Rocking the Cradle this August
All roads will lead to the Cradle of Humankind in a few weeks’ time, when the curtain is raised on the 2017 Magalies Rocks the Cradle (MRtC) festival. The MRtC festival will be held from 25 to 27 August.
The festival will see a series of events hosted by local businesses, showcasing the culture, cuisine and outdoor entertainment on offer in and around the Magaliesberg area and the Cradle of Humankind. Maropeng, the official visitor centre of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage, site will be hosting four key events:
The Alice Art Gallery at Maropeng
The exhibition features the work of renowned artists, including Christelle Pretorius, Michael Heyns and Grace da Costa. The Alice Art Gallery, in Roodepoort, is one of the largest, privately owned galleries on the continent. The exhibition is being held at the Maropeng visitor centre. Entrance is included in a standard ticket to Maropeng. Book here.
Mindmark Spring Mind-Body-Spirit Expo
Take a stroll along Maropeng’s Gazebo Boulevard to peruse a selection of products aimed at helping you become more calm, centred and present. Mindmark, a business based in Magaliesburg, offers courses and seminars on topics such as spiritual intelligence. Entrance is included in a standard ticket to Maropeng. Book here.
Magalies Rocks the Cradle brings the wine route to you
This extraordinary wine tasting at the Tumulus Restaurant will allow you to taste a selection of the best wines from the estates of Groot Constantia, Constantia Glen and Rietvallei – all while enjoying spectacular views of the Magaliesberg mountain range. Tickets for this event cost R180 per adult and R90 for children (between the ages of four and 14). Contact Bubi or Karabo on 014 577 9000 to make your booking.
Mysticism and science fireside talk
Tickets to this fascinating presentation by Michael Howard are limited, as there are only 60 seats to be had around the Hominin House firepit. Howard will discuss fascinating scientific discoveries, from the discovery of 37-million-year-old whale bones in the Sahara Desert to our very own Homo naledi. Book your ticket here.
The Magalies Rocks the Cradle festival also offers beer tastings, workshops and markets. There are even offerings for adrenaline junkies, such as quad biking and horse riding. There is also a touch of celebrity in the mix, with HOT HOT 91.9 FM’s Darren Scott broadcasting live from Maropeng on 27 August. Find out more on the official festival site.
The secretary of the Magalies Business Forum, Dominique da Fosenca Wollheim, says world-class attractions, hotels and restaurants are throwing open their doors for the festival this year.
“We recognise Maropeng and the Cradle of Humankind as a huge asset and an international destination,” she says.
“We encourage visitors to spend the weekend in our array of accommodation options, set up an itinerary and meander through the diverse routes. Magalies Rocks the Cradle and will bring much-needed infrastructure development and growth to our area.”
And if you’re in the Cradle for the festival, why not include a trip to see the world-famous Almost Human exhibition at Maropeng? Entrance is included in a standard ticket to Maropeng. Book your ticket here.
