Malapa Fossil Site and Gladysvale

On the Malapa Tour you find Death Traps, many Bone Collectors and streams that disappear into underground lakes. Not to mention the rock eating termites with magnesium mandibles! All this and more on a Malapa Tour.

Itinerary

This is an exclusive private guided tour in an open safar vehicle that affords guests the unique opportunity of experiencing first hand two famous fossil dig sites in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind. Two world famous fossil sites – Gladysvale and Malapa – are the key attractions visited on this tour. They are situated within the Nash Nature Reserves which comprise the core of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. The Malapa Tour is the only private guided tour designated to conduct fossil tours to these two fossil sites. Together the reserves are almost 9000 hectares in extent and they protect some of the largest and most pristine areas of the remaining high altitude dolomitic grasslands which are second only to the Cape Floral Kingdom (Fynbos) in terms of floral diversity. The reserve is home to leopard and brown hyena and antelope such as the magnificent eland, blesbok, kudu, blue wildebeest and red hartebeest amongst other species. Amazingly, all this within sight of the second largest urban area on the African continent.

The area is an ancient landscape – truly ancient geology protecting and slowly revealing the ancient origins of the human race.

Malapa fossil cave cover

FOSSIL TOURS STRUCTURE

Tours will be offered from Monday to Sunday. Morning and afternoon tours are scheduled to last four hours,
including the introduction at the Cradle Boutique Hotel Restaurant. Each open game drive vehicle can seat six guests.
(Up to nine guests can be accommodated per vehicle for a block booking). This private, guided fossil tour is a unique“bucket list” experience to active fossil digs.

Morning tours commence at the Cradle Boutique Hotel Restaurant with coffee and an introduction at 08h45.
Departure is scheduled at 09h30. Guests return to the restaurant at 12h45. A pre-tour a-la-carte breakfast and/ora
post tour a-la-carte lunch can be booked through the Cradle Restaurant

Afternoon tours commence at the Cradle Boutique Hotel Restaurant with an introduction at 12h45. Departure is

scheduled for 13h30. Guests return to the restaurant at 16h45. A pre-tour a-la-carte lunch and/or a post tour a-la-
carte dinner can be booked through the Hotel.