Visit the Cradle of Humankind a stones throw from Gauteng for a lesson in Evolution

Not far from the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg lies the Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng’s own World Heritage Site. The natural area of the beauty is what draws thousands of visitor’s wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg for the day or longer and it’s situated not 40 min away from Moonflower Cottages.

Maropeng

Maropeng, meaning ‘returning to the place of our origins’, is the official visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Take the journey of discovery to understand the evolution of life and the origins of humankind.

The Cradle of Humankind was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 because of the area’s exceptional contribution to our understanding of humankind’s history and development, over more than 3-million years. All together, there are 15 major fossil sites in the Cradle of Humankind, of which the Sterkfontein Caves is the most famous.

The fossils “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot” were both discovered here, as well as thousands more fossils of hominids, which are human ancestors, as well those of plants and animals.

A team led by Professor Lee Berger, a renowned palaeoanthropologist from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (aka Wits University) have made a ground breaking discovery and have  described and named a new species of hominid, Australopithecus sediba, wich is dated at almost two million years old and which was discovered recently in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, 40 kilometres out of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Located, on 100 hectares, and within easy reach of Johannesburg, Maropeng overlooks the magnificent Magaliesberg and Witwatersberg mountain ranges and is en route to the popular resort of Sun City.

Sterkfontein Caves

An hour’s drive from Johannesburg are the Sterkfontein Caves, world famous for their fossil finds and a well-known visitor destination. After an extensive face-lift in 2005, the Sterkfontein Caves is now home to a top restaurant, conferencing facilities, improved access into the caves, new walkways and a boardwalk past the excavation site where world-acclaimed fossils have been discovered. The tours at the Sterkfontein Caves, which start above ground and then take visitors deep into the caves, run every half hour, seven days a week.

Brookewood Trout Farm

Brookwood Estate Trout Farm is situated in the natural beauty of Kromdraai, near Muldersdrift in the Heart of the Cradle of humankind world heritage site. This beautiful Estate and its warm hospitality is the ideal venue for family outings, camping and corporate team building activities.

Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve

The Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve is a privately owned, non-subsidised game reserve, covering approximately 1 600 ha on the typical Highveld of Gauteng. Situated in the Cradle of Humankind, it is about 40 km north-west of Johannesburg.