Half Day Cradle of Humankind, Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng tour
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Half Day Cradle of Humankind, Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng tour

By Soul Adventures
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Ages 6-70, max of 15 per group
Duration: 5h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • 1 hour guided walk through the Sterkfontein Caves (currently closed due to flooding, partial refund)
  • 1 hour guided boat ride through the Maropeng Exhibition centre
  • Free pick up from any hotel within Johannesburg
  • All entrance fees
  • Guide for the duration of your tour
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Entry/Admission - Sterkfontein Cave
What's not included
  • Lunch


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • Air BnB's, private homes and any guest houses within Johannesburg
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      Airport pickup offered
      During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports.
      • O.R. Tambo International Airport, 1 Jones Rd, Kempton Park, Johannesburg, 1632, South Africa
      • Lanseria Airport, Lanseria South Africa
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 40413P27

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Most travellers can participate
        • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travellers

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 40413P27

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        Itinerary
        • 1
          Join us on this super interactive and informative half day tour to the Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein Caves.Our tours are fully inclusive and there are no hidden costs. The first part of the tour sees us taking you on a guided 1 hour walking journey through Sterkfontein Caves to see the fossils of hominids such as Little Foot and Mrs. Ples, two of the greatest archaeological discoveries of our time. The second part of the tour includes a 1 hour guided 'boat tour' through exhibits at the Maropeng Visitors Centre So what is The Maropeng Visitor Centre all about? It was built 10 years ago and serves as an an exciting, world-class exhibition, focusing on the development of humans and our ancestors over the past few million years. You will notice the centre from afar, symbolised by the massive burial mound called the Tumulus, which is your entrance to learning the secrets of our ancestry. The guided tour of Maropeng is through the 2500m² exhibit with an underground boat ride. Maropeng has won may awards in the Tourism arena. The pick-up time for the tour will be 8:30am from your hotel.
        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Soul Adventures
          4.7 of 5 bubbles360
          South Africa
        • Matthew R
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great half day tour
          Best personal Elephant experience, would recommend to anyone who has spare time out of Johannesburg, this experience is life changing
          Written 16 March 2025
        • Stay59833921082
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing 6 days hike
          Excellent experience with Patrick, our guide. Breathtaking landscapes all along the way and good reward at the end of the 6 days hike with a beer. Totally recommend.
          Written 19 October 2024
        • CJ J
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Excellent Service and worthwhile excursion...highly recommended for anyone visiting the area
          Prompt and professional service with knowledgeable staff and good customer service and support. I highly recommend this excursion.
          Written 18 August 2023
        • PM9927
          0 contributions
          2.0 of 5 bubbles
          Disappointing experience
          This looked like a nice reserve, nice lodge and grounds. Our game driver was very pleasant, knowledgeable and was good, but we didn't see any large animals. Not our first game drive and fully understand they move about, but for what they charge and the radio communications they have, they should really try to find some of the bigger animals. Their brochures tout the big five and most places really try to get siting's of a few of them.
          Written 14 August 2023
        • 023Peternepal
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Best Travel Company in South Affrica
          We just completed our 3 Days hiking from Johannesberg. It was such a lifetime experience. Darren gave us all pre information about the trip. His team are the best in SA. Thank you Darren and Soul Adventure Team for this amazing trip. We highly recommend this company for all tour in SA.
          Written 6 July 2023
        • Anytimetravellersss
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great tour to see South African Wildlife
          After a miscommunication about start time the booking company (Viator), our guide Ben did a wonderful job taking us to Pilanesberg and giving us a wonderful experience. He went out of his way to find great spots for viewing and was very knowledgeable. Despite the late start Ben made up for it with flexibility. The wildlife was magnificent as was the terrain. Pilanesberg surpassed our expectations for wildlife viewing. We appreciated how the tour guides shared information with each other regarding great viewing spots for the day we were there. We dreamed for years of a picture safari experience, and this was a great choice. Elephants, zebras, giraffes, rhino's, hippo's, leopards...the list goes on.
          Written 23 May 2023
        • K3924LOsophieh
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          The tour guide made the experience OUTSTANDING
          I have to say that I had an outstanding experience with Detour Africa. Dealing with Jamie B the tours consultant and my tour guide Jay the leopard enthusiast was phenomenal. Jay knew his stuff and the information and time I spent with him was something I’ll never forget. He went out his way to make the trip one to never forget! I can not rate this enough if you book as for Jay you will not Regret it trust me. Life time experience that I will never forget.
          Written 30 March 2023
        • Donna D
          0 contributions
          1.0 of 5 bubbles
          This is a Complerr SCAM!
          If I can name a SCAM CENTRAL this is it! After booking a R5000 day touring the sterkfontein caves we where told that the majority of the tour offered in this deal could not be delivered. So the day tour would now be an hour tour, with a mere $300 discount. Declining this offer this tour company, SOUL ADVENTURERS and the booking sight AVIATOR a sister company to TRIPADVISOR REFUSE to refund the R5000 paid for this Tour. WHAT A SCAM FROM ALL 3 THESE PARTIES. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THIS APPAULING SERVICE. Stay far away from this Company! Everything about it feels like a scam and to be honest feels unsafe. You can visit the sterkfontein caves on a beautiful DIY tour and it will simply be a mere R100 for entry. Keep your money in your pocket and yourself amd family safe from these SCAMMERS. SOUL ADVENTURES = SCAMMERS
          Written 2 March 2023
        • GwenMd
          0 contributions
          2.0 of 5 bubbles
          Do not pick this one
          We were promised an open vehicle. We were in a van AND the van had a broken window so one of the windows that should have opened didn’t. We’re in a pandemic. The pandemic is not over. Open vehicles are safer and allow a better experience with animals all around. The accommodations represented in the advertisement were glamping. The picture clearly shows a very nice, large, tall tent with electric lights and electric outlets. However, the nice campgrounds were on strike. The campground we were brought to had no lighting in the bathrooms and no lighting to help you find the bathrooms and no signage to help you find the bathrooms. One toilet building was for women and one was for men but with no lights I saw no signs and went into the one that I didn’t just see a man go into. It had bloody tissue on the floor. The tent was not large. It had no lights. It had no electricity. This is a big deal when people plan to charge their cell phones and cameras at night. The tent could not be zipped from the inside. The area was covered with mosquitos - the only mosquitos we encountered the entire trip. There was no covered area for where we were supposed to eat. There was no lighted area for where we were supposed to eat. Had we stayed, we then would have been drenched in the rain that began. We saw a roach crawl up the water bucket. The entire group decided we’d had enough and went to hotels. This meant that I had to find a hotel, at a reasonable price, at the last minute. The hotel, with fees, added $170 to the cost of the trip. The tour operator did not refund this. In fact, the tour operator did not respond at all. $571 is a pretty steep price but I paid it because it was supposed to include nice overnight accommodations and dinner. It was not supposed to include a dark, mosquito filled tent with dark, dirty bathrooms and roach water. The guide, Ben, was lovely and friendly and we all like him, but this is not what we paid for.
          Written 27 February 2023
        • 43giselles
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          amazing 4 day hike in Drakensberg
          My boyfriend and I signed up for this one but ended up doing a 4 day Fangs Pass hike, ending in Mnweni. It was insane in the best way. The hike was as brutal as the scenery was beautiful. Don't underestimate these hikes, when they say they're hard they really mean it. That being said it was the coolest experience I've had in a long time and the mountain range is totally wild, remote and stunning! The equipment we rented from them was excellent (I got a brand new osprey backpack <3) which all really helped with comfort and keeping things dry. Our guide Patrick was phenomenal! He's great fun and very experienced. He not only made us feel safe the whole time but took care of us during the rainy times, kept our spirits up while keeping expectations realistic, found us a cozy cave on the 3rd night when the weather was rough... The group of 8 people was so nice, positive and fun, definitely helped when things got hard. It's a great way to meet inspiring people and you get to know each other quite well when in the mountains for 4 days. Price wise this is much better than other hikes we found, def worth your money. Patrick takes beautiful pictures during the hike, the food was great (dehydrated meals, ours were all vegan to accommodate different diets within the group), they really respect the nature (you bring all your trash with you including compost). All in all just be aware of the difficulty but you won't regret anything, 100% recommend.
          Written 5 February 2023
        • InAirAnnie
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Lion Walking
          I did the Lion Walk with Ben, who was very kind and helpful. Ukutula is great and it was a wonderful experience.
          Written 14 January 2023
        • LiamE1906
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing
          Could not recommend this more if I tried. Booking was easy and we were given very clear instructions. Our driver Bongi was very friendly and helpful and picked us up at the exact time that was promised.
          Written 27 December 2022
        • Looli_Lo
          0 contributions
          3.0 of 5 bubbles
          Thank you but would not take this tour again
          I was disappointed because in the place we went for Safari the lions were behind a fence and it felt like you’re in a zoo. You don’t know in advance which park they’re taking you to. In my case it was the private park African Hills Safari lodge and spa. Based on the pictures by the operator I didn’t expect the lions to be behind a fence. Other animals were not behind the fence.
          Written 13 November 2022
        • kojoyankah71
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Africa’s unique treasures
          Unique tribal experiences out of South Africa. The guides were excellent, the dancers were amazing and the food was fantastic
          Written 30 October 2022
        • letofil
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fantastic experience
          Fantastic day! Our driver "Ben" was great and very helpful. Did not have time to see all the animals, but it was so exciting to see most of them.
          Written 21 October 2022
        See all 360 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


        3.0
        3.0 of 5 bubbles2 reviews
        Excellent
        1
        Very good
        0
        Average
        0
        Poor
        0
        Terrible
        1

        Alf Jacob N
        Hidrasund21 contributions
        1.0 of 5 bubbles
        Dec 2022
        We visited the famous Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng Museum. The museum has an interesting topic to show but what a shame that the use of sounds and lights is so unprofessionally designed. Multiple sounds played simoultaniously makes it impossible to hear what is said. The spotlight set to illuminate the exhebitions are too weak and really bneeds upgrade. Signs and information texts can barely be written. Even worse was the visoit to the cave itself. The cave is an important hominid fossile site, but why do they use a guide that totally ignore the visitors? I have traveled all over the World but never have I experienced sush a poor guiding. Rushing through the caves in order to finish the tour as soon as possible, very poor knowledge of the hominid history, extreemly bad illuminition in the caves and no time given to take photos....
        Written 9 December 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi there, this is a review about the venue and their guides at the venue and does not reflect our service. We hope that you had a good time with us and your driver Ben.
        Written 12 December 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Edy N
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Oct 2022 • Couples
        Learning about the history of humanity. Bonji. Was our guide. He was prompt. His car was immaculate. He really helped us understand the many ctures living in Johannesburg. He was esy to talk to and if we return for more touring we'd use him again. The company and the guide were the best.
        Written 11 October 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Half Day Cradle of Humankind, Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng tour provided by Soul Adventures

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