Wits Sterkfontein Caves
Cradle of Humankind
Explore the REAL Johannesburg
” . . . a globally significant site for paleontology, especially for the study of hominin evolution.”
” . . . well managed with stringent guidelines from UNESCO”
“Nice seeing where my ancestors were born, bred and grew up!!!!”
WITS STERKFONTEIN CAVES – WHERE HISTORY BEGINS
Just an hour’s drive northwest of Johannesburg lies one of the world’s most important fossil sites — the Wits Sterkfontein Caves, nestled in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This network of ancient dolomitic limestone caves has reshaped how we understand human origins, and continues to be a centre for groundbreaking paleoanthropological research.
Reopened in April 2025 under the full management of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Sterkfontein now offers an upgraded visitor experience while maintaining its integrity as a living research site.
It’s a place where science, history, and exploration merge.
A WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF GLOBAL IMPORTANCE
The Cradle of Humankind, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, covers nearly 50,000 hectares and has yielded over a third of all known early hominin fossils.
Among its crown jewels is the Sterkfontein Cave — a site that has produced some of the most famous and complete early human ancestor fossils ever found:
• ‘Mrs. Ples’: A remarkably preserved skull of Australopithecus africanus, dated to around 2.05 million years ago.
• ‘Little Foot’: An almost complete skeleton, from the same genus, estimated to be over 3 million years old.
These fossils have been instrumental in confirming Africa as the cradle of human ancestry.
FROM LIME MINING TO HUMAN ORIGINS
Sterkfontein’s significance wasn’t always recognised. In the late 19th century, the caves were mined for lime to support the booming gold industry.
The mining exposed fossil-rich breccia — a mixture of rock and ancient bones — and curious miners and visitors began collecting unusual specimens.
It wasn’t until 1935 that Sterkfontein caught the attention of the scientific world. Dr. Robert Broom, a paleontologist from Wits, began excavations that led to the discovery of Mrs. Ples in 1947.
This single find shifted the global focus of human origins research to Africa.
STERKFONTEIN RE-IMAGINED : A SITE FOR ALL
Since reopening in 2025, Sterkfontein offers a more accessible and immersive experience while continuing as a working research site.
New features include:
• Guided Tours : Expert-led cave tours give scientific insight into fossil discoveries.
• Fossil Preparation Laboratories : Observe real-time fossil work through glass panels.
• Educational Programs : Learn about evolution, geology, and climate science.
• Interactive Exhibits :Touchscreens, 3D models, and timelines bring the science to life.
PLANNING YOUR VISIT!
Information Correct : April 2025
Sterkfontein Caves is NOT wheelchair friendly, but . .
. . the Museum, Fossil Preparation Laboratories and the ‘Timeline Walk’ ARE!
WITS STERKFONTEIN CAVES ENTRANCE FEE :
Adults : R150 (includes Museum and Prep Lab)
Children 6-18 : R125
Children under 6 : Free
Pensioners (60+ Years) : R100
Museum and Prep Lab only (no cave tour) : R80
Birthdays : Free Entry
As Sterkfontein Caves is now managed and run entirely by Wits University, it is no longer linked to Maropeng – the Visitor Centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site.
Tickets, for a Sterkfontein Caves only visit, can be bought online at www.webticket.co.za
Tickets are also available at the Cave’s ticket office, but it is advisable to book online – especially on weekends, as a maximum of only 35 guests are allowed into the cave on each hourly tour.
WITS STERKFONTEIN CAVES and MAROPENG COMBINED TICKET :
The combo ticket, which previously offered a discounted price for entry to both facilities, is no longer available.
WITS STERKFONTEIN CAVES OPENING TIMES :
Tuesday – Sunday : 09h00 – 16h00 (9.00am – 4.00pm)
Closed every Monday, Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Last tour at 16h00 every day
Underground tours every hour, on the hour.
WITS STERKFONTEIN CAVES ADDRESS :
Kromdraai Road
Off the R563 and the N14
GPS Co-ordinates (hddd.dddddd) :
S26.01738° E027.72921°
WITS STERKFONTEIN CAVES CONTACT :
Landline : +27 (0)11 717-9946
E-mail : info.sterkfonteincaves@wits.ac.za
HOW GOLD MINING REVEALED STERKFONTEIN’S SECRETS
Fast forward to the discovery of gold in the nearby goldfields in the 1880’s, where lime was needed to help with the extraction of gold from the ore bearing rock.
For centuries, local communities had been aware of the dolomitic caves which had protected their fossils for eons, but once discovered in the late 1890’s, as a source of lime, they were mined – using explosives.
The limestone mining had exposed fossil-rich breccia — a mix of rock and ancient bones — and it was the miners, as well as visitors who started to frequent the caves, that questioned the fossils.
It wasn’t until 1935, that this discovery at Sterkfontein caught the attention of the scientific world and geologists and palaeontologists became involved in its preservation.
Mrs. PLES AND THE DAWN OF AFRICAN HUMAN ORIGINS
Dr. Robert Broom of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) began formal excavations at the site in 1936 when he simply bought fossils from miners, but in 1946, aided by a team of skilful workers, started excavating himself.
It was during this time that the now-famous skull dubbed ‘Mrs. Ples’ was uncovered — a discovery that challenged conventional thinking and placed Africa firmly at the center of human origins research.
The significance of this find cannot be overstated.
Until that point, many scientists believed that human ancestors evolved in Europe or Asia.
Mrs. Ples, along with subsequent discoveries at Sterkfontein and nearby sites, provided convincing evidence that our lineage in fact began in Africa.
Since then, palaeoanthropologists have unearthed roughly one third of all fossils of early human ancestors ever found.
A CAVE OF FOSSILS – NOT LIMESTONE FORMATIONS!
There are few coloured lights, few cascading limestone formations, and, due to the explosives used during mining – not many remaining stalagtites or stalagmites, BUT . . . . it is a cave of immense historical interest.
Hundreds of hominid and animal fossils, some older than 4-million years, have been discovered.
CRADLE OF HUMANKIND : GROUNDBREAKING DISCOVERIES BEYOND STERKFONTEIN
‘Mrs Ples’ and ‘Little Foot’ are amongst the most important discoveries, but finds in other caves in the Cradle of Humankind – including six skeletons of Australopithecus sediba, that were discovered at the Malapa Fossil Site (15 kms from Sterkfontein Caves) in August 2008 and at least 15 species of Homo Naledi, that were discovered in 2013 in the Rising Star Cave system, close to Sterkfontein Caves; 2-million-year-old stone tools and a collection of 270 burnt bones, show that “man” harnesed the power of fire more than 1-million years ago.
UNDERGROUND ADVENTURE : WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE CAVE TOUR
It’s a bit daunting reading the sign at the ticket office warning you of “very narrow tunnels and entrances where you will have to squat or crawl”, but this is not a problem if you are mobile!
It also advises you NOT to do the tour if you “have mobility issues, suffer from claustrophobia, heart conditions, asthma or other respiratory problems”!
Add to this the 115 steps you have to go down into the cave and then the 211 steps you have to climb up to get out!
I should mention though, that these deterrents weren’t enough to stop a young 80 year old Italian signora tourist in our group from doing the underground tour!
The museum, fossil preparation laboratories, and the “Timeline Walk” are wheelchair accessible.
INSIDE THE CAVE : CONDITIONS, TIPS AND WHAT TO BRING
Numerous sinkholes allow both natural light and air into the cave and the temperature is a constant, cool 18° C (65° F) with very little humidity.
I found the rubber mats that you walk on quite slippery when wet, so wear a decent pair of shoes.
The cave is lit with electric lights, but take your own torch (flashlight) or headlight.
Our guide, Norman, had one, but when I was further back in the group, I missed being shown into some dark areas
There are no places that you have to squeeze through, though you need to bend or crawl through a 1 metre (3 feet) high ‘obstacle’ at one point – although there is a longer, but easier, bypass!
ABOVE GROUND : WALK THE EXCAVATION TRAIL
Once back on the surface, you can either go directly back to the Visitors Centre, or via a longer route past the excavations, that have been worked on continuously since 1966.
You walk on an elevated walkway, with a number of information boards, explaining, for example, the landscape and excavations.
THE VISITOR’S CENTRE AND RESTAURANT (The Restaurant is presently closed)
Back in the Visitors Centre, there is a restaurant (This is presently closed!) that serves surprisingly reasonable meals and makes a very good cappucino!
The Wits Sterkfontein Caves restaurant is closed.
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