Maropeng celebrates five years of success
Five years ago, on December 7, 2005, the Maropeng Visitor Centre opened its doors, welcoming the world to the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.
Speaking at the event, then President Thabo Mbeki said, “Through Maropeng, we offer the people of the world the opportunity to connect with the golden chain of life and to our human evolution … For deep in the bowels of the dolomitic caves of Sterkfontein lies the story of humankind.”
Click here to read the full speech made at the opening by former President Mbeki.
In the past five years, Maropeng has grown to include a boutique hotel, two restaurants and a range of activities such as monthly stargazing evenings and walking tours in the Cradle of Humankind.
Since 2005, Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves have welcomed more than a million visitors and Maropeng now employs over a hundred staff.
Exhibitions curator Lindsay Marshall comments on how Maropeng has contributed significantly to raised awareness around the origins of humanity: “Over the past five years our name has become more known to the public. We provide accessible information [to people who are then] excited to learn about the heritage of humankind.”
The hard work of the Maropeng team has been crucial in making the visitor centre what it is today.
Telling the story of humankind’s birth is a responsibility borne with pride by staff, and as a result of their efforts, Maropeng is an award-winning tourist attraction today.
Over the past five years, we have received more than 15 accolades for our quality service and top tour guides, the most prestigious of which was the title for best attraction at the 2008 South Africa Tourism Welcome Awards.
Maropeng’s future is bright and filled with many promising experiences for visitors.
These include a new fossil display and the first public appearance of an almost complete skeleton of “Fred”, a 260-million-year-old Tapinocaninus pamelaea and the “oldest land-living reptile”, according to Professor Bruce Rubidge, director of the Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research.
Specimens from the Bernard Price Institute and the Institute for Human Evolution, both based at the University of the Witwatersrand, are on display until the middle of January 2011.
Another exciting addition to Maropeng is a playground behind the Tumulus building, with equipment designed to help young children turn exhibition information into concrete learning experiences.
The playground is part of an ongoing exhibitions upgrade, and is made up of three installations – a jungle gym, sand pit, and snakes and vines board.
“We are excited about the new exhibition enhancement which is currently underway. We’re looking forward to seeing guests’ responses to the changes once it’s completed,” says Maropeng Managing Director Tony Rubin.
To celebrate five years of success, Maropeng is offering a number of specials, one of which is a luxurious getaway at the award-winning Maropeng Boutique Hotel for only R940 per person, per night sharing, including dinner, bed and breakfast.
The hotel provides an ideal country escape with breathtaking views of the Witwatersberg and Magaliesberg mountain ranges, all within an hour’s drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria. This four-star establishment is a five-minute walk from the Maropeng Visitor Centre and 10 km from the Sterkfontein Caves.
This special is available for adults only, from December 10, 2010, until January 9, 2011. Click here to book.