Maropeng Visitor Centre

About Maropeng Visitor Centre

Just a one-hour drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria is the place where we all became human. This is where our story began, and by coming here, you are coming ‘home’. Maropeng means “returning to the place of origin” in Setswana, the main indigenous language in this region.

The Maropeng Visitor Centre is a thrilling, world-class exhibition that allows you to look at fossils, learn about how humankind was born, view stone tools up to 1-million years old, and much more.

Enter the massive burial mound called the Tumulus, your entrance to learning the secrets of our ancestry. Ideal for children, the Maropeng Visitor Centre is self-guided, highly up-to-date and interactive. There’s even an Adventure Tour through extensive, fascinating exhibits with an underground boat ride.

Hot Tip: Get the most out of your Cradle visit with a combination ticket to the Sterkfontein Caves as well.