Cradle of Humankind: Fossil Discovery Tour
4.7
197 Ratings
Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site

Embark on a captivating tour of the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site that offers a fascinating glimpse into human history. Explore the museum and discover remarkable fossil findings that shed light on our ancient ancestors.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site - A visit to the Cradle of Humankind, with its two visitor centers, is unforgettable. The main center at Maropeng Museum is filled with engaging, interactive exhibits, while a smaller center serves as the entrance to the intriguing Sterkfontein Caves, revealing their ancient secrets.
    The Maropeng Visitor…
What's Included
  • A bottle of water
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Drinks
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks
  • Food and drinks, other than the “value added offers” specified in your guidebook
  • Lunch
Additional Information

In 1999, the Cradle of Humankind was designated a World Heritage Site due to its outstanding contribution to our understanding of human history, spanning over 3 million years. The area boasts 15 significant fossil sites, with the Sterkfontein Caves being the most renowned.
The Sterkfontein Caves are famous for the discovery of the fossils “Mrs Ples” and…

Location
Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.7
(197 Ratings)
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Jade
Mar 11, 2026
A great experience for solo travellers. - Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I learned about the history of our existence and explored the caves which are incredible. A great day out for a solo traveller.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
881terryh881
Mar 11, 2026
Great day to see where mankind began. - Excellent service. Very friendly driver and lovely vehicle. So much to see at the museum you could spend an entire day there. The caves were fabulous and not difficult to walk.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Glen
Feb 27, 2026
A great tour and a great driver! - We good a very interesting tour (Cradle of Humankind) that took place across two sites — the Maropeng Visitor Center and the Sterkfontein Caves. For anyone interested in anthropology and archaeology, this is a must see excursion. Both of these stops have local tour guides, but what made this day particularly special was our driver/ general tour guide, Greffith. From the moment he picked us up, we had a nonstop discussion about South Africa, its history, languages, etc. He was very engaging and made the long drives to and from the sites very enjoyable. He even made a few unscheduled stops to show us two us Nelson Mandela’s homes, including the one he passed away in. A thoroughly enjoyable day. We would travel with Greffith again any time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Isabellebx9526ev
Feb 23, 2026
Fun and fascinating - This was brilliant. Such a fascinating place, full of history and discovery. Do check it out!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyager39201650521
Feb 19, 2026
Beautiful and Highly Recommended - I enjoyed the overall experience. From the beautiful road trip with great scenery to the tours. Worth my time and money! Our first stop was Maropeng Cradle of Humankind Museum, then we headed to Sterkfontein for the Cave Experience. More like a whole day tour / experience. The tour guides at the museum and caves are super knowledgeable and friendly. The cave was quite chilled with temperatures below 18 degrees. Beautiful experience all round. I do recommend! Philippians Four tour made it super easy and stress free. Great staff and timely communication.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathryn_y
Feb 15, 2026
A must-see from Johannesburg - Solly was terrific to work with!!! Reached out directly to arrange pickup at out Airbnb, so helpful!!! There were only four of us on the tour, and our drivers were very polite and helpful. Nice van. Cave tour might be challenging for much older or very tall participants, but worth it! And the museum was very interesting and especially nice for children if they like interactive learning. Great experience and would highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Curiosity57689164102
Feb 15, 2026
A must-see from Johannesburg! - Solly was terrific to work with!!! Reached out directly to arrange pickup at our Airbnb, so helpful! There were only four of us on the tour, and our drivers were very polite and helpful. Cave tour might be challenging for much older or very tall participants, but worth it!! And the museum was very interesting and especially nice for children if they like interactive learning. Great experience and would highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cat027
Feb 14, 2026
Highly recommended - Incredible experience- would highly recommend! The tour guides were knowledgeable and humorous. The driver got us to and from our destination safely and on time. Wear practical clothing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Azccorbett
Feb 6, 2026
Fantastic tour! Both... - Fantastic tour! Both parts of the tour compliment each other and enrich your knowledge. In the caves, make sure you wear closed toe shoes and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.
Review provided by Viator
Alexa_b
Feb 17, 2026
Very interesting tour.... - Very interesting tour. Driver was excellent and told us a lot about South Africa. Museum guide good, cave guide excellent. Both parts of the tour worth doing, a lot aimed at school age children but also in-depth information for adults. Be prepared to squeeze through some low tunnels in the caves and wear clothes and shoes appropriate to tour.
Review provided by Viator
From $107
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).