Maropeng has so many exciting events planned this Easter for the whole family to enjoy – from accommodation specials and riveting tours, to fun, Easter-themed activities and competitions.

Has your child ever asked you one of those seemingly unanswerable questions? Such as, “Where do we come from?” Maropeng is a wonderful place to start investigating the answers – and you’ll have fun doing it.

Visit real excavations sites and mysterious caves, wander around Maropeng’s interactive displays and exhibitions and enjoy a relaxing and friendly atmosphere at the Cradle of Humankind this April. Read more about our fantastic Easter family accommodation special in the newsletter below.

Enjoy some rest and respite away from the madness of the city this April and spend a few days at the tranquil Cradle of Humankind for the holidays.

Easter accommodation special

Maropeng is offering a great accommodation special at the award-winning Maropeng Boutique Hotel. For only R1000 per person sharing, per night, enjoy a delicious three-course dinner, bed and breakfast on the terrace where you can soak up some of the best views in Gauteng, of the Witwatersberg and Magaliesberg mountain ranges.

Children 4 – 12 years old qualify for child rate of R880 per room, which entails them to their own room with inter-leading doors (subject to availability).

Breakfast for children will be charged at R7.50 per year of age 4 – 12 years old. Dinner will be charged at R11 per year of age 4 – 12 years old. Children under the age of four years old stay free and share with parents. This offer is valid from Friday, April 22 until Wednesday, April 27.

Easter carvery lunch

An Easter buffet will also be on offer over the Easter weekend, from Friday, April 22 until Wednesday, April 27. Enjoy a delicious carvery lunch at the Tumulus Restaurant, reasonably priced at only R135 per adult, R75 per child, as well as a kiddies' menu option for only R50 – sure to hit the spot after all that Easter chocolate! The Tumulus Restaurant is also running a special Easter competition, where diners stand the chance to win a host of incredible prizes.

First prize is one night’s accommodation for two, including dinner, bed and breakfast, at the Maropeng Boutique Hotel as well as tours with our award-winning guides to Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves. Second prize is a Stargazing evening for two with Maropeng, which includes a fascinating expert presentation, time spent under the magnificent star-studded skies and a delicious buffet. Third prize is a trip for two to the fossil-rich Cooper’s Cave site, which will give you a chance to see genuine fossils in the rocks, on a fun family outing.

While you’re exploring Maropeng and its surrounds, keep an eye out for the Maropeng Easter bunny, who will be handing out special Easter treats. Children are also invited to enjoy the Maropeng playground where they can have fun and learn about how our ancient hominid ancestors lived in the past.

Click here to book for the Easter accommodation special and the Easter carvery lunch.

This is your chance to do something different these holidays – get some fresh air while you learn and explore, get lost in the stars on a special stargazing expedition, or enjoy a simple picnic at one of the most beautiful parts of Gauteng.

Maropeng, the official visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, offers you and your family a learning experience like no other – a valuable and unique opportunity to discover your origins as a human being on this complex and beautifully diverse planet.

Cooper’s Cave picnic and walking tour – next session: April 2

A tour to Cooper’s Cave, guided by scientist Christine Steininger, will prove to be an experience to remember – for the whole family to enjoy. It includes a walking tour to Cooper’s, an interactive talk on the site and fossils still to be uncovered and the chance to look for fossils – all followed by a relaxing picnic, provided by Maropeng. The site is a gentle 1.2 km walk from the Sterkfontein Caves, costs R350 per person and is suitable for children. Bring comfortable shoes, protection from the sun and a torch for cave explorations!

Click here to book online for the following dates: April 2, May 7 and June 4.

Swartkrans picnic and walking tour – next session: April 16

A trip to Swartkrans, which is usually closed to the public, includes fascinating guided tour and includes the rare opportunity to observe an active palaeontological dig.

Swartkrans is of great significance to the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site as fossils of Paranthropus robustus were found there. Put on your walking shoes and learn more about the incredible finds in the area from scientist Morris Sutton, who is currently excavating there. The cost of the tour, for adults only, is R350 per person, and includes a delicious picnic lunch.

Click here to book online for the following dates: April 16, May 14 and June 18.

Stargazing: Our Deep Southern Skies – next session: April 30

Did you know that two thirds of the world’s stars can only be seen in the Southern Hemisphere? Spend some time under our magnificent starry skies and learn more about what makes the universe tick on a unique stargazing expedition with Maropeng. This month’s theme is Our Deep Southern Skies, with Maropeng’s resident astronomer Vincent Nettmann.

Enjoy a fascinating illustrated talk, followed by a sumptious three-course dinner. Afterwards relax with family and friends on the cosy moonlit deck of the Maropeng Boutique Hotel and gaze at the stars through a range of large-aperture telescopes. Bring along a pair of binoculars so that you’ll be able to participate in a laser-guided tour of the sky. The experience, subject to weather conditions, costs R295 per adult.

Click here to book online for the following dates: April 30, May 21 and June 25.

Weekend accommodation special

If you want to make the most of the weekend and get out of the city, why not combine one of these specials with a night at the Maropeng Boutique Hotel? We are running weekend accommodation specials at our award-winning hotel on the Saturday nights of our Swartkrans, Cooper’s and Stargazing events. For a combined discounted rate per person sharing, spend a night at the hotel and wake up to breakfast on the deck overlooking the best views of Gauteng in the Cradle of Humankind.

Click here to book for the following dates: Cooper's Cave April 2, Swartkrans April 16 and Stargazing April 30.

Each month on the Maropeng website we try to publish quality content about the work that we do, the people who work with us and our fascinating exhibition centre which tells the story of the origins of humankind.

Below is a list of interesting stories we have published in the last month:

• Dainfern College visits Maropeng
• Water’s wondrous role in fossilisation
• Harry the Hominid debuts on Ethiopian TV
• Maropeng brings you tips on how to save water
• Media statement: Unilateral, discriminatory taxes on long-haul destinations
• Harry the Hominid – Controversy? What Controversy?
• Maropeng at ITB Berlin – photo essay
• Star struck from a young age: Vincent Nettmann, Maropeng’s resident astronomer
• South Africa’s water crisis: Maropeng takes on the challenge
• Stargazing with Maropeng – the Big Bang and the origins of the universe
• Cooper’s Cave fossil discoveries – Audio interview with Christine Steininger
• Water and the evolution of humankind