Photo by Brett Eloff
THE HUMAN JOURNEY TOUR, SOUTH AFRICA
Hosted by Safari Odyssey
“An unforgettable journey through the history of humankind by way of South Africa’s unrivaled fossil collection”
Join the Human Journey Tour for exclusive access and an unforgettable journey through ancient South Africa, the birthplace of humanity! This special-interest cultural tour gives you exclusive access to never-before-seen fossil dig sites, world-leading experts, and epic landscapes. All while enjoying breathtaking views, luxury accommodation, delicious gourmet meals, and exciting adventures!
Secure your place on this groundbreaking tour and etch your name into the timeless annals of palaeontology research. Don’t miss the chance to embark on this revolutionary journey — click HERE to book your spot today!
Option 1: 15 – 25 APRIL 2025 │ 11 DAYS & 10 NIGHTS
Price: Starting @ USD11,990 per person sharing │ USD14,080 per single traveller.
OR
Option 2: 11 – 25 APRIL 2025 │ 15 DAYS & 14 NIGHTS
Price: Starting @ USD16,120 per person sharing │ USD18,940 per single traveller.
Option 2 offers an additional 4 days in the Waterberg – an treasure trove of dramatic mountains, hills, gorges and cliff-face landscapes. Enjoy a few extra days on safari amongst its untouched ecology, rock art galleries & ancient iron age sites. Can be added at the start of the tour.
You can click on this link to access the tour booking form.
Follow us as we continue the development of our WONDERS OF PALAEOSCIENCES TOUR SERIES
Hominin Fossils of The Cradle of Humankind
ABOUT THE HUMAN JOURNEY TOUR
GENUS AFRICA & Safari Odyssey present The Wonders of Palaeosciences Tour Series – tour packages set to ignite your ongoing curiosity and adventure into the world of fossils, archaeological artefacts, deep time and rock art. On this, The Human Journey Tour, South Africa, the first in the series, we invite you to join the experienced Palaeontologists, Archaeologists, Conservationists and Storytellers working in South Africa as they showcase their research into this fossil-rich landscape – the only place in the world where one can take an evolutionary journey through a single country.
Your palaeo site visits are private, with theoretical presentations and guided “on-site” tours by renowned researchers, all the while enjoying only the finest accommodation, game-viewing safaris, fine-dining and specially selected tourist activities on every leg of your journey.
- An exclusive visit to WITS University, the hub of Palaeo studies in South Africa, including an introduction to “The Laboratory” (also known as “The Vault”), with Dr Bernhard Zipfel.
- Guided tour of the innovative Origins Centre including a short workshop on the use of ochre in Southern Africa. Your host is the dynamic Dr Tammy Hodgskiss.
- Visit the Sterkfontein Cave system located within the Cradle of Humankind (a UNESCO World Heritage Fossil Site) with presentations and a guided tour led by Prof Dominic Stratford and Dr Keneiloe Molopyane.
WATERBERG, LIMPOPO
- Discover the hidden meanings of ancient rock art adorning the caves and overhangs of the Waterberg, an unexplored area that truly has so much to offer. Explore a mystical Late Iron-Age stone-walled settlement set upon a plateau and embark on thrilling game drives through the undulating and natural Welgevonden Game Reserve & Lapalala Wilderness Reserve.
CAPE TOWN
- Take a flight across South Africa to the iconic west coast city of Cape Town – “The Mother City” – with a line up of some of the Cape’s finest attractions:
- Visit the strikingly colourful and cultural Cape Malay Community of Bo-Kaap.
- Table Mountain Cableway.
- Cape Peninsula and its surroundings by way of an (optional) exhilarating Cape Side Car full day tour.
- A stay over and flagship wine-tasting experience at the Babylonstoren Wine Estate, set at the foot of Simonsberg and in the Franschhoek valley.
SALDANHA BAY & PARTENOSTER, WEST COAST
- Escape to the mesmerizing West Coast, to Saldanha Bay & Partenoster including:
- The West Coast Fossil Park with Executive Director, Pippa Haarhoff.
- The hominid and shell midden archaeological sites of Hoedtjiespunt and Hopefield, with Dr Graham Avery.
- The undulating landscape of Bushmanskloof Wilderness Reserve in the Cederberg.
- Heading toward the Eastern Cape:
- Privately guided tour to the Klasiesrivier shell midden and hominid archaeological site near Humansdorp with Prof Sarah Wurz, the permit holder to this site and then onto our last stop of the tour . . .
- Bukela Game Lodge set in The Amakhala Private Game Reserve, greater Addo.
- A fitting ending to the tour – the “Evolution to Revolution” Presentation by legendary conservationist and guest speaker – Quinton Coetzee.
As the birthplace of humankind, South Africa’s rich archaeological heritage is the key to understanding the fundamentals of our existence – then, now and in the future. Are you ready to dig deeper?
YOUR HOSTS & PRESENTERS
Hosts & Guide
Presenters & Researchers
11 DAY TOUR PLAN
- Welcome to Johannesburg, our City of Gold, South Africa.
- Overnight @ The Da Vinci Hotel, Sandton(5*).
- Meals: Lunch at Da Vinci’s Maximillien Restaurant & dinner at Pigalle, Sandton.
- Morning visit to WITS with Dr Bernhard Zipfel and the Origins Centre with Dr Tammy Hodgskiss.
- Afternoon visit to the Sterkfontein Caves with WITS Prof Dominic Stratford and Dr Keneiloe Molopyane.
- Overnight @ De Hoek Country Hotel (5*), Magaliesberg.
- Meals: Breakfast at Da Vinci's Maximillien Restaurant, lunch at Forum Homini's Roots Restaurant & dinner at The Conservatory Restaurant, De Hoek.
- Early morning hot air balloon safari over the Cradle of Humankind following by breakfast in the bush.
- Flight from Johannesburg – Cape Town.
- Cultural visit to the Cape Malay Community of Bo-Kaap.
- Table Mountain Cableway experience.
- Overnight @ Tintswalo Atlantic Lodge (5*), Cape Town.
- Meals: Breakfast at De Hoek, lunch at the Bo Kaap Kombuis & dinner at The Chef’s Warehouse, Tintswalo Atlantic.
- Full day tour of the Cape Peninsula, private transfer, or as part of a Cape Side Car Adventure experience.
- Overnight @ Tintswalo Atlantic Lodge (5*), Cape Town.
- Meals: Breakfast at the Tintswalo Atlantic, lunch at Cape Point Vineyards & dinner at The Chef’s Warehouse, Tintswalo Atlantic.
- Day visiting The West Coast Fossil Park and Hoedjiespunt site, Saldanha Bay, with presentation and privately guided tours by renowned local researchers.
- Overnight @ The Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel (5*).
- Meals: Breakfast at the Tintswalo Atlantic Lodge, lunch at The Blue Bay Restaurant, Saldanha Bay & dinner at The Leeto Restaurant at The Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel.
- Morning visit to Hopefield archaeological site, Elandsfontein, with a presentation and privately guided tour by renowned local researcher.
- Overnight @ Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat, Cederberg.
- Meals: Breakfast at The Strandloper Ocean Boutique, lunch & dinner at Bushmans Kloof.
- Full day at Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve.
- Day includes a presentation and private tour of some of the rock art sites of Bushmans Kloof including a presentation and privately guided site tour by a renowned local researcher.
- Additional activities include game drives and a selection of additional adventure activities.
- Overnight @ Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat, Cederberg.
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner at Bushmans Kloof.
- Day spent at the Babylonstoren Wine Estate, including a garden tour, a cellar tour, an olive oil & balsamic tour, as well as a bread baking session.
- Late afternoon flag-ship wine-tasting.
- Overnight @ Babylonstoren Wine Estate (5*), Franschhoek.
- Breakfast at Bushmans Kloof, lunch & dinner at Babylonstoren Wine Estate, various culinary experiences.
- Transfer from Franschhoek to Cape Town International Airport
- Morning flight from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.
- Meet your Presenter, Prof Sarah Wurz and enjoy your afternoon at the archaeological shell middens site of Klasies Rivier.
- Overnight @ the Oyster Bay Lodge or Intle Boutique Hotel (5*), Thornhill.
- Breakfast at Babylonstoren Babel Restaurant, lunch & dinner at Oyster Bay Lodge or Intle Boutique Hotel (5*).
- Morning transfer to Bukela Game Lodge (5*), Amakhala Game Reserve.
- Overnight @ Bukela Game Lodge (5*).
- Afternoon game drive and visit to the local deep time site.
- Breakfast at Oyster Bay Lodge, lunch & dinner at Bukela Game Lodge.
- Morning game drive.
- Guest speaker Quinton Coetzee, Legendary Speaker, Naturalist & Adventurer.
- Breakfast & farewell lunch at Bukela Game Lodge.
- Flight to Johannesburg.
- Morning transfer to the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, Waterberg.
- Visit two known rock art sites under the leadership of Dr Jeremy Hollmann, a renowned local reseacher.
- Stargazing evening presentation.
- Overnight @ Laluka Safari Lodge (5*), Welgevonden Private Game Reserve.
- Twice-daily game drives.
- Meals: Breakfast at Da Vinci's Maximillien Restaurant, lunch & dinner at Laluka Safari Lodge.
- Late iron age & rock art sites under the leadership of renowned local researchers.
- Twice daily game drives.
- Presentation by Mr Richard Wadley on geology, ecology and conservation of the Waterberg.
- Conversation with Mr Glenn Phillips, CEO of The Lapalala WIlderness Reserve.
- Stargazing experience with Dr Philip Calcott.
- Overnight @ Tintswalo Lapalala Game Lodge (5*), Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, Waterberg..
- Day 4: Breakfast at Laluka Safari Lodge, lunch & dinner at Tintswalo Lapalala Game Lodge.
- Late iron age & rock art sites under the leadership of renowned local researchers.
- Twice daily game drives.
- Presentation by Mr Richard Wadley on geology, ecology and conservation of the Waterberg.
- Conversation with Mr Glenn Phillips, CEO of The Lapalala WIlderness Reserve.
- Stargazing experience with Dr Philip Calcott.
- Overnight @ Tintswalo Lapalala Game Lodge (5*), Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, Waterberg.
- Day 5: Breakfast, lunch & dinner at Tintswalo Lapalala Game Lodge.
- Breakfast at Tintswalo Lapalala Game Lodge, lunch at the Syringa Café, Vaalwater.
- Goudrivier Private Game Reserve, rock art sites under the leadership of a renowned local Archaeologist.
- Afternoon transfer back Johannesburg for onward flight home.