Cradle of Humankind Tour - Sterkfontein Caves with Maropeng Tour
Overview
Available languages
7 hours
Mobile ticket
The Cradle of Humanity, located just outside of Johannesburg, is one of South Africa's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This unique site offers tours that provide insights into the origins of humankind in Africa. Visitors can learn firsthand what it means to be human by viewing the numerous fossils found here which explain human evolution.
Tour Highlights:
- The Dawn of Our Species: View some of the oldest evidence of human ancestors ever discovered.
- The Path to Modern Humans: Understand the evolutionary developments that have shaped Homo sapiens through millions of years.
- Defining Human Traits: Discover what attributes make humans unique in the animal kingdom.
Following the guided tour of the Cradle of Humanity, travelers will have the opportunity to explore the nearby Bathongo Wondercave. Also situated within the World Heritage Site, this cave offers further context about early humanity's emergence in South Africa.
Additional Info
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Hotel drop-off
Bottled water
Driver/guide
Hotel pickup
Gratuities
Drinks
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Lunch
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
The Cradle of Humankind
The Cradle of Human Kind Museum is where the fossils are located and more information on the existence and discovery of human remains in Africa. We will get to understand why historians believe that a lot of us hail from Africa or we have an African heritage in our Blood.
Sterkfontein Cave
Alright, now that we've explored the Cradle of Humankind Visitor Center, it's time to check out the Sterkfontein Caves - one of the world's most significant archeological sites. These caves have been hiding some incredible secrets for millions of years, and we're about to uncover them firsthand. Get ready to step back in time and discover where our ancestors once roamed!
Options
Full-Day Cradle of Human Kind Tour from Johannesburg
Option 1: Cradle of Human Kind Mid - Day Departure
Pickup included
Reviews
59 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A must-do tour in Jo-burg!
Desiree R,
Jul 20, 2025
- Viator
5.00I had a fantastic experience on the Cradle of Humankind - Sterkfontein Caves with Maropeng Tour, thanks to the incredible driver and guide, Michael. He was punctual, friendly, and approachable, with an impressive depth of knowledge about the country's history, which he shared throughout the journey. Michael kept me engaged with interesting stories, answered all my questions with enthusiasm, and added great humour along the way. I was also a solo traveller and I felt very safe and well-looked after the whole tour. Michael offered helpful tips on safety and local customs like tipping and he went above and beyond to ensure I were comfortable, well-informed, and had plenty of great photos to remember the day! I highly recommend this tour and especially the amazing guide Michael!
Marvin was marvellous, he really made the day special
Trish D,
Jun 29, 2025
- Viator
5.00Marvin was the best driver/guide. He explained so much about South Africa on the drive that it really enhanced the day. His friendliness and passion for his country was a real bonus. The two tours were really interesting and informative
Great experience
Rifaat S,
Jun 12, 2025
- Viator
5.00Great experience… Gabriel our driver/guide picked us up on time and we started with the caves which is a magnificent experience to see where fossils of millions of years old have been discovered and excavated. Our guide Trevor was very informative and helpful. We then went to the cradle of humankind which was also very educational going through the history of the world and of humans through displays
Very worthwhile
Jose S,
May 17, 2025
- Viator
4.00Are there any worthwhile experience not far from the city center. Excellent displays, good guides not crowded in the fall.
Not a great tour experience
Alan B,
Mar 23, 2025
- Viator
3.00Picked up in a Toyota Rumion - very small vehicle for 6 full grown adult passengers - very squeezy and uncomfortable. Our guide was pleasant and drove well however did not provide any commentary whatsoever - not a word on what we were doing for the day, history of the places we were to see, background on the areas we were driving through, etc. - it really was just like a silent taxi service. We were late and missed the first 10 minutes of the Wondercave tour as the guide provided no guidance as to when we had to leave the Cradle of Humankind - tour description states 2 hours which is the time we spent. When we asked the guide why we were late to the Wondercave he stated we should only have spent 1.5 hours at the Cradle of Humankind - not sure how we were meant to know this? Cradle of humankind was OK and the Wondercave was good with an excellent guide. So, rather than follow the online tour description, is actually a maximum of 1.5 hours at Cradle of Humankind and 1 hour at Wondercave. Unfortunately not a great tour experience.
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