Swartkrans walking tour

August 29, 2009

Maropeng is hosting the popular Swartkrans Walking Tours this month. Swartkrans, one of the Cradle’s richest fossil sites, is usually closed to the public. But on these tours, small groups will have a rare opportunity to observe an active dig and will be guided around the site by scientist Morris Sutton, who is currently excavating there.

Dr Robert Broom identified a new hominid species at Swartkrans, named Telanthropus capensis, now known as Homo ergaster. Swartkrans has yielded the largest sample of another hominid, Paranthropus robustus, in the world, and is internationally significant for the discovery of some of the earliest evidence of the use of controlled fire, dating back 1-million years.

The tour costs R650 per person and includes a fantastic picnic (menu below).

Picnic menu

Asian green salad

Pickled vegetables, with beef strips and sesame seeds

Grilled honey and mustard chicken breast

Assorted cold meat platter

Assorted homemade breads with humus and chicken liver pâté

Preserves

Cheese platter with biscuits

Fruit skewers with granadilla pulp

Chocolate brownies

Koeksisters

Bottle of champagne and still/sparkling water

Limited bar with local beers and ciders

Please click here to book online and look for the icon shown below