Maropeng, the Official Visitors’ Centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, is the ideal destination for all, whether guests are looking for a getaway to just relax and enjoy the fresh air, or an exhilarating adventure back into pre-historic times. A mere 45 minute drive from either Johannesburg or Pretoria, it offers fun, interactive and educational events on a monthly basis
Throughout September: Celebrating Heritage month
To celebrate Heritage month, Maropeng is offering a discounted price on all online entry tickets purchased throughout September. Tickets can be purchased through the Maropeng Shop only.
Ticket prices:
Maropeng
- R95 – Adult
- R65 – Child
Sterkfontein
- R100 – Adult
- R70 – Child
Combined tickets
- R150 – Adult
- R120 – Child
Maropeng will also be hosting the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation’s Heritage Day event. Please note that due to the event all restaurants will be closed on 24 September and only part of the exhibition will be accessible to visitors. The hotel will run as normal.
Although visitors are welcome to visit Maropeng on the 24th, we advise visitors to rather enjoy Sterkfontein Caves on Heritage Day.
Until September 03: Maropeng Holiday Special
Maropeng is offering a special discounted rate for a family of four on a combined Maropeng and Sterkfontein admission ticket. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to experience something uniquely different which will appeal to the whole family.
- Age: Two adults and two children between the ages of 4-14 years
- Venue: Maropeng Boutique Hotel
- Cost: The entire package costs R570, and is for a family of four and includes a gift for each child.
September 07: Cooper’s Cave picnic and tour
There’s no better way to teach your children something new than by letting them experience it first-hand, and there’s not much to beat Cooper’s Cave, a living museum in which fossils remain embedded in ancient rock to tell tales of a bygone era. “You can walk through the site and see literally hundreds of fossils in the rocks around you – it’s an incredible experience,” says Christine Steininger, tour leader and palaeoanthropologist associated with the Palaeosciences Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Christine’s passion for human evolution and fossils, along with her wealth of knowledge about this remarkable landscape, add great value to every tour she conducts.
The day’s activities include a walking tour that describes the environment past and present, an interactive fossil and site talk, exploring a cave, searching for fossils in recently excavated deposits and learning how to make stone tools. Cooper’s Cave is renowned for the diversity of animals contained in its fossil record. It was on this exact spot some 1.8- to 1.4-million years ago that hunting hyena and sabre-toothed cats once stalked their prey while early hominin Paranthropus robustus fought for survival. An open woodland habitat with abundant food and water attracted a range of species to the area, many of which remain frozen in time for modern humans to discover. The high level of calcium carbonate contained in the surrounding rock structure helped to speed up the preservation process and promote fossilisation of remains.
Learn about the fascinating research that’s taking place at Cooper’s Cave and gain a personal perspective on the fossil record. The cave is an easy
1.2 km walk from Sterkfontein Caves, which makes it an ideal family outing.
A picnic rounds off an exciting day’s outdoor activities. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a jersey, torch, hat, sunscreen and camera.
Should you wish to combine your tour with a stay at the Maropeng Boutique Hotel, please contact Mmathabo Maine on 014 577 9000 or mmathabom@maropeng.co.za to make a reservation.
- Age: All ages
- Time: 09:00
- Venue: Meet at the Sterkfontein Caves before walking to the Coopers Cave site
- Cost: The cost of the tour, which includes a picnic lunch, is R375 per adult and R150 for children up to the age of 14.
September 07: Our Spring Skies – “isiLimela” (The farmer’s stars) (Maropeng Hotel)
The Sotho and Tswana call it Selemela, and the Zulu isiLimela, who believed that these stars die in winter dusk and are reborn in the rainy season (the Pleiades reappear in the evening sky in October). The Selemela are “the hoeing stars”, or “the digging stars”, indicating their importance as an agricultural sign.
Join Maropeng’s resident astronomer for a basic introduction to astronomy, featuring this Spring season’s “Holly Wood” astronomical objects. Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to do some large aperture telescope viewing afterwards. Please remember to dress warmly and bring your own binoculars.
- Age: Adults only
- Time: 18:00 with welcome drinks
- Venue: Maropeng Boutique Hotel.
- Cost: R350 per person which includes the stargazing presentation and set menu.
Should you wish to combine this event with a stay at the Maropeng Boutique Hotel, please contact Mmathabo Maine on 014 577 9000 or mmathabom@maropeng.co.za to make a reservation.
21 September: Bone Detectives
Join dynamic and upcoming young scientist, Brendon Billings, at Maropeng for an evening of fine dining and robust discussion on the fascinating topic of palaoanthropology.
Brendon has hosted a series of themed walking tours at Maropeng over the past two years. These have been highly successful with new and exciting offerings. “The events this year have definitely been different. I have refocused my research around neuroscience, hence the brain and behaviour has been one of my more focal themes this year. The brain and behaviour has been a popular topic globally in recent years and I believe that this has definitely added a new twist to my discussion. I also had quite a few requests last year to have a discussion on the brain in particular,” he explains.
After a sumptuous dinner at the Maropeng Hotel Restaurant, guests will gather in the lounge to enjoy a robust discussion with Brendon. Guests will have the opportunity to get to grips with some amazing fossil and bone casts. Brendon will also include a historical review of pioneers in the field of paleoanthropology including a discussion dedicated to Professor Tobias. “However, certain things will remain the same such as it being an interactive talk with many practical examples, so no lectures, just fun!” he says.
Having grown up in Coronationville, Johannesburg, Billings is currently completing his MSc degree in the History of Science at the University of Witwatersrand, with specific reference to primatology and the evolution of consciousness. Billings is also the Curator of all Collections housed within the School of Anatomical Sciences, at Wits Medical School. At just 31 years of age, Billings is a passionate young man with a special interest in Physical Anthropology. He represents the new face of science and brings a refreshing new perspective and energy to the field.
- Age: Adults only
- Time: 18:00 with welcome drinks
- Venue: Maropeng Boutique Hotel.
- Cost: R375 per person which includes welcome drinks, a three course set menu and the presentation.
Should you wish to combine this event with a stay at the Maropeng Boutique Hotel, please contact Mmathabo Maine on 014 577 9000 or mmathabom@maropeng.co.za to make a reservation.
Ongoing: Kiddies Birthday Parties
Maropeng have put together a number of fun and educational kiddies birthday party packages. While parents relax and enjoy the splendour of their surroundings, the children will be entertained by a guided tour of the Sterkfontein Caves or Maropeng Visitor Centre followed by supervised party games. A number of optional party extras such as a birthday cake, lunch pack, lucky packet, jumping castle and child minders are also available.
- Age: The party packages cater for all ages.
- Time: To be confirmed with the booking.
- Venue: Either at Sterkfontein Caves or Maropeng to be confirmed with the booking.
For more information on costs, events, bookings and essential requirements, call us on (014) 577 9000 or visit www.maropeng.co.za and click on shop. For hotel reservations, kindly contact Mmathabo Maine on the number above or email mmathabom@maropeng.co.za.
