Full-Day Cradle of Humankind Guided Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria
Lesedi & Wonder Cave
Pickup included
From
Origins Centres&Maropeng
Pickup included
From
Highlights
This tour is private with just you and your guide in the vehicle. To the west of Johannesburg where the Highveld starts its descent to the Bushveld from the lies, an area of undulating hills referred to as the Cradle of Humankind. It gains its name from the amounts of fossil remains of early man and our more apelike ancestors discovered here in the dolomite caves just beneath its surface. The geology of the region has made it one of the richest fossil-bearing regions in the world not just of early ape-men but many other extinct creatures. Sterkfontein Caves are where the original discoveries were made but it is now closed due to flooding and so we will first visit the custodians of the discoveries at the University of the Witwatersrand Department of Paleoanthropology at the wonderfully informative Origins Centre there. Then from here to the area of The Cradle and there visit the Maropeng Mound and/or the Wonder Caves as time allows.
Itinerary
The Cradle of Humankind
2 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeTo the west of Johannesburg where the Highveld starts its descent to the "Bushveld" from the gold bearing ridge of the Witwatersrand lies an area of undulating hills referred to as the Cradle of Humankind. It gains its name from the huge amounts of fossil remains of early man and our more apelike ancestors discovered here in the dolomite caves just beneath its surface. The unusual geology of the region has made it one of the richest fossil bearing regions in the world not just of early apemen but many other extinct creatures.Origins Centre Museum
2 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedThe Sterkfontein Caves are closed until further notice due to flood damage in 2021. In the meantime, we are offering a tour of the Origins Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand in its place. The Witwatersrand ( Johannesburg) University Anthropology Department administers the Caves and is custodian of all the recovered fossils from the Cradle of Humankind and many other sites throughout Southern Africa. This is followed by Lesedi Cultural Village from 11.30 am until 2.30 pm and then Maropeng Mound ( or Wondercave) before returning to your hotel.Maropeng Visitor Centre
2 hoursAdmission Ticket FreeTo attract more visitors to the area another site has been created at Maropeng to the north. At Maropeng inside a great hollow mound is a presentation on the history and prehistory of our species. It is very popular with the busloads of school children that visit the area. But the interactive displays fascinate both old and young. And to add to it's attraction the latest fossil discoveries of what purported to be a new species of early ancestor of mankind called Homo Naledi are on display. From the top of the mound are wonderful views of the countryside as far as the Magaliesberg Mountains. There is a restaurant for light meals, curio shop and footpaths have been laid to explore the "highveld" grasslands surrounding the venue.Wondercave
1 hoursAdmission Ticket IncludedOR we also can offer you the Wonder Cave instead of the Mound . This cave has the same geology as the Sterkfontein Caves created at the same time by the same processes and is bigger and more pristine than Sterkfontein. It is inside the Rhino and Lion Reserve so you will see some of the animals on the way to it. You can let us know on the day which you prefer.
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Mmilo Tours