Cradle of Humankind & Sterkfontein Caves Tour
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
The Maropeng Visitor Centre is an exciting, world-class exhibition, focusing on the development of humans and our ancestors over the past few million years. Maropeng means “returning to the place of origin” in Setswana, the main indigenous language in this area of South Africa. Our ancestors have lived in this area for more than 3-million years.
The Sterkfontein Caves – about 50km from Johannesburg – is the site of some of the most important discoveries concerning the evolution of man and have been declared a World Heritage Site. If it’s true that Africa is the cradle of all mankind, and most palaeontologists believe this to be so, then Sterkfontein Caves is surely one of the continent’s sacred sites. The Sterkfontein Caves have been described as the ‘anthropological treasure-house of the world’.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Maropeng Visitor Centre
Start your day with a 45-minute scenic drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria to the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO site. At 10:00 AM, explore the Sterkfontein Caves, home to fossils like “Mrs. Ples,” with an expert guide. Enjoy exclusive cave access and stunning stalactites. At 12:00 PM, relax with a local snack near the caves. By 12:30 PM, visit the Maropeng Visitor Centre for interactive exhibits and an underground boat ride tracing life’s origins. Optional fossil-hunting demo available. At 2:30 PM, savor a South African lunch with Magaliesberg views. Browse the gift shop at 3:30 PM for unique souvenirs. Return by 5:00-6:00 PM with a keepsake, filled with awe.
What‘s Included
Expert guide specializing in palaeoanthropology.
Entry to Maropeng Visitor Centre.
Guided Sterkfontein Caves tour.
Bottled water.
Comfortable, air-conditioned transport with pickup and drop-off.
Lunch (guests can buy their own at Maropeng).
Personal expenses (e.g., extra snacks or souvenirs).
Optional activities (if available).
Gratuities for guide or driver.
Travel insurance.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Cradle of Humankind & Sterkfontein Caves Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
27 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Partially good
aneesaspatwary,,Oct 7, 2022
- Review from Viator
4.00The caves were very cool and informative. Museum I could’ve done without. The museum was better geared towards children than adults. Andrew our guide was very nice
Amazing Experience!
aaypan,,Sep 21, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great experience with MoAfrika Tours. We were picked up in time, the ride was comfortable, and we were given enough time to explore the caves. We would consider them for our future trips to South Africa.
Well worth a visit
R8695MNheikeb,,Sep 15, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We really enjoyed this half day tour. Our driver didn't really know where we were going so we only arrived at the caves a few minutes before the tour started and didn't really have time to look at the fabulous displays. The actual tour was great though, really informative and interesting. The museum at Maropeng had some great exhibits. We particularly enjoyed the boat ride at the start.
Essential history of humanity
Patrick K,,Aug 13, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Two parts to this review- first, MoAfrika: we had Sunny for our guide at our request (we had him earlier in our trip as well) and he was friendly and professional, and was great with our family. He did a great job keeping us on track, ahead of school groups that might have caused major delays, and answering questions. Highly recommend MoAfrika as a tour provider and Sunny as a guide. I've rated this excellent based on that. We did the Sterkfontein Caves first- really interesting exhibits before the tour, a funny guide through the caves, and they really are an amazing site- an above-average cave walk versus commercial US caves. If you are tremendously out of shape, parts of the cave tour may not be easy for you (this was true for others we were put with in the cave). The history and importance of discoveries in this area can not be overstated, and the combination of museums brings that home. Maropeng Visitor Center is visually attractive, but some of the information gets redundant. It is, however, perfect for school-age children (especially say 8-14 years) and is very well done overall. The food options at Maropeng are solid if you need lunch during the day.
Essential Prehistory of Humans
RaymondAdvisor,,Mar 17, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went into a cave where an australopithecus was found. They explained that he had fallen to his death from a hole at the top of a cave. They showed bones (some casts) of several ancestors. Fascinating.
Cradle of Human Kind
Scott M,,Jan 21, 2020
- Review from Viator
4.00The cave and cave guide were excellent. The displays at the cave building were interesting. The museum seemed aimed at young people but, we did get some information.
Great day!
elliottt148,,Dec 30, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I booked literally at the last minute because I didn’t know to much about the sights in Johannesburg and after my tour in Soweto the day before I was thinking of other things to do and MoAfrica delivered Within an hour! The tour was great and eye opening and gave me a new perspective on how we came to be as beings. My guide was super friendly and we had some great conversations. Book with this company, they are very exceptional.
Trip to Cradle of Humankind
Inthewilds,,Nov 19, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00It was great to get out of Johburg and visit this site - there's two main attractions, the Maropeng visitor centre and the Sterkfontein Caves. Personally I found the visitor centre a bit of a let down (the water ride was, how should we say it, kitsch - and the centre is really designed to cater to kids), but the caves and the attached museum are great and should be visited, particularly by anyone with an interest in either geology or palaentology. We went with MoAfrika Tours who were great, very punctual and our guide was very informative.
Amazing Day with tour guide Sugar
Mattes1969,,Jul 16, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00During our short stay in Johannesburg we booked a tour with Mo Africa to the Cradle of Humankind. Sugar, our tour guide came right on time to our hotel and picked us up. Sugar knows well what he is talking about and probably is the most funniest and reliable guide ever. We had a very good time with him and the tour was very informative and amusing. Coming back in a couple of months we will definitely book our next tour with Mo Africa and Sugar. Thank you my friend, we had a great time with you!
Better than I expected
glObEtrOttEr CANCH,,Apr 1, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The center of Maropeng and the Sterkfontein caves are a wonderful approach to human evolution and why Africa is the "cradle of humanity". Great visit for the whole family if you have a day off in Johannesburg
From ZAR 2,430.00
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