FAQs

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General questions and access

How much do you charge per person?

(Prices valid from the January 01 2010.)

Sterkfontein Caves

• R110 for adults
• R65 for children (4-14 years)
• R75 for pensioners/students

Maropeng

• R105 for adults
• R60 for children (4-14 years)
• R75 for pensioners/students
• A combination entrance ticket is available, which includes entry to Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves. R175 for adults. R102 for children (4-14 years). Please note: the combination ticket is only available until 1pm, in order for visitors to have enough time to see both exhibitions.

What are your operating hours?

Maropeng Visitor Centre is open to the public from 09h00 to 17h00 everyday. The last boat ride departs at 16h00. Sterkfontein Caves is open to the public from 09h00 to 17h00 everyday. The last tour departs at 16h00.

Is your place suitable for babies?

It is not recommended to bring children younger than four years.

Who can go into the caves?

Anybody who is fit and able bodied. It is not suitable for people who suffer from asthma. You have to negotiate 119 steps down into the caves and a further 109 steps to get out the of the caves. There are a number of additional steps inside the caves. Although the caves are lit up inside it is dark and can be frightening for small children.

Do you accept credit/debit cards?

Yes

How do I get to Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves?

Please click here for directions to Maropeng and here for directions to Sterkfontein Caves.

Do you have to book?

If your group is greater than 10 it is advisable to book.

If I buy a ticket to Maropeng, will it include entrance to Sterkfontein Caves as well?

No, but a combination entrance ticket is available, which includes entry into Maropeng Visitor Centre and Sterkfontein Caves: R175 for adults. R102 for children (4-14 years). Please note: the combination ticket is only available until 1pm, in order for visitors to have enough time to see both exhibitions.

How much do you charge a learner to visit both Maropeng and Sterkfontein caves?

We have a special schools rate to visit Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves at R93 per learner. Booking is essential to reserve a tour.

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Questions about Sterkfontein Caves

Do you have guided tours?

At Sterkfontein Caves, all tour groups are accompanied by a guide. The tours leave every 30 minutes. All the guides have undergone extensive training and have been accredited by the Gauteng Tourism Authority.

How far away is Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves?

Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves are approximately a 75 minute drive from Johannesburg. Please click here for directions to Maropeng and here for directions to Sterkfontein Caves.

What is the difference between Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves?

Sterkfontein Caves consists of a scientific exhibition, a walk through time up to the entrance of the caves, and a tour of the caves. Upon exiting the caves, there is a short walk back to the exhibition or a walk along the boardwalks to see where “Mrs Ples” was found and a beautiful view across the valley.

Maropeng is a much larger exhibition in a specially built visitor centre 10 km away from Sterkfontein Caves. It has a fun boat ride and many interactive displays. The storyline begins with the formation of the Earth and ends with an original fossil display.

What is the Cradle of Humankind?

The Cradle of Humankind covers an area of over 47,000 hectares of mostly privately owned land, encompassing 13 fossil hominid sites within its borders, including Sterkfontein (one of the richest and most productive palaeo-anthropological sites in the world), Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Environs.

Two additional sites, Makapans Valley and Taung, are part of the Cradle of Humankind, but are located hundreds of kilometres away.

These sites have collectively yielded some of the most valuable evidence of the origins of humankind ever found, including the renowned “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot”.

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Maropeng

What is Maropeng?

Facilities include a visitor centre, a 24-bedroom 4-star hotel, and conference facilities for up to 500 delegates.

Are the Sterkfontein caves around Maropeng?

The Sterkfontein Caves are a 10 km drive from Maropeng.

What is the difference between Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves?

Sterkfontein Caves consists of a scientific exhibition, a walk through time up to the entrance of the caves, and a tour of the caves. Upon exiting the caves, there is a short walk back to the exhibition or a walk along the boardwalks to see where “Mrs Ples” was found and a beautiful view across the valley.

Maropeng is a much larger exhibition in a specially built visitor centre 10 km away from Sterkfontein Caves. It has a fun boat ride and many interactive displays. The storyline begins with the formation of the Earth and ends with an original fossil display.

What does Maropeng mean?

Maropeng means “returning to the place of our origins” in Setswana.

What is the Cradle of Humankind?

The Cradle of Humankind covers an area of over 47,000 hectares of mostly privately owned land, encompassing 13 fossil hominid sites within its borders, including Sterkfontein (one of the richest and most productive palaeo-anthropological sites in the world), Swartkrans, and Kromdraai and Environs.

Two additional sites, Makapans Valley and Taung, are part of the Cradle of Humankind, but are located hundreds of kilometres away.

These sites have collectively yielded some of the most valuable evidence of the origins of humankind ever found, including the renowned “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot”.

Where did we get all the information from?

The content of the exhibition was written by experienced researchers and was approved by an exhibition committee, which consists of various representatives from Wits University.

When was Maropeng established?

Maropeng opened its doors to the public on December 01 2005.

What is in the Maropeng tour?

The visitor centre at Maropeng takes visitors on a journey of discovery of the origins of humankind. The journey begins with an underground boat ride and concludes with an original fossil display, and is fun and educational for the whole family.

Are there any real fossils in the Maropeng tour?

The tour concludes with an original fossil display. Almost 1,000 hominid fossils have been discovered within the Cradle of Humankind, as well as thousands of artifacts and animal fossils, of which many species are now extinct. The fossils are on loan from various educational and scientific institutions and the exhibition changes on a regular basis.

What are the events for the month?

Have a look at our events calendar.

What does Tumulus mean?

A Tumulus is an ancient burial mound and the story of humankind is reveal buried in an exhibition underground in the Tumulus building.

Do you do guided tours?

Maropeng was designed as a self-guided tour, but on weekends and public holidays guided tours are conducted at no additional cost. Upon arrival, ask the ticket office when the next tour will be. School groups are always accompanied by a guide. All the guides have under gone extensive training and have been accredited by the Gauteng Tourism Authority.

How far away is Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves?

Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves are approximately a 75 minute drive from Johannesburg. Please click here for directions to Maropeng and here for directions to Sterkfontein Caves.

What can I read to further increase my knowledge on the subject matter?

Into the Past: A Memoir. Tobias P. 2005. Picador Africa and Wits University Press.

A Search for Origins: Science, History and South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind. Bonner P, Esterhuysen A, Jenkins T (eds). 2007. Wits University Press Sterkfontein: Early Hominid Site in the Cradle of Humankind. Esterhusyen A. 2007. Wits University Press.

Riddles in Stone: Controversies, Theories and Myths about Southern Africa’s Geological Past. Eales H. 2007. Wits University Press.

Stars of the Southern Skies: An Astronomy Field Guide. Fitzgerald M. 2005. Wits University Press.

From Lucy to Language. Johanson D, Edgar B, Brill D. 2006 (revised updated edition). Simon & Schuster.

Does the South African government own Maropeng?

Maropeng was the first public private partnership in the Gauteng province. Government owns the land and a consortium, Maropeng a Afrika, won the concession to build and operator Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves.

How long is your boat trip?

The boat ride is about five minutes.

How long does it takes to through the exhibition?

Anything from 1.5 hours to 8 hours.

Which architect designed the Maropeng Visitor Centre?

Gapp Architects designed Maropeng.

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Restaurants

Do you have places where one can eat?

There are a number of places to eat at Maropeng. There is the Tumulus Restaurant, the Market Place Restaurant and the Sterkfontein Restaurant, as well as the Maropeng Hotel dining room, if you are a guest.

Do you cater for any special dietary requirements?

We are able to supply conference delegates with Halaal or koshers meals by pre-arrangement only.

Do you serve breakfast?

Breakfast is served at the Maropeng hotel from 07h00 to 10h00 and all day at the Market Place.

Can I bring my own food? Is there a picnic area?

There are no picnic areas at Maropeng or Sterkfontein Caves and no visitor may bring their own food onto either property.

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Accommodation, conferencing and events

Do you have accommodation?

The four-star Maropeng Hotel is located just a short walk from the Maropeng Visitors Centre. Hominid House can accommodate larger groups, such as visiting learners, in comfortable dormitory style accommodation.

How many guest rooms do you have?

The hotel has 24 rooms and Hominid House can accommodate 120 learners or guests in four different rooms.

What star grading is the hotel?

The Maropeng hotel is a four-star hotel and is regraded on an annual basis.

Can I have my wedding at Maropeng?

Yes. We can provide for truly unforgettable wedding celebrations. For more information, please visit the Weddings page.

How many conference rooms do you have?

There are three conference rooms that can be used separately or in combination, to accommodate up to 500 people. Click here to see our facilities page.

Do you offer teambuilding exercises?

Our dedicated events coordinators can arrange a variety of team building activities for you, send us an e-mail with your request

What is in the conference package?

Ask us at

What equipment comes with the conference package?

We have most facilities and equipment in house, but can organise more unusual items. To see the full list, please visit our Conference Facilities page.

How many delegates can you accommodate?

Up to 500 people. For details on the conference rooms and their capacities, please see our Conference Facilities page.

If you have a question that is not answered above, please submit it via email to .