10 Archaeology Tours in Gauteng That You Shouldn't Miss

Explore Johannesburg's favorite cultural attractions in this 6 hour tour. Get to meet an authentic 'zulu warrior of  the Lesedi Cultural village.He  will take you on a 2.5 hour magical journey through the various tribes that make up our 'Rainbow Nation'. This epic tour concludes on a journey back into time as we spend an hour exploring the caverns and labyrinths of the Sterkfontein Caves-home to oldest known human fossils.

Inclusions: Local taxes, Bottled water, Coffee and/or Tea, Driver/guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Lunch, Gratuities

The Cullinan Diamond Mine has produced some of the most sought-after diamonds in the world, including the legendary Cullinan Diamond and rare blue diamonds. This tour is the only one of its kind, offering a behind-the-scenes look at a working diamond mine. Ride the elevator down into the mine shaft to see to the kimberlite rock, engine room, and Big Hole; learn how the diamonds are mined, cut, and transformed into jewelry; then admire the glittering jewels on display in the Cullinan Diamond Shop

Inclusions: Bottled water, Guide, entrance fee

Exclusions: Gratuities (optional) • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

The true expedition about human ancestry in African land " Cradle of Humankind" through excavated fossils within the Sterkfontein caves. This Journey does not end with Mrs Pless discoveries, learn more about Little foot and Homo Naledi. Due to this contributing factors this site is honoured and declared a world Heritage site by Unesco in 1999. Answers to questions about human origins are found here. The journey to uncover more is still going on within many sites ( not less than 200 sites) in this 47000 hectares area.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Bottled water, All Fees and Taxes, Free Wifi connection

Exclusions: Lunch, Alcoholic Beverages, Coffee and/or Tea

At just about an hour's drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Cradle of Humankind is a must-see for all archaeology lovers and anyone curious in the history of mankind. You will get to see the caves that are world-famous for the fossils that were discovered there. A well-informative, amazing discovery and experience not to be missed!

Inclusions: registered tour guide, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, Fuel surcharge, Landing and facility fees

Exclusions: lunch, optional extras

This tour is private with just you and your guide in the vehicle. To the west of Johannesburg where the Highveld starts its descent to the Bushveld from the lies, an area of undulating hills referred to as the Cradle of Humankind. It gains its name from the huge amounts of fossil remains of early man and our more apelike ancestors discovered here in the dolomite caves just beneath its surface. The geology of the region has made it one of the richest fossil-bearing regions in the world not just of early ape-men but many other extinct creatures. Sterkfontein Caves are where the original discoveries were made and it is here we make first stop. The modern interpretive centre has replicas of the fossils and an in-depth description of their relevance to mankind's family tree as well as fossils of other species. You are taken down into the caves by the resident cave guide. There is some low bending, but for the main part the caves are spacious but a reasonable level of fitness is required.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Lunch, Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Private transportation

Exclusions: Gratuities, Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Souvenirs and Curios

Depart from your hotel in Johannesburg to The Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng to discover many hominid and other animal fossils, dating back more than 4-million years, to the birth of humanity. The most important and most famous of these fossils are “Mrs Ples”, a 2.1-million-year-old Australopithecus skull, and “Little Foot”, an almost complete Australopithecus skeleton that is more than 3-million years old. These fossils, both found in the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Humankind, tell us much about the precursors of modern humans, Homo sapiens. With a Guide, you will be able to go underground tour. The scientific exhibition centre showcases a reconstruction of a mined cave (versus a pristine cave), cave formations and geology, early life forms, mammals and hominid fossils. It describes in detail important finds such as “Mrs Ples”, the “Taung Child” and “Little Foot”, as well as providing information about fossilization, palaeobotany and landscapes.

Inclusions: Driver/guide, Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Use of helmet, Hotel/port pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities, Souvenir photos (available to purchase), Lunch

Cullinan Diamond Mine Will take you back into the Mining process of these precious metal. A fascinating tour via the mam-riding cage ( elavator) into the underground workings of the mine to see how the diamond-bearing kimberlite ground is mined and brought to the surface. These is the only tour of its kind in the world

Inclusions: Bottled water, Lunch, Snacks, Driver/guide, Hotel/port pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Gratuities, Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

Take a journey back time with this incredible tour into the heart of the World Heritage site known as the Cradle of Humankind. Only a 1 hour drive from Johannesburg. We discover the ancient limestone formations in a 1 hour underground tour of the Sterkfontein Caves where the oldest known human fossil was found a few years back.The cave is still an active archaeological site and does not involve hectic crawling-in fact it is regarded as a very easy walk. The tour then includes a drive through the Cradle where you will get to see the unique landscape, the rolling hills of the Magaliesberg mountains and the pristine natural environment. The tour concludes with a 2 hour tour of the Maropeng exhibition center where you will taken back into time as we take you on a fascinating tour of how humans developed, learnt to make stone weapons, hunted for food and ultimately how we survived as the earth evolved. If history and culture are your thing then this tour is the ultimate choice.

Inclusions: Local taxes, Bottled water, Local guide, Tour escort/host, Hotel pickup and drop-off, 1 hour drive through the Cradle of Humankind, 1 hour underground guided tour of the caves, 1 hour guided tour of the Maropeng exhibition centre

Exclusions: Food and drinks

The Cradle of Humankind – declared a World Heritage site in 1999 - is a 47 000-hectare area in the western part of Gauteng Province with around 40 different fossil sites where several of the world's most famous and important fossils have been discovered. It is the world’s richest early hominin site, and is home to around 40% of the world’s known human ancestor fossils.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Driver/guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Lunch, All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions:

Enjoy these history filled tour from your hotel in Johannesburg. The Cradle of Human Kind home to the origin of human Kind with Sterkfontein caves showing us the actual discovery of the fossils. The Maropeng Museum has a clear cut information on the various fossils that were discovered and also explains in details about the age of the different fossils including the recently discovered one called Homo Naledi. The Wondercave was discovered by Italian Miners in 1898. Mining in these cave was stopped in 1902 due to outbreak of war and low productivity.The entrance to these cave goes down 87 stairs at a 45 degrees dropping 22 Metres  below the surface. You will then go down the elavator with a drop of further 18 Metres into the cave

Inclusions: Bottled water, Lunch, Snacks, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)