Tag: “exhibition”

Learn about human evolution at Maropeng – photo essay

As the visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, Maropeng is one of Gauteng’s top heritage attractions. At the award-winning exhibition centre, visitors can learn about human evolution through exciting and fun installations. The following photo essay highlights what visitors can look forward to on their trip to Maropeng.

Voyage to the stars with Maropeng

Aspiring astronauts and space explorers of all ages are invited to join Maropeng for an expedition to the stars.

New York and South African learners go back to their origins

Maropeng’s underground boat ride was a highlight for a number of learners visiting Johannesburg this week as guests of 46664, Nelson Mandela’s HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.

These learners, who were carefully selected through competitions in the United States and South Africa, were bought together to learn about Mr Mandela’s leadership legacy. They even had the opportunity to meet Mr Mandela earlier in the week.

Scientists suggest new find is the “missing link”

A remarkable fossil, believed to show the missing link between primates and other animals, was unveiled by scientists in New York on May 19, 2009.

Scientists are calling the 47-million-year-old fossil – which is believed to be female – “Ida”. Her scientific name is Darwinius masillae, in honour of Darwin’s 200th birthday, which was celebrated on February 12, 2009.

New exhibition opens at Maropeng: Insects from the Distant Past

Maropeng opened a new exhibition today, April 16, 2009. On display in the Original Fossil Exhibition at the Maropeng Visitor Centre is a variety of fossilised insects from Southern Africa.

The fossils include early cockroaches found in the Karoo, well-preserved insects found at the Orapa diamond mine in Botswana, and even fly larvae found alongside hominid fossils in the Cradle of Humankind.

Cradle of Humankind: where I’d rather be

The following article was written by Samson Mqwati, a Maropeng boat ride operator:

People from all over the world are anticipating the long Easter weekend. Plans have been set, plane tickets are already bought and seats guaranteed. People will be travelling to places of their choice. Different churches and religions will be gathering in multitudes for their annual worship as Easter is that time of the year when many want to get in touch with their innermost person and desires to have that spiritual fulfilment.

Congratulations Monica de Bruyn – winner of our loyalty card survey prize

Last month Maropeng conducted a survey to determine the level of interest the public would have in a Maropeng loyalty card.

Participants were automatically entered in to a draw for a prize, and Monica de Bruyn came out tops!

Maropeng and Origins Centre receive international news interest

Maropeng and Wits University’s Origins Centre have been the focus of international press coverage recently, with the release of a syndicated Associated Press article about the wealth of paleoanthropological information and sites in the area.

Maropeng releases online Sterkfontein Exhibition Guide

Maropeng is pleased to announce the publication of the new Sterkfontein guide on our website.

The Sterkfontein online exhibition guide complements the displays in the visitor centre at the Sterkfontein Caves. The displays here focus on the geology of cave formation and how fossils are preserved and extracted, and on the amazing finds of hominid fossils in the Sterkfontein Caves, the Cradle of Humankind’s most famous fossil site.

Maropeng welcomes most visitors ever in December 2008

Interest in Maropeng continues to grow both locally and internationally. December 2008 saw all visitor number records smashed as the Maropeng Visitor Centre recorded growth of 18% compared to the same period last year.