Full-Day Cradle of Humankind Guided Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

(2 Reviews )

Duration

8 hours

Overview

To the west of Johannesburg where the Highveld starts its descent to the Bushveld from the gold-bearing ridge of the Witwatersrand lies an area of undulating hills referred to as the Cradle of Humankind. It gains its name from the huge amounts of fossil remains of early man and our more apelike ancestors discovered here in the dolomite caves just beneath its surface. The unusual geology of the region has made it one of the richest fossil-bearing regions in the world not just of early ape-men but many other extinct creatures. Sterkfontein Caves are where the original discoveries were made and it is here we make first stop. The modern interpretive centre has replicas of the fossils and an in-depth description of their relevance to mankind's family tree as well as fossils of other species. Then you are taken down into the caves by the resident cave guide. There is some low bending, but for the main part the caves are spacious but a reasonable level of fitness is required.