Maropeng experience enthrals Thabeng Primary
Maropeng, in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind, offers exciting tours and accommodation for school-goers of all ages. Each guided tour at the Visitor Centre takes roughly an hour to complete and can accommodate groups of 35 children.
The learners of Thabeng Primary School began their journey of discovery of the origins of humankind with an introduction to Maropeng and its major themes of evolution, diversity, sustainability and the unique characteristics of being human.
They then descended to the depths at the centre, taking a boat ride back in time through the four elements – earth, air, fire and water – before entering a swirling vortex to emerge in front of planet Earth projected on a giant globe.
Here they could see how the continents as we know them today formed. Next they enjoyed the large interactive zone where some of the science relating to the study of evolution is demonstrated in fun, giant displays, including the formation of fossils, DNA and life on Earth. The next section highlights various species in hominid evolution, which include our earliest relations. The tour ends with an original fossil display.
“It is always exciting to have learners in our Visitor Centre,” says Magel van de Venter, education marketing executive from Maropeng. “To see them enjoying the interactive display and being intrigued by the fossils is great fun.”
“We had a wonderful tour,” comments Jane Mtshali, Thabeng Primary School educator. “The learners thoroughly enjoyed themselves and learnt a great deal.”
Maropeng is a 10-minute drive from the Sterkfontein Caves and schools can book for the Maropeng tour, which covers the Visitor Centre as well as the Sterkfontein Caves. These can be booked as stand-alones or as a combination tour at a discounted rate.
“It’s great to know that these learners walk away with a richer understanding of our past,” says Van de Venter. “I know that our next generation of young palaeo-scientists will come from these school tour groups and it encourages me to see them leaving our centre feeling proud and inspired and above all having had lots of fun!”