Sterkfontein Caves

The Sterkfontein Caves lie on Kromdraai Road in the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage site, about 45 km northwest of Johannesburg in Gauteng province, South Africa. The drive takes about 45 minutes by rental car, Uber or Bolt, or as part of a guided tour from Sandton, and there is no regular public transport to the site. The caves are among the most productive hominin fossil sites in the world. The best-known find is the skull nicknamed Mrs Ples, an Australopithecus africanus specimen discovered in 1947, and the 'Little Foot' skeleton has since been excavated from the cave system by researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand. Visits are by guided tour only. A guide leads small groups down steps and narrow passages into chambers with stalactites, an underground lake and working excavation areas, explaining how fossils formed in the dolomitic limestone. The route involves stairs, low ceilings in places and damp, uneven footing, so it is more strenuous than a surface museum. A small exhibition and a curio shop are at the entrance, and the caves are operated in the same package as the Maropeng visitor centre a short drive away, which makes a combined ticket possible. A workable one-day plan places Maropeng's exhibition in the morning and the cave tour in the early afternoon, or reverses the order to reach the caves for the first departure and avoid queues. Tours run at set times, so arriving 20 to 30 minutes early is wise. Cafes and farm-style restaurants along Kromdraai Road and the R400 handle lunch, and a stop at the nearby Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve can fill the late afternoon. April to October offers drier weather, cooler conditions above ground and fewer rain interruptions, although the caves stay at a constant, cool and humid temperature all year. Visitors should wear closed, non-slip shoes and bring a light layer. Claustrophobic travellers and those with mobility limits should ask the operator about the route before buying a ticket.