Gauteng: Sterkfontein Caves reopen to the public!

The world-renowned Sterkfontein Caves in South Africa, one of the most significant sites in the study of human evolution, officially reopened to the public on 15 April 2025 under the full management of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University).
Closed since July 2022 due to flooding and stormwater damage, the site has now undergone essential restoration and a complete reimagining of the visitor experience - marking a new chapter for this cornerstone of palaeoanthropological research.
Located within the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Johannesburg, the Sterkfontein Caves are famed for producing some of the most important hominin fossil discoveries, including "Mrs Ples" (1947) and "Little Foot" (1997). These finds have played a crucial role in shaping our understanding of human origins.

Entrance to the Wits Sterkfontein Caves (credit: Brett Eloff)

While previously serving primarily as a tourist attraction, the reopened site now offers a more immersive, research-driven experience designed to bring visitors closer to the science behind the fossils.

Visitors can now enjoy:

• Direct interaction with researchers and students from Wits University conducting live palaeontological and Earth science research.
• Behind-the-scenes access to fossil preparation laboratories.
• Guided tours enriched with in-depth scientific context and storytelling.
• Educational programmes on human evolution, climate science, geosciences, and other Earth sciences.
• Exhibits featuring the latest fossil discoveries and ongoing research projects.

The Sterkfontein Caves are open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 09:00 to 16:00.

“This reopening represents a significant evolution in how we share the story of human origins,” says Prof. Nithaya Chetty, Dean of the Wits Faculty of Science. “Visitors now have unique opportunities to engage with live science and research in real time.”

Whether you're passionate about archaeology, fascinated by human ancestry, or just looking for a one-of-a-kind educational adventure near Johannesburg, the Sterkfontein Caves are once again ready to welcome the world—smarter, stronger, and more inspiring than ever.

Covid-19: "Maropeng - The Cradle of Humankind" closes for 14 days! [update]

update (27 Juli 2021): Maropeng, the official visitor's centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, has announced that the Sterkfontein Caves and the Visitor's Centre itself will reopen to visitors from 30 July 2021! It will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays. The Maropeng Boutique Hotel, however, remains closed.  
Please note: online booking to the Maropeng Visitor Centre and the Sterkfontein Caves is essential.

update (12 July 2021): Maropeng, the official visitor's centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, has announced that the Sterkfontein Caves, the Maropeng Boutique Hotel as well as the Visitor's Centre itself will be closed for another 14 days (from today) due to the extension of the adjusted Level 4 lockdown to contain the impact of the third wave of Covid-19 infections nationally and with particular regulations for Gauteng.

Maropeng, the official visitor's centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, has announced that the Sterkfontein Caves, the Maropeng Boutique Hotel as well as the Visitor's Centre itself will close for the next 14 days (from 28 June 2021). According to a facebook posting by Maropeng, the closure follows President Ramaphosa's announcement that South Africa goes into an adjusted Level 4 lockdown to contain the impact of the third wave of Covid-19 infections nationally and with particular regulations for Gauteng. Tickets that have already been booked will be refunded.
Maropeng is the official visitor's centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. It is located about 50 km northwest of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa. The site currently occupies 47,000 ha and contains a complex of limestone caves.

Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (Gauteng): The Sterkfontein Caves Road gets an upgrade!

The Sterkfontein Caves Road (D1701) in the precinct of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site in Krugersdorp has been closed from the intersection with R540 (Kromdraai Road) as well as at the intersection with P74/1 (R563 – Hekpoort Road) due to the development of sinkholes that urgently need attention. The rehabilitation process started on 09 September 2019 and is expected to be completed around mid-October 2019. Motorists are advised that only residents are allowed access during the period of rehabilitation. We'll keep you posted!

The Sterkfontein Caves are open to visitors again

The Sterkfontein Caves, located in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site about 50km northwest of Johannesburg, are open to visitors again since 08 April 2014. The caves were recently closed to the public for routine stability tests, which are undertaken every five years to determine the safety of the tourist attraction.
The Sterkfontein Caves are set of limestone caves where many hominid and other animal fossils, dating back more than 4-million years, have been found over the last few decades. The caves are open to the public from 09h00 to 17h00 every day.

Tour: The Cradle of Humankind + Carnivore Restaurant >>

South Africa: Maropeng Visitor Centre gets Fair Trade Tourism-certification

Fair Trade Tourism (FTT), a South African NGO that encourages and monitors fair and responsible practises in tourism establishments and activities, just announced that Maropeng has joined the list of FTT-certified businesses. Maropeng is the official visitor centre of the Cradle of Humankind, one of only eight World Heritage Sites in South Africa– and the only one in Gauteng. Maropeng and the Cradle of Humankind are located about 50km northwest of Johannesburg.

As part of its greening initiatives, Maropeng has constructed an ozone waste-water purification system at the Sterkfontein Caves, which uses ozone from the atmosphere to accelerate the breaking down of solids by bacteria; as well as to sterilise water.
Another water management initiative is an artificial wetland system, called a Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland System (SSF CWS) at Maropeng's Visitor Centre. The wetland has been specially designed to naturally assist in the filtering and cleansing of the site’s grey and black water.
Other green projects close to Maropeng's eco-friendly heart include biodegradable packaging and eating utensils, the rechargeable torch batteries used by Maropeng's tour guides, conference notepads and pencils made using recycled paper, low-energy lighting and a variety of preservation efforts to protect indigenous fauna and flora in the area. (via Fair Trade Tourism)

Fair Trade Tourism's (FTT) certification programme, which was recently outsourced to FLO-Cert, is based on adherence to specific criteria including fair wages and working conditions, fair distribution of benefits, ethical business practice, and respect for human rights, culture and the environment.

Ninth issue of free "Safari" digimag out now!

The ninth issue (Oct- Dec 2012) of the free online digimag Safari just got published. Safari is an interactive monthly travel magazine about Africa from the multiple award-winning Africa Geographic publishing stable.

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The ninth issue of Safari covers stories about:

• a food safari in South Africa
• South Africa's Cradle of Humankind
• Six of Africa's Best National Parks
• 48 Hours in Maputo in Mozambique
• surf n' turf safari in Mozambique
• Freshlyground's "My Africa"
• and much more...

Cradle of Humankind among Smithsonian magazine's 12 Evotourism™ destinations

The Smithsonian magazine recently launched its new Evotourism™ initiative by focusing on 12 world-class destinations that span six continents and the Cradle of Humankind, located about 50 km northwest of Johannesburg, made it on the list of those 12 so-called "Evotourism™ destinations".  
Evotourism™ is Smithsonian’s new travel-information service that aims at helping travellers find and fully enjoy the wonders of evolution worldwide.

• Kangaroo Island, Australia
• Foraminifera Sculpture Park, China
• Isle Royale, Michigan, USA
• Wadi Hitan, Egypt
• The Cradle of Humankind, South Africa
• Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
• Mount St. Helens, Washington, USA
• Jurassic Coast, England
• Mendel’s Garden, Czech Republic
• Ashfall Fossil Beds, Nebraska, USA
• La Brea Tar Pits, California, USA
• Burgess Shale, British Columbia, Canada

The Cradle of Humankind + Carnivore Restaurant daytour >>

New promo video for Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site

The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and the Maropeng visitor centre are IMO defo two of the top tourism spots in Gauteng, but what do you think of their new promotional video...?

World Heritage Sites in Southern Africa >>

Johannesburg day tours >>

The Cradle of Humankind is turning 10

The Sterkfontein Caves, situated in Gauteng province, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and the area is called the Cradle of Humankind because it is believed to be the place where man originated millions of years ago. Among the stunning discoveries made at these Caves are the oldest human fossil and a skull of pre-historic female, which anthropologists have dubbed Mrs Ples.

Maropeng at the cradle of humankind from murray ralfe on Vimeo.

Maropeng Visitor Centre nearby is a world-acclaimed tourist destination and an area of spectacular beauty. A visit to the state-of-the-art Maropeng Museum, spread over a 47,000 hectare valley, takes you on an incredible journey back in time, literally millions of years in evolution.

The Cradle Of Humankind Tour + Sterkfontein Caves >>
The Cradle of Humankind + Carnivore Restaurant >>
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more tours in & around Johannesburg >>
more info about Sterkfontein >>