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
81 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Driver was late
jenjtiu,
Sep 18, 2025
- Viator
3.00It would have been a good experience but my driver was 17 minutes late. Excused himself due to traffic being stuck. This ruined my mood for the day. I did not enjoy my tour as much as I expected. To be fair the start time was supposed to be 8am but he suggested to adjust to 7:45am. Ending up 17 minutes late.
HillelC Highland Park, New Jersey 67127 Sterkfontein Caves are phenomenal but the Maropeng Tour is only OK
Hillel C,
Sep 16, 2025
- Viator
4.00Michael, our driver, was very informative and very friendly during the hour or so drive from Jo-berg to the caves. The Sterkfontein caves are phenomenal. The cave guide from Wits University was extremely knowledgeable (and funny). Due to its nature, there are a lot of steps going into and out of the caves, so unfortunately the cave tour is not for anyone who walks with a cane, walker, or wheelchair. The small on-site museum at the Sterkfontein caves is absolutely exceptional. I wish that we had more time to slowly go through the small museum to absorb and think about what was displayed. Instead, we had to race through it. I took pictures of the displays and exhibit notes to review later. After the caves we went to the Maropeng interactive center/museum. In our opinion, the Maropeng visitor center/museum is geared to students or adults uneducated in science. For us this was OK, but not great. Others may enjoy it more. The 5-min Disney-like ride at Maropeng is a complete waste of time.
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
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