Fossils and Nature at Cradle Boutique Hotel
Only a short 35 minute drive from the residential area of Fourways and 90 minutes from the city centre of Johannesburg is the Cradle Nature Reserve: a destination that is believed to reveal the origins of the human race.
There are 15 major fossil sites in the Cradle of Humankind, with the most significant finds being the first adult Australopithecus, found by Dr Robert Broom at Sterkfontein in 1936 and in 1938 when a second kind of ape-man was found at Kromdraai and named Paranthropus robustus by Dr Broom.
Bolt’s Farm is where one can view antelope, baboon, sabre-toothed cats and rodents as old as 5 million years.
Swartkrans showcases Paranthropus robustus, Homo ergaster, baboons, leopards, sabre-toothed cats, hyenas and antelope. There is also some of the earliest evidence of controlled use of fire.
Gladysvale is where two hominid teeth were found and there are various fauna and plants that are approximately 3-million years old.
The Malapa Site is where the first-ever specimen of Australopithecus sediba was found in 2008.
Drimolen is where 92 hominid specimens were discovered, including the Paranthropus robustus and early Homo.
Cooper’s Site is known for its various species of animals, including pigs, carnivores, antelope and Paranthropus robustus.
But besides learning about stone and bones, one can also enjoy views of some living fauna and flora. The Cradle Nature Reserves spans across 7000 hectares and is a protected area with some of the remaining high altitude dolomitic grasslands. The reserve is home to leopard, brown hyena and various antelope species.
Cradle Boutique Hotel nestles within the reserve, close to the Gladysvale and Malapa fossil sites. This luxury hotel boasts sixteen gorgeous timber and thatch rooms, each fitted with en-suite bathrooms, satellite television, air conditioning, laptop safes, mini-bar fridges, hairdryers, tea and coffee making facilities, free Wi-Fi, and private viewing decks.
The facilities at Cradle Boutique Hotel are exceptional and include a restaurant, various conference venues, a wine cellar, bar, and private dining rooms.
Guests of Cradle Boutique Hotel also get to experience a private guided tour of Malapa, visiting two important fossil sites. This tour is offered in the mornings and afternoons and is approximately four hours long.
