Name: Cradle of Humankind Half-Day Tour from Johannesburg
Brand: viator
SKU: 122365
Price: 78 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.3 (4 reviews)

6 h

Half Day

Instant confirmation

About this activity

The "Cradle of Humankind" was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 and is located about 50 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Gauteng province. This site currently occupies 47.000 hectares and contains a complex of limestone caves.

The Sterkfontein Caves contain the discovery of a 2.3-million-year-old fossil Australopithecus africanus (nicknamed "Mrs. Ples"), found in 1947 by Robert Broom and John T. Robinson. This important discovery helped to corroborate the 1924 discovery of the juvenile 'Australopithecus africanus' skull, "Taung Child", by Raymond Dart, at Taung in the North West Province of South Africa, where excavations still continue.

Nearby the site, but not in the site, the Rising Star Cave system contains the Dinaledi Chamber ("chamber of stars") in which were discovered fifteen fossil skeletons of extinct species of hominin, provisionally named 'Homo naledi'.

Sterkfontein alone has produced more than a third of early hominid fossils ever found prior to 2010. The Dinaledi Chamber contains over 1500 'H. naledi' fossils, the most extensive discovery of a single hominid species ever found in Africa.

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Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Driver/guide (FGASA and DEAT registered)
One bottle of water per guest
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Entry/Admission - Sterkfontein Cave
Entry/Admission - The Cradle of Humankind

Not included

Items of a personal nature
Additional drinks
Gratuities
Food and drinks (available for purchase)

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Dress according to the weather of the day. Bring a warm jacket, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, proper shoes, camera, and binoculars
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Features

Tourism

90%

Cultural

70%

Reviews

3.3

4

S

Stephane P

1 | 2019-08-22

This tour is basically a cab ride with a free bottle of water. The “guide” picks you up, pays for the tickets, stops at a store for a bottle of water and drives you back. Communication was so poor I ended up taking an Uber to the site because I received no response confirming pick up time and address. The Cradle and caves are interesting but geared towards families and kids. The cradle seriously needs upgrades and updates (latest stats date back to 2005)

R

Robert B

3 | 2018-09-09

A great experience. Both the caves and the museum were fascinating and Danny, the Guide at the caves, was knowledgeable and entertaining. Having said that, the organisation of the trip itself was somewhat chaotic. Our original booking, and initial confirmation from, was for a Full Day Tour starting with a 9am pickup from our hotel in Joburg. The printed ticket said a Half Day Tour, pickup at 8am The electronic voucher also stated Half Day Tour but pickup at 9am On checking the booking, especially with regard to the Full/Half Day change, the tripadvisor states, in the 'What to expect' section of the Half Day Tour description... Full Day Tour I spoke to the tour supplier, Ama-Zing African Safaris, and they confirmed that it was a Full Day Tour and that pickup was at 8am and that they had been trying to get the tripadvisor and Viator listings corrected to show the true details of the service. Oh, and then, on the evening before the trip, the supplier emailed to say that, due to a vehicle malfunction, we were going to have to share our trip with another couple. Fortunately they were very nice and of similar age, outlook and humour as ourselves so the tour was enhanced rather than spoilt.

D

David D

5 | 2018-03-22

Interesting and informative. Very frienndly guide.

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