Today marks your arrival in Johannesburg, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city and a dynamic hub of history, culture and innovation. Built on the world’s richest gold reef, it has grown into a vibrant metropolis where cutting-edge science, creative energy and complex social history intersect. From renowned universities and museums to diverse neighbourhoods and thriving arts scenes, Johannesburg offers a compelling gateway to understanding both South Africa’s past and its future. 

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In the evening, you will gather for a welcome dinner at the hotel. This relaxed introduction provides an opportunity to meet fellow participants and hear an overview of the scientific journey ahead. 

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Accommodations: 26 Degrees South, Cradle Moon Conservancy, shared room.

All Meals

After Breakfast, you will be transferred to the iconic Evolutionary Studies Institute at WITS University where you'll meet up with Dr. Bernhard Zipfel, University Curator of Fossils and Rock Collections for a tour of the center’s fossil hominin collection. You’ll be introduced to the history of the collections and have the privilege of seeing  some of the world’s most important hominin fossils with an exclusive introduction to “The Vault.” These include the original Taung Skull-holotype of Australopithecus africanus (arguably the world’s most valuable fossil), selected specimens  from Sterkfontein eg. Little Foot, Malapa (Australopithisus sediba) and Rising Star (Homo naledi).

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The morning’s discoveries are followed by a relaxed lunch at the WITS Club's Olives & Plates Restaurant, whimsical and cozy, it's the perfect spot to enjoy the gourmet dining options along with your colleagues and WITS University researchers. ​

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The afternoon you will have time at leisure to relax before your upcoming fieldwork at active excavation sites. 

During the course of your time working at the Cradle of Humankind, your days will follow a similar rhythm as you divide into two smaller groups to conduct fieldwork and labwork at both the Kromdraai fossil dig site, and Sterkfontein Caves, one of the world’s most important hominin fossil sites. This rotation ensures all participants experience work at both sites, offering a deeper appreciation of the full scientific process—from excavation in the field to analysis in the laboratory—while immersed in the extraordinary landscape of the Cradle of Humankind.

Kromdraai is very rich in fossils and as you work hands-on alongside Dr. Braga, you will have a 100% chance of finding hominid and/or animal fossils with a high potential for discovering significant specimens​​. 

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At Kromdraai your daily tasks will include:​​

• Fossils found in situ are carefully located using a laser theodolite to record the exact location of all finds 

• All removed sediment will be sieved to make sure that no fossils have been missed 

• Work in the on-site fossil preparation laboratory to sort and clean the finds made during the excavations

• You will be equipped with all tools needed, including a trowel, brush and hovel​​

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Sterkfontein Cave has produced some of South Africa's most famous hominid fossils including Mrs. Ples ad the almost complete Australopithecus fossil called Little Foot. You'll be taken on a fully-guided in-depth tour of the dark and mysterious Sterkfontein Cave system, and learn about the cave's geology and paleontology and see where famous hominid fossils were found,

During your days onsite at Sterkfontein, you'll be working under the close guidance of Job Kibii, Head of Sterkfontein Caves.

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At Sterkfontein, your daily tasks will include:

• Sorting microfauna found at the site.

• Preparing fossils from the site.

• ​Labwork including taphonomy identification process and documentation.

• Each participant is equipped with all tools and training needed.​​​

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Each day includes lunch. You'll return to the hotel each day at around 16:00pm. 

• Top Finds: Homo erectus, Australopithecus, Paranthropus robustus type specimen for the genus Paranthropus, P. boisei, large carnivores.

• Period: Early Quaternary (Pleistocene)

The Kromdraai archaeological site is one of the most prolific hominin-bearing sites in South Africa—and one of the most important. Here, some of the earliest known members of our human genus, as well as other closely related creatures referred to as paranthropines have been uncovered. This is a genus of extinct hominin which contains two widely accepted species: P. robustus and P. boisei. To date, almost 29 hominin specimens have been found, as well as bone/stone tools, and over 6,000 fossil assemblages of animals such as carnivores, antelopes, and birds. And indeed, to this day, Kromdraai continues to yield fossils.

As you work on this excavation, you will find it is akin to opening a time capsule that dates back around 2.3 million years, providing a glimpse into a period roughly 23,000 centuries ago during the Early Quaternary.

How you will contribute to science and why Kromdraai is important to researchers:

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As a UNESCO site, Kromdraai is deemed important for the protection and preservation of its cultural and natural heritage and is considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. In essence, Kromdraai belongs to everyone. Your work and financial contribution is essential to supporting the site and local initiatives, including by promoting employment for residents during the excavations.

The archaeological findings at Kromdraai are helping researchers to answer several intriguing questions. Firstly, the aim is to unravel the factors that set our human ancestors apart and made them distinct within the evolutionary timeline. Additionally, the investigation will reveal climatic shifts and other influences that might shed light on the emergence of the first humans during that ancient period.

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Additional Reading

• Paleo Tourism is Alive and Well in SA

• ​The Riddle of Coexistence

• New fossil evidence adds branch to early hominin family tree

• Children from the Cradle of Humankind Documentary

• Cochlear shape distinguishes southern African early hominin taxa with unique auditory ecologies

• New Fossil Bovids from Kromdraai shed light on ancient ecosystems

• Hominin fossils inform Paranthropus robustus craniofacial ontogeny​

• Top Finds:  Australopithecus, early Homo and Paranthropus, including the Australopithecus africanus specimens known as Mrs. Ples and Little Foot. ​

• Period: Early Quaternary (Pleistocene)

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The Sterkfontein Caves is one of the world’s richest fossil sites, with more fossils of early hominids than any other site on Earth. The hominids found here date back more than 4 million years and are the precursors of modern humans, the Homo sapiens. Sterkfontein has also yielded over 9,000 stone artefacts that are about 2-million years old, which are the oldest dated stone tools in Southern Africa. 

Researchers have concluded that this landscape played host to the birth of humanity. Studies here help us to understand the earliest ancestors of the human race, giving us an insight into how man and nature have existed and changed over millions of years.

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How you will contribute to science:

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By joining this current excavation, you will contribute to the collections, documentation and taphonomy identification process of monkey, antelope carnivore and hominid fossils. It also adds to our knowledge of the creatures that called this site home over the millennia. 

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Additional Reading

• Famous Sterkfontein Caves deposit 1 million years older than previously thought

• Cosmogenic nuclide dating of Australopithecus at Sterkfontein

• Details about excavation at Sterkfontein can be found here.

Today you’ll take a break from work to enjoy an exclusive private guided tour in an open game-drive vehicle to the renowned Gladysvale and Malapa fossil sites, located within the Greater Cradle Nature Reserve in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind. This immersive experience brings the story of human origins to life as you walk in the footsteps of our hominin ancestors, exploring dramatic landscapes shaped by ancient geology, underground waterways, and fossil-rich “death traps.” Set within a pristine 9,000-hectare reserve of high-altitude dolomitic grasslands, the area is also home to diverse wildlife, including antelope species, leopard, and brown hyena. 

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Enjoy Lunch at the Cradle Restaurant.

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After lunch you will visit the Malapa Museum and explore the geological origins of the region and gain a deeper understanding of the three-million-year fossil bearing history of this wilderness. You will also learn about famous fossils including Australopithecus sediba and view reconstructions of the ancestors of wild dogs, false sabre tooth cats and giant hyenas that once roamed the dolomitic hills of the Highveld and whose fossils have been found in the caves of the region.

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The afternoon concludes with a scenic game drive through the surrounding Cradle of Humankind landscape. As you traverse rolling grasslands and rocky outcrops, keep an eye out for giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, eland and various antelope species, as well as warthog, ostrich and abundant birdlife. With luck, you may also encounter white rhino or glimpse smaller predators such as jackal or caracal. ​

Today we'll head into Johannesburg with a visit to the Origins Centre Museum on the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand. ​The museum is home to ancient stone tools and artefacts and visually striking rock art, providing a powerful synthesis of science, culture and art, showcasing Africa’s deep human history.​

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In the afternoon, enjoy a guided two-hour tuk-tuk tour of Soweto, one of South Africa’s most historically significant and culturally dynamic communities. It is here where apartheid, gold and Nobel Peace Prize winners all played an important part. ​​​​​​Your tuk-tuk tour is led by knowledgable guides who provide thoughtful context and lived perspectives on South Africa’s recent history and the role Soweto’s role in shaping the nation’s social, political and cultural identity. ​​​

You will be working under the supervision of the paleontologists, but the tasks associated with working on an excavation can involve certain risks. You should be comfortable on your feet for several hours at a time, possess a reasonable level of fitness, and have the flexibility to move freely, bend, or kneel as needed. 

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Many days of this itinerary involve active, hands-on exploration across uneven and sometimes challenging terrain. Participants will spend significant time walking on rocky paths, climbing over loose stones, and navigating gravel or sloped surfaces. Fieldwork at fossil dig sites may involve difficult conditions, unanticipated natural hazards, use of digging equipment, and manual labor. You will be required to bend, crouch, or sit close to the ground for extended periods while prospecting, excavating, or examining fossils. In the laboratory, there will also be periods of focused, detailed work that may involve standing or leaning over workstations for analysis.

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In late October, the Cradle of Humankind region in South Africa experiences late-spring weather with daytime temperatures that are usually pleasant to hot, often ranging from the low 20s to the high 20s °C, with cooler mornings and evenings. This period marks the start of the summer rainfall season, so afternoons may bring brief but sometimes heavy thunderstorms, while mornings are often sunny and clear.

Please bring: 

• Comfortable clothes for the excavation.​

• Hiking or work boots

• Work/gardening gloves 

• Sun hat

• Sunscreen

• Camera

• Notebook

• Civil and medical liability insurance.

On this, your final morning, we'll have breakfast and then check out and transfer to the airport or other destinations.

There's so much more to see! If you opt to extend your visit to a vacation to experience more of Africa’s finest. The Cape Peninsula area has a newly designated route called the Cradle of Human Culture which includes archaeological sites and cultural stopping points. And of course, a trip to South Africa isn't complete without enjoying the beautiful city of Cape Town, the Kruger’s Big 5, the Garden Route, the Kalahari Desert. or anything else you have in mind! We are happy to assist with further travel plans to suit your interest. 

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This tour begins and ends in Johannesburg, South Africa, however, we can offer flight advice and book flights for those travelling from the UK. 

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Meals: Breakfast

This tour is perfect for solo travellers. If you want your own room, you will need to pay a solo supplement for this tour. However, if you are happy to share a room with a fellow guest of the same sex, we will do all we can to match you with another guest so you don't have to pay the solo room supplement.

• Single supplement - £350

• All travel logistics managed by New Scientist Magazine

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​Includes:

• Accommodation based on a twin occupancy

• All meals

• Land transportation as indicated in the itinerary

• Arrival/departure group airport transfers

• All entrance fees

• All guest lecturers 

Excludes:​

• Travel insurance

• International flights

• Private airport transfers

• Visa/ETA (if applicable)

• Gratuities for local guides, drivers and porters