Cradle of Humankind & Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve Safari｜South Africa

The Cradle of Humankind holds more early human fossils than anywhere else on Earth, and this tour takes you into the middle of the ongoing research, not just the finished exhibits.

Sterkfontein Caves reopened in 2025 under the full management of the University of the Witwatersrand, and the site now works differently to the show-cave tour it used to be. A guide leads you through the dolomite chambers where Little Foot, one of the most complete Australopithecus skeletons ever found, lay undisturbed for millions of years, then through the fossil preparation laboratory, where technicians work on new specimens in real time. A Timeline Walk outside traces the geology that preserved these fossils in the first place. Expect stairs, low passages and close quarters throughout the cave section.

From Sterkfontein, continue to the Maropeng Visitor Centre, the official home of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Beyond the general exhibitions on climate, migration and early tools, Maropeng houses the Almost Human exhibit, built around the 2013 discovery of Homo naledi in the nearby Rising Star Cave system. See original fossil material from the Dinaledi and Lesedi chambers and follow how a team of scientists, working through openings barely wide enough to pass a human body, identified a species that reshaped what palaeoanthropologists thought they knew about our family tree.

After discovering the ancient history beneath the landscape, change perspective and experience the bushveld above ground.

Travel to Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve, situated within the broader Cradle of Humankind region, for a guided wildlife drive through the reserve.

Set among open grassland and bushveld, the reserve supports more than 30 species of animals. During the game drive, look out for African wildlife including lion, white rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, antelope and a variety of bird species. Your safari guide provides commentary on animal behaviour, habitats, biodiversity and conservation.

The contrast between the two parts of the day is what makes this experience distinctive: beneath the surface, you explore evidence of our ancient past; above ground, you observe the wildlife and landscapes that continue to define southern Africa.

After the safari, relax during the return journey to Johannesburg or Pretoria.