World-class guides at world-class visitor centre

May 1, 2008

All Maropeng guides have received accreditation with the Gauteng Tourism Authority. In 1999, the fossil hominid sites of Sterkfontein Caves, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Environs in the Cradle of Humankind were declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, which aims to preserve areas of exceptional value throughout the world.

A public private partnership between the Gauteng Provincial Government and Maropeng a’Afrika Leisure was established in December 2005 to develop the Cradle of Humankind as an internationally acclaimed heritage attraction.

Maropeng, meaning ‘returning to the place of our origins’ in Setswana, is the official visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, showcasing a region which is unsurpassed anywhere else in South Africa in terms of heritage value, and is globally recognised as a world-class visitor centre.

To this end, all Maropeng guides have received accreditation with the Gauteng Tourism Authority to ensure that visitors appreciate and understand the historical significance of the Cradle of Humankind. The course, presented by the Services & Tourism Training Institute (STTI), aims to educate guides not only about every aspect of the site, but also about the tourism industry in general. Guide techniques, communication and code of conduct are addressed in the course, as well as the importance of protecting the social and cultural integrity of the host communities of the region.

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