Cradle of Humankind - welcome home!

12 February 2016
Its Darwin Day, a commemoration of naturalist Charles Darwins birth and the ultimate celebration of
intellectual bravery. Just over 200 years ago one of the most influential minds was born. His work
dug deep into the origin of species, and if you visit the Cradle of Humankind, where over 1000
hominid fossils have been discovered so far, youll feel a connection to human ancestry like no place
on earth can deliver.

The Cradle of Humankind is one of eight World Heritage

Sites in South Africa and the only one in Gauteng. It is
largely agreed upon that this very area may be the place
where humanity was born where that first evolutionary step
towards consciousness began. The 47 000-hectare site has
unearthed the best evidence of the complex journey which
our species has taken to make us what we are a place of
pilgrimage for all humankind.
Maropeng

Step into the Maropeng museum with interesting discoveries around every corner.

See where it all started at Maropeng, the official welcome centre and museum for the Cradle of
Humankind. The trip explains the formation of planet earth through a multi-sensory platform boat
ride on an underground lake. This is followed by a self-guided tour through time in of the greatest
natural history museums on the continent. Interactive displays illustrate the evolution of life from
tiny single-organisms to current Homo sapiens (us) and our genetic and cultural adaption and
dominance.

If all this wasnt enough, once youve filled your

brain, fill your stomach at the Tumulus
restaurant, situated on the first floor of the
Maropeng Visitor Centre. The food is delicious
and the views are even more so. Book a table and
get the perfect view of the Witwatersberg and
Magaliesberg mountain ranges.
Sterkfontein Caves

The depths of the Sterkfontein Caves

One of the worlds major archaeological sites, Sterkfontein is an underground wonderland with an
abundance of knowledge that helps unearth the history of our common ancestors. Take a guided
tour through the dolomite passages and see spectacular rock formations of stalagmite and stalactite.
While you trek through the murky underground, learn about the origin of humankind through
famous discoveries made in those very cave systems like Mrs Ples and Little Foot.

Drimolen

A Homonid skull.

Known as the third largest hominid site in the Cradle, Drimolen is usually closed to the public. Lucky
for us all, private tours led by scientists can be organised through Palaeo Tours. The most complete
female Paranthropus robustus was discovered in this copious nook. Since then a total of 79 hominid
fossils have been discovered in the area.
It is these discoveries that led us to question our species history. Where do we come from? How did
we get here? All marvelous questions, and with the help of the Cradle of Humankind, these
questions are slowly, but surely, being answered.
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