Author Maggie Fikkert will launch her debut novel, Jade and the Serpent’s Circle, at Maropeng on August 1.

The novel, set in the Cradle of Humankind, imagines what life would be like if the world evolved backwards. The book follows Jade, her brother Stuart and his best friend Rick on their exciting adventures in the area.

A fossil enthusiast, Fikkert has spent much of her time in the caves of the Cradle of Humankind, learning about the origins of humankind. Her love of the Cradle – as well as her desire to do something creative – inspired her to write Jade and the Serpent’s Circle. 

To read the full interview with Fikkert  please click here.

A jazz lunch, held every Sunday at the Maropeng Hotel, is the perfect way to unwind after a busy week. With the majestic Witwatersberg and Magaliesberg mountain ranges providing the backdrop, there couldn’t be a more scenic way to enjoy the smooth sounds of jazz.

The band settles in the corner of the stylish hotel restaurant, while friendly waiters take drinks orders. Behind the bar, cocktails are shaken and stirred, and wine is chilled. The busy chef nips in and out of the kitchen with platters of freshly prepared food to add to the sumptuous spread outside. On the deck, guests chat and admire the magnificent vista.

Local jazz trio The Chromatics provide the afternoon’s entertainment. Jazzy renditions of modern tunes like Coldplay’s Clocks and old favourites such as Ain’t No Sunshine and Sway keep toes tapping well into the afternoon. Bass player Bareng Seilane and pianist Michael Ramasimont’s mixture of “old school” and modern jazz is a treat for all.

To read more about our Sunday jazz lunches, please click here.

Maropeng, the official Visitor Centre of the Cradle of Humankind, has recently launched a Facebook fan-page.

The page provides fans with basic information such as contact details, location and opening times. In addition, fans will receive updates about news stories and events occurring in the area.

Fans can participate in discussions about Maropeng and the Cradle of Humankind, and can post reviews about exhibitions and events that occur in the area. Fans can also write comments on the wall for the Maropeng – Cradle of Humankind fan-page.

The page features a photo album, showcasing the magnificent beauty of the area.

Harry the Hominid, Maropeng’s resident Australopithecus, has a Twitter profile and a Facebook profile! Send him a friend request on Facebook or follow him on Twitter to receive news and Maropeng updates.

We’d love to have you as a fan on our Facebook page.

When Trudie Delport started working at Maropeng, she found the exhibition mind-boggling. “Many people have a complete misunderstanding of the theory of evolution,” she says. “Christians believe that everything was created by God. Since working here, I have come to the conclusion that even evolution is part of God’s plan.”

Trudie is the executive events co-ordinator at Maropeng – or a “jack-of-all-trades”, as she calls herself. She joined the Maropeng team five months ago after deciding to leave her job at a security company and get back into the hospitality industry, and she hasn’t looked back.

Read the full story here.

Want to learn more about the Maropeng family? Why not visit our staff page?

You'll get to know the tour guide who took you through the wonders of Maropeng with bright enthusiasm, the chef who delighted your taste buds, and many more of our people.

Get to know the Maropeng family by clicking here.

In the buzzing metropolises of Johannesburg and Pretoria, only a few of the sky’s magnificent stars are visible to stargazers. In the Cradle of Humankind, thousands of twinkling lights decorate the vast expanse of bright sky.

Due to popular demand, Maropeng will host two stargazing events in August.

Maropeng’s resident astronomer, Vincent Nettmann, the host of the evenings, will speak about the wonders of the universe. Nettmann has a unique way of educating audiences. He makes use of “the wow factor”, peppering his talks with mind-boggling facts and amusing bits of galactic trivia.

After the presentation, the audience will be able to put their new-found knowledge into practice, gazing through a range of large-aperture telescopes. Many of the sky’s wonders will be visible through the telescopes.

Each stargazing evening has a different theme.

Guests who attend the event on August 8 at the Maropeng Hotel  will celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, declared by the United Nations as an official celebration of the wonders of the universe. 2009 marks the 400th anniversary of the year that Galileo Galilei made his first telescopic observations as well as the year that saw the publication of Astronomia nova by Johannes Kepler. For more information and to make a booking, please click here.

Guests who visit on August 22 will explore the Milky Way at the Tumulus Restaurant   in the Visitor Centre. The August sky boasts fantastic views of the Milky Way and its 100-billion mesmerising stars. For more information and to make a booking, please click here.

come drinks and a three-course meal will be served at the event. Guests will be spoilt for choice, with several delicious options prepared by the talented restaurant staff.

The Maropeng Hotel will be running accommodation specials at the time of the stargazing events. Why not spend the night in a luxurious room after an evening under the stars?

Please note: Telescope viewing is weather dependent.

Other stargazing events will take place this year:

• September 19 at the Maropeng Hotel – Jupiter and Galileo
• September 26 at the Tumulus Restaurant – You are here: a brief journey through the time and space of our Universe
• October 17  at the Tumulus Restaurant – Living amongst the stars
• November 14 at the Maropeng Hotel – An introduction to our summer skies

Maropeng welcomes pensioners to the Cradle of Humankind with the Old Fossil Special.

The special includes a Maropeng tour at R55 (the normal cost is R65), tea and coffee in the reception nave on arrival, and lunch in the Tumulus Restaurant at R35. The Old Fossil Special also exempts pensioners from a parking fee.

The special is valid for Mondays only and cannot be booked online, unfortunately. For group bookings (more than 10 people) call 014-577-9000 or email info@maropeng.co.za.