Sterkfontein Caves
World Heritage Site
The Sterkfontien cave system, about 12km north of Krugersdorp in Gauteng, is the site of some of the most important discoveries concerning human evolution. The limestone deposit at the surface, from which the first fossils were recovered, was formed by the collapse and infilling of a cavern as it became exposed by erosion. Underlying the old quarry is an extensive system of younger caves containing an underground lake and many limestone formations, part of which is open to tourists.
The Palaeo-Anthropological Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand has been excavating at Sterkfontein continuously since 1968, and more than 550 hominid fossil specimens have been found.
Sterkfontein is one of the world’s most productive and important palaeoanthropological sites. It is the place where the very fist adult ape-man was found by Dr Robert Broom in 1936. This ancient cave system has over the years revealed a sequence of deposits with fossils dating from about 3.5 to 1.5 million years ago, a period of time which spans the early development of the family of man – the hominids. In addition to almost 500 skull, jaw, teeth and skeletal fossils of these early hominids, there are many thousands of other animal fossils, over 300 fragments of fossils wood, and over 9,000 stone tools which include some of the earliest manifestations of human culture on earth. Some of the youngest deposits in the cave also contain fossils and tools from the period just prior to the emergence of modern humans, the period ca. 100.000 to 250,000 years ago, most widespread of which are the dolomites of the Transvaal Supergroup. Website: http://www.maropeng.co.za/content/page/the-sterkfontein-caves
(Recommendation: combine with Maropeng) (Time required for combo: 5 hours) An in depth tour, conducted by paleoantropologist, is available on request.
| Duration | HALF DAY |
| Departure | 09H00 / 12H00 (suggested times) |
| Included | Entrance fees to Sterkfontein Caves Tour. Services of a Tour guide, transport in a licensed, air-conditioned vehicle. |
| Excluded | Lunch, any items of a personal nature, tips, and or gratuities |
| Choice Tours’ Price | 1 guest- R 2 650 , 2 guests – R 1 400 pp (25% discount for groups of 4 or more) |
| Time required
Bonus |
Ideally 4 hours; can be done in 3 ½ hours
Spectacular views of the ‘highveld’ |