Cradle of Humankind & Lion Safari Park tour from Johannesburg

Underground fossil chambers and a 600-hectare safari in one day

A full-day guided tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria to the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO site, including a Sterkfontein Caves underground tour, the Maropeng visitor center, and a safari drive through the Lion and Safari Park. The tour covers 47,000 hectares of land where 40 percent of the world's human ancestor fossils have been found, then moves to a 600-hectare wilderness reserve to observe lions, cheetahs, wild dogs and other African wildlife. Hotel pickup, lunch and a local English-speaking guide are included.

The experience

Your driver collects you from your hotel in Johannesburg, Pretoria or Sandton and heads first to the Lion and Safari Park in the Hartebeespoort area. You travel by safari vehicle through 600 hectares of wilderness to spot lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, brown hyenas, zebras, giraffes and gemsbok. This part of the day runs about four hours and gives you a close look at some of Africa's most recognizable animals without leaving a vehicle.

After the safari, you move on to the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO site covering 47,000 hectares where three million years of human activity left its mark. The Sterkfontein Caves underground tour takes you into the biggest and best-known cave system in the area, where over 500 hominid fossils and more than 9,000 stone tools have been found, including Mrs. Ples and Little Foot, two discoveries that reshaped modern paleontology. The caves show evidence of man's earliest mastery of fire and hold 40 percent of all known human ancestor fossils on earth.

After the caves, you visit the Maropeng visitor center, where interactive exhibits tell the story of human evolution and the origins of humankind using what the operator calls spectacular methods. Maropeng means "returning to the place of our origins" in Setswana, and the center frames the Cradle of Humankind as the ancestral home shared by all people. Lunch is included during the day, and your guide provides context and information throughout both the wildlife and archaeological sections.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Johannesburg, Pretoria or Sandton.
• round-trip private transfer by air-conditioned minivan.
• a local English-speaking guide.
• the safari drive through the Lion and Safari Park.
• the Sterkfontein Caves underground tour.
• entry to the Maropeng visitor center.
• and lunch.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessible

Operated by Bono Tours and Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Johannesburg or Pretoria with a full day free and want to combine wildlife viewing with ancient human history in one trip. The fixed itinerary and included transport mean you don't arrange separate logistics for two very different sites: the safari and the caves stay connected by a single guide and vehicle.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What animals will I see on the safari part of this tour?

The Lion and Safari Park is home to lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, brown hyenas, zebras, giraffes and gemsbok. You travel through the 600-hectare reserve by safari vehicle, so you stay seated and observe from the car rather than walking among the animals.

What exactly happens inside Sterkfontein Caves?

Sterkfontein Caves is an underground tour where you walk through the cave system and see the chambers where over 500 hominid fossils and more than 9,000 stone tools have been discovered. The caves show evidence of early human fire use and contain 40 percent of all known human ancestor fossils in the world.

Where does the tour pick me up?

Hotel pickup is included from your accommodation in Johannesburg, Pretoria or Sandton. The driver collects you in the morning and returns you to your hotel at the end of the day.

How long is this tour?

The full tour runs one day, with approximately four hours spent on the safari drive and the remainder at the Cradle of Humankind sites: the caves and the Maropeng visitor center.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is included in the tour. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase separately.

What is the Maropeng visitor center?

Maropeng is an interactive museum at the Cradle of Humankind that tells the story of human evolution and the origins of humankind using exhibits and displays. The name means "returning to the place of our origins" in Setswana.