Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng Day Tour from Johannesburg: Explore the Birthplace of Humanity

Embark on a day tour from Johannesburg to the Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng. Explore the birthplace of humanity, discover ancient fossils, and go on an underground tour with a guide.

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Sterkfontein Cave - Enjoy your complimentary hotel pick-up from Johannesburg hotel before heading to the The Cradle of Humankind - declared a World Heritage site in 1999 , a 47 000 - hectares area in the western part of Gauteng Province with around 40 different fossil sites where several of the world’s most famous and important fossils have been…
What's Included
  • Driver/guide
  • Use of helmet
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan
  • Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
  • Lunch
  • Driver/Guide Tips
Additional Information

Depart from your hotel in Johannesburg to The Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng to discover many hominid and other animal fossils, dating back more than 4-million years, to the birth of humanity. The most important and most famous of these fossils are “Mrs Ples”, a 2.1-million-year-old Australopithecus skull, and “Little Foot”, an almost complete…

Location
Sterkfontein Cave
Sterkfontein Caves Rd., Kromdraai Road Off the R563
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.5
(4 Ratings)
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Barbara
Aug 6, 2018
A World Heritage site like no other! - We were a day early in Johannesberg for our Vantage tour -The best of Africa- and the tour director suggested we go there. It was an extra but we are so glad we did! We started at the beginning of the earth as a planet and got a quick history lesson -starting with the big bang. The big draw however is seeing a unique area that had been discovered there- the first ever evidence of a hominid multi- family burial ground in caves that were created 2.3 billion years ago. We had to don orange meta hats and crawl through some of the areas but it was a place like none other we had ever visited, This is the area the human species began! When we reached the cave where the discovery was made we could not believe how present day scientists entered it! . Once the discovery was made they needed to recruit small thin young women who were able to remove the fossils from the site in order to be studied. After the caves, a second museum area added to our knowledge beginning with the first forms of life after the big bang .Looking in on scientists studying these bones and seeing ancient skeletons fully assembled was amazing! Recently we saw a Nova episode on Netflix that showed how the excavation began. I'd urge anyone who is starting a safari in Johannesberg to go a day ahead and take this tour.It also helps with jet lag to be early. The animals and scenery on Safari are wonderful but this trip brings you back to our beginnings! Thanks again to our Vantage Tour director Keith Martyn for suggesting it and arranging for transportation
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Themba
Nov 23, 2019
Learn while entertained - Get to learn about the origin of our planet earth. Need to first organize a tour guide since they make the tour to be informative and entertaining. The setting is fit for the purpose of hosting the origins of our ancestors dating back to about two million years ago. While at it don’t forget to take the underground boat ride , which depicts the origin of earth.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Laura
Jan 2, 2019
Pre-historic adventure - By myself for a few days before my sisters' friends joined us, I was a bit nervous about venturing out. All when very smoothly starting with the tour guide meeting me in my hotel lobby. I joined a small group of people in a van, and everyone was friendly. The drive was pleasant, and we got to see parts of Johannesburg and then the countryside. We were well cared for at both the caves and the museum, neither rushed nor having to wait too much. The museum would be great for kids, though it was educational for me as well. The cave tour fascinating, just be ready to crawl at one point.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robert_d
Jul 5, 2022
Your company Never showed up - Tour guide never showed up and your company never acknowledge the event even with a booking and reservation number
Review provided by Viator
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