Visiting Sterkfontein Caves: a practical guide

Are the caves open?

Yes, as of 6 November 2026. On that date the caves' own website listed tours Tuesday to Sunday and showed no closure notice, and the booking calendar it links to had tours on sale through the end of December. Heavy rain in December 2022 closed the site from early 2023 until 15 April 2025, and many older pages still describe the caves as shut. Wits advises phoning on the day to confirm tours are running, so do that around public holidays.

Where entry is sold

Wits sells tickets online through Webtickets, linked from the caves' own website, and on site. Prices are for the caves to state. GetYourGuide's Cradle of Humankind page had no cave-only entry ticket on 6 November 2026: what it lists are guided tours that include entry and pickup. If you have your own car and only want the cave, buy from Wits. If you would rather not drive, a tour costs more and takes care of the whole day.

Hours and tours

Wits lists the site as open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 16:00, with tours on the hour and the last at 15:00. Each tour takes 30 people and lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours. Wits lists the caves as closed on Mondays and on 25 and 31 December. These details can change, so treat them as correct on 6 November 2026 and check the caves' own website before you go.

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What to wear and carry

Wear closed-toe, non-slip shoes, because it can be wet and slippery underground. Avoid dresses and loose clothes. Helmets are required. The cave holds at about 20°C, so a light layer is enough. Wits says to leave handbags and luggage behind, and to carry water or buy some at the shop.

• Closed-toe, non-slip shoes
• A light layer
• Water
• No handbag or large bag

Who should skip the cave

Wits advises against the tour for people with claustrophobia, acute asthma or mobility issues. There are stairs and narrow passages, and places where you crouch. The caves are not wheelchair accessible, even though some tour pages call the wider trip accessible, so ask before you book if that matters. The museum, the laboratory and the Timeline Walk are accessible by wheelchair, so someone staying up top still has plenty to see.

Sterkfontein, Maropeng and Wonder Cave

These three get mixed up. Sterkfontein is the fossil cave, run by Wits. Maropeng is a separate visitor centre a short drive away, with its own exhibition and its own tickets. It stopped running tourism at Sterkfontein in 2024. Wonder Cave, at Kromdraai, is a different cave again. Some Cradle of Humankind tours visit Wonder Cave rather than Sterkfontein, so read the stops before you book if Sterkfontein is the one you want.

Booking a tour with pickup

The tours this site links to are booked on GetYourGuide, which takes payment and sets the terms. The first one is a five-hour guided tour to the caves and Maropeng with pickup and all entrance fees. Before you pay, check three things: the date is not a Monday, Sterkfontein is listed as a stop, and the pickup point suits you. If you have any doubts about the cave itself, the Wits advice above applies to tour guests too.

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