CradleLicious Farm Camp

First stop the Cradle of Humankind? Start your visit at Maropeng (10 minutes’ drive), the official visitor centre where you can learn about human fossils discovered in the limestone caves and take an interactive journey through time. Combine your trip with a tour of NIROX Sculpture Park (also 10 minutes), where sculptures of the human form are scattered over landscaped gardens. Your best chance of spotting Big Five animals locally is at Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve (15 minutes), where lions, giraffes and zebras roam free; take the self-drive safari to spot them all, and then go underground to see the glistening stalagmites and stalactites in Bothongo Wondercave (also 15 minutes). Further afield, you can stroll across monumental Hartbeespoort Dam (45 minutes) for glorious mountain views, take a drive around the reservoir or go boating and fishing on the water. Nearby is the Monkey Sanctuary, Hartbeespoort (40 minutes), safe haven for rescue lemurs and monkeys.