Cradle of Humankind tour from Johannesburg: Sterkfontein Caves

Walk into the caves where the first adult Australopithecus was found

A half-day tour from Johannesburg to the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO world heritage site, visiting Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng Visitor Centre with a private guide and hotel pickup. You descend into the caves where Dr Robert Broom discovered the first adult Australopithecus, then explore the Visitor Centre's exhibitions on human evolution. The 45-minute drive each way frames a morning or afternoon of walking through limestone passages and learning the story of our earliest known ancestors.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Cradle of Humankind sites

• Pickup from hotel by Tour Guide
• Drive 45 minutes to Sterkfontein Caves
• Guided tour of Sterkfontein Caves
• Drive 15 minutes to Maropeng Visitor Centre
• Guided or self-guided tour at Maropeng Visitor Centre
• Return to hotel

The experience

Your guide collects you from your hotel in a private air-conditioned minivan and drives roughly 45 minutes to Sterkfontein Caves, the first stop. The caves are a UNESCO world heritage site where some of the world's most important early human fossils have been found. A local site guide leads hourly tours into the caves themselves. You'll walk up and down stairs and crouch through low sections, so comfortable non-slippery shoes matter. The site has a coffee shop, bathrooms and free WiFi if you need a break.

After the caves, a short 15-minute drive takes you to Maropeng Visitor Centre, where another site guide leads you through exhibitions on human evolution and the history of the Cradle of Humankind. You can follow the guided tour or walk through the exhibitions at your own pace with your guide available to explain. The centre has a restaurant, bathrooms, WiFi and a curio shop. Your guide then drives you back to your hotel, wrapping up the half-day outing.

The tour runs on a schedule built around the hourly guided tours at each site, so timing is set once you book. Bottled water and WiFi on the minivan are included. Lunch is not, though both sites have food options. Children from age 5 are welcome, though the cave walking and stairs mean a moderate level of fitness helps.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned minivan transport.
• hotel pickup and return to Johannesburg.
• bottled water.
• WiFi on board.
• entry tickets to Sterkfontein Caves.
• entry tickets to Maropeng Visitor Centre.
• accredited tour guide throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Steward Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the actual caves where early human fossils were discovered and have a guide explain the significance as you walk through them. The fixed schedule of hourly site tours means your morning or afternoon is structured around those departure times, so flexibility on the exact hour matters less than seeing both sites in one outing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is inside Sterkfontein Caves that makes it important for human history?

Sterkfontein Caves is where Dr Robert Broom discovered the first adult Australopithecus, one of the earliest known human ancestors. The caves are part of the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO world heritage site and have yielded some of the world's most significant early human fossils. The site guide explains the discoveries and the geology as you walk through the passages.

How much walking and climbing is involved in the cave tour?

The cave tour involves walking up and down stairs and bending over in some sections where the passages are low. Comfortable, non-slippery walking shoes are essential. The site guide leads the hourly tours, and the route is set, so you follow the same path as other visitors on that tour.

What is the Maropeng Visitor Centre and how long do you spend there?

Maropeng Visitor Centre is an exhibition space dedicated to human evolution and the story of the Cradle of Humankind. A local site guide leads hourly tours through the exhibitions, or you can walk through at your own pace with your guide available to answer questions. The centre also has a restaurant, bathrooms and a curio shop.

Is lunch included, and where can you eat during the tour?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. Sterkfontein Caves has a coffee shop, and Maropeng Visitor Centre has a restaurant, so you can buy food and drinks at either site. Bottled water is provided on the minivan.

How far is the drive from Johannesburg, and how long is the whole tour?

The drive to the Cradle of Humankind is roughly 45 minutes each way from your hotel. The full tour takes about four hours from pickup to return, including the 15-minute drive between the two sites and the hourly guided tours at each location.