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| SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL |
| THE MAGIC OF MAROPENG ...
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Submitted by: Marlene Roberson, 30
September 2007
Selcourt, Gauteng, South Africa |
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Returning to the Place of
Our Origins - The Magic of Maropeng: Maropeng , which means "returning to
the place of our origins" in Setswana, is situated in the centre of the Cradle of
Humankind World Heritage Site. Maropeng takes the visitor on a journey that started
millions of years ago and continue to present day. So wear comfortable shoes and enjoy the
journey!
It surrounds you as soon as you step out of your vehicle. For a moment, you're confused;
not sure what it is. Then it dawns on you. There's a kind of hush. The only sound, the
wind playfully rustling the leaves on the trees. |
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| Click on images
above to view the large gallery photos |
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With peace and quiet all around, it is
difficult to believe you are only a short drive from Pretoria and Johannesburg, two of the
biggest and busiest cities in South Africa.
Nestling on the side of a hill, Maropeng architecture combines the ancient with modern
day. A leisurely stroll along a pathway takes you to the Tumulus, which looks like an
ancient burial mound. It creates a sense of calmness.
At the entrance, ready to welcome you, are four naked and hairy people. Only joking! Even
though they are life-like and deserve a double take, it's not really their job to welcome
you. For that you'll find friendly staff, who are always ready to assist you.
Your journey starts at an underground lake. From here a boat transports you 4-billion
years back in time. While spiraling through caves, waterfalls gently spray you with fresh
drops of water. Narrowly missing icebergs, you are sucked into the eye of a storm, where a
blustery wind shoves you past earthquakes and volcanoes spewing red-hot lava. Pushed
through the bowels of earth you surface at the creation of the world.
A 2-minute long audiovisual presentation lets you experience the birth of earth and its
continents. It boggles the mind to think that this happened millions of years ago. You
might ponder on how fleeting our time on earth really is.
Gradually wandering through time, hands-on interactive displays and audio visuals lead you
further along the path to humanity. Jaw dropping, life-like displays illustrate evolution
and the history of humankind in a way not seen anywhere else. A separate display of real
fossils, dating back 260 million years makes this a truly unique experience.
Nearing the end of your journey, you are smack-bang in the 21st century. A sense of unease
sends a shiver down your spine. Sure, we are creative and clever. However, what sacrifices
are we prepared to make, living modern life? Peace and quiet have mostly gone. War,
pollution, over-crowded cities and incessant noise have become part of life. We are the
first species able to control our environment. What will happen if we continue on this
road?
Leaving the underground centre, the tranquility embraces you once again. You are treated
to a panoramic view over the mountains. Making your way back to the parking area, you have
a view of the Tumulus from the rear. A modern structure looks down at you. You have indeed
come full circle. |
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Additional info / Related Pages:
Cradle
of Humankind
Cradle
of Humankind Map
Cradle
of Humankind Accommodation |
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« South Africa
Tours | South Africa Game
Reserves | South Africa
Attractions » |
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With 20 National Parks
(including two of the world's most famous wildlife reserves, the Kruger Park & Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park) &
numerous private game reserves, your trip to South Africa would be incomplete without
experiencing a South African wildlife safari .... |
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