The origins of man from above

From its Skeerpoort base in the Magalies River Valley, Bill Harrop's Original Balloon Safaris flies over the Cradle of Humankind. The company is accredited as one of the area's prime tourist activities by the World Heritage Site.

"The climate, flora and fauna of the Cradle area may have changed significantly since those very early times when homonins roamed the landscape, but there's a timeless sense of wonder about the place, one that is almost palpable from an aerial view. As you drift above this panorama, it's not hard to imagine early man hunting, gathering and going about his daily activities," says Harrop.

The base is 45-minute drive from Johannesburg. Within a 30km radius of this base, early tools and hunting implements have been discovered. The Maropeng Interpretation Centre Complex and Sterkfontein Caves are just 25km away, making a combination of air balloon ride and Maropeng visit extremely attractive.

Maropeng is discounting entry tickets by 25% until 11 October while the H. naledi fossils are on display.