About Sterkfontein Caves

  • Stone’s throw away: Just an hour’s drive away from Johannesburg and Pretoria
  • Groundbreaking: Site of dramatic discoveries that changed the way we view humanity and the history of human development
  • World-renowned: Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1999
  • Famous names: New scientific exhibition showcases the finds of hominid fossils “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot”

The exhibition

An hour’s drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, are the Sterkfontein Caves, world famous for their fossil finds and a well-known visitor destination. After an extensive face-lift in 2005, the Sterkfontein Caves is now home to a top restaurant, conferencing facilities, improved access into the caves, new walkways and a boardwalk past the excavation site where world-acclaimed fossils have been discovered.

The new scientific exhibition centre showcases a reconstruction of a mined cave – versus a pristine cave –  cave formations and geology, early life forms, mammals and hominid fossils, among other topics. It describes in detail important finds such as “Mrs Ples”, the “Taung Child” and “Little Foot”, as well as providing information about fossilisation, palaeobotany and landscapes.

image of an exhibit

World-acclaimed and award-winning palaeoartist, John Gurche, whose exhibits can be seen at the Smithsonian Institute, the Field Museum and the American Museum of Natural History in New York and who worked on the film Jurassic Park, has produced all the lifelike hominid illustrations, from the 7-million-year-old Toumai fossil from Chad, through to modern humans.

The Sterkfontein Caves are owned by the University of the Witwatersrand, whose scientists have been responsible for the main excavations of the World Heritage Site. They are credited with many of the famous discoveries including the world famous “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot”, an almost complete Australopithecus skeleton dating back more than 3-million years.

The tours at the Sterkfontein Caves, which start above ground and then take visitors deep into the caves, run every half hour, seven days a week.

image of one of the caves

The caves

Within the caves, scientists have discovered many hominid and other animal fossils, dating back more than 4-million years, to the birth of humanity. The most important and most famous of these fossils are “Mrs Ples”, a 2.1-million-year-old Australopithecus skull, and “Little Foot”, an almost complete Australopithecus skeleton that is more than 3-million years old. These fossils, both found in the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Humankind, tell us much about the precursors of modern humans, Homo sapiens.

Archaeological finds within the Cradle of Humankind also include 2-million-year-old stone tools. The oldest recorded, at Swartkrans, near the Sterkfontein Caves, is a collection of 270 burnt bones that reveals how our ancestors learned to master fire more than 1-million years ago – a significant development and an early technological innovation. The ability to do this has taken us from the basic skills needed to keep ourselves warm and to cook our food, to being able to control and harness the power of fire to the extent that we can now create and burn rocket fuel to reach space and beyond.

Please note:

Please wear comfortable shoes when going to the caves and leave your handbags and other luggage behind. There are a number of tight spots and pathways to negotiate in the caves and it is not advisable to do the tour if you are claustrophobic. It is also not advisable for people who suffer from acute asthma or chest problems to do the tour as there are a lot of stairs. 

The restaurant

The Sterkfontein Restaurant is the ideal spot to relax after one of the guided tours, or to grab a cup of a coffee or a light snack before the tour. Sit back and chill while enjoying the panoramic views. There’s something on the menu to satisfy most tastes.

The restaurant is open daily from 09h00 - 17h00.

Also …

The Sterkfontein Caves lie in the Cradle of Humankind, an area filled with family-friendly activities, and perfect for weekend or week-long getaways. Why not plan a stay at the four-star Maropeng Hotel?

The Cradle of Humankind covers an area of over 47,000 hectares of privately owned land in the north-western corner of Gauteng, South Africa, and is home to over 17,000 residents. The Magalies Meander and hot-air ballooning are examples of activities you can take part in after enjoying the sights and wonders of the Sterkfontein Caves, and the thrilling journey through the Maropeng Visitor Centre.
You could also have lunch at the Tumulus Restaurant at Maropeng, which is open seven days a week, and offers spectacular views of the Magaliesberg. Pre-booking is essential to avoid disappointment The restaurant also provides a beautiful setting for weddings.

Call the Tumulus Restaurant or Maropeng Hotel: +27 (0) 14 577 9000.

Read about the awards Maropeng has received in recent years.