaningful experience exploring Johannesburg with your family. It’s wonderful that Byron’s guidance and responsibility helped make the tour smooth and enjoyable for all generations. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again soon!
