Cradle of Humankind: Immersive Exploration of Ancient Fossils and Wildlife in Johannesburg

Immerse yourself in the Cradle of Humankind in Johannesburg and explore ancient fossils dating back nearly 4 million years. Join us for a comprehensive day tour that includes a visit to the Lion and Rhino Park for a thrilling wildlife experience.

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Sterkfontein Cave - Exciting news! The Sterkfontein Caves have reopened after being closed for two years. Entry is R 150.
    South Africa has uncovered fossils of some of the earliest known dinosaurs, dating back over 200 million years.
    Fossils of our ancient mammal-like ancestors, which lived more than 200 million years ago, have also been discovered…
What's Included
  • On-board WiFi
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Sterkfontein Caves R 150
  • Admission fees
  • Admission fees
Additional Information

The Cradle of Humankind has emerged as one of the standout tourist destinations in Johannesburg. It’s remarkable how fossils, some up to 2 million years old and the earliest known human remains, are still being unearthed today.
In our extensive day-long trip at the Cradle of Humankind, we include a visit to the Lion And Rhino Park. A thrilling wildlife…

Location
Sterkfontein Cave
Sterkfontein Caves Rd., Kromdraai Road Off the R563
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(79 Ratings)
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Leyla_s
Aug 13, 2025
What an amazing tour!... - What an amazing tour! Shane’s communication was great, he was punctual to pick us up, and we chatted away as we drove to the Rhino and Lion park. At the park Shane knew all the ins and outs and we got to see some amazing animals thanks to him knowing the feeding times and where to take us first. He was great at spotting them and all we had to do was keep our eyes peeled. He also shared lots of interesting animal facts with us. At the caves, Shane gave us lots of background info about the disoveries of Mrs. Ples and Little Foot, before handing us off to the guide to go explore the caves. Overall, we had a wonderful time and would have definitely not gotten the same experience if we didn’t have Shane to guide us.
Review provided by Viator
Fabio_m
Jul 15, 2025
Great mix of history and wildlife! - Shane was an amazing guide during our tour - always ready to answer our questions and very knowledgeable of the region. This tour is a great mix of history and science and nature and wildlife - packed up in ~6 hours from when you depart to your return. We were able to see lots of animals in the reserve and had a great trip to the Sterkfontein caves where we learned more about the history of humankind.
Review provided by Viator
Evinkay
Jun 20, 2025
A fun and educational day - If you are short on time in Joburg and wanted to do a mini safari and visit the cradle of humankind area, then this is the tour for you. We managed to see lions, cheetah, rhinos and more at Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve in the morning and went to Sterkfontein Cave at around noon time. Shane is full of experience and is very informative
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gisele_d
Jun 19, 2025
Perfect Solo Day Trip with Shane – Safe, Fun and Unforgettable! - I did this tour solo and it was absolutely perfect. Shane was an incredible guide — professional, punctual, knowledgeable, and extremely kind. At the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, we saw many animals up close, and Shane explained everything with passion and detail. Then, at the Sterkfontein Caves, he gave fascinating insights into the history and archaeology of the site, making the experience even more special. Even though I was traveling alone, I felt completely safe, comfortable, and well taken care of the entire time. I highly recommend this tour with Shane. Truly an unforgettable day!
Review provided by Viator
Fearless34304103766
Apr 21, 2025
A superb day tour - Shane hosted a fun day tour, full of beauty and novel experiences. His knowledge of the area and of the game in the park was impressive. The ride was comfortable and relaxing, and he was a great conversationalist. The game park was a treat to see - along with other animals there were white lions! If you have one day in Johannesburg I recommend this tour and guide. 5*stars
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trail64625899664
Apr 19, 2025
Friendly knowledgeable guide - Excellent knowledgeable guide. Great on getting us to see wildlife in the game reserve. Very friendly, easygoing. Great trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Georgeaw5252rx
Apr 11, 2025
Excellent tour combining a visit to the Cradle of Humanity and the Rhinoceros and Lions Park - Excellent opportunity to get to know the "Cradle of Humanity" where there is an informative museum dedicated to telling the history of human ancestors. In this region a large number of fossils were found that expanded our knowledge of our origin as a species. On this tour, guide Shane also takes you to Rhinoceros and Lions Park, a private reserve with a variety of wildlife. From inside the vehicle it will be possible to see (depending on a bit of luck) from very close: lions, zebras, guepards, wild dogs, rhinoceros, ostrichs among other animals. Shane has the eyes trained to spot the animals and seek the best chance of seeing them. We had the opportunity to see white lions literally next to the car window. Punctuality in scheduled hotel departure time, fluid communication and efficient contact via whatsapp. Recommended tour for everyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daniviagg
Mar 9, 2025
Tour interessante - Very interesting our, our guide Shane very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. The safari is very beautiful, you see many animals, the museum is vwry nice
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lauracristina_c
Jul 1, 2025
You may not see the lions... - You may not see the lions or you may see them asleep... Cheetahs may not want to show up. Safari is very fast
Review provided by Viator
Claramb4808ne
Apr 29, 2025
We ended up turning around and not going. - I live part-time in SA and part-time in New York City. My sister from Illinois was visiting me in SA for the first time, and I'd always wanted to visit the Cradle of Humankind. So I felt this would be an ideal time to go, with my sister. Shane approached us in the hotel lobby 15 mins late of our pickup spot quite distressed, complaining that we hadn't gotten his three messages that morning saying he wanted to leave earlier, although we had showed up exactly at the time we were booked. He also lectured us like we were children on choosing that particular pickup location at the hotel when we were not guests at the hotel (he had inquired at the front desk of our whereabouts). We tried to explain to him that the hotel was a mixed-use hotel/apartment complex, and that we were residents of the apartments, which is why our names didn't appear as hotel guests. And he lectured us (again, like we were children) to not put that hotel location for future tours, if we are not guests of the hotel (totally ignoring our explanation that we did, in fact, live there). Overall, we found him extremely off-putting, agitated and arrogant towards two African-American women who he had only just met moments before. Then, he made us very uncomfortable on the ride with his flurry of questions of who we were, where we were from and why we were in South Africa. Considering this $90/person 7-hour excursion does not pay for anything on the tour (not even a bottle of water), except for the ride to the locations and the company of tour guide, we declined the tour. We would have been happy to pay for all of the entrance fees, water and our lunch, actually, had he been better company. We booked him because of all the positive reviews he's received. But our experience was surprisingly contrary to those reviews. And we can only take an educated guess around why that might have been the case...
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $96
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).