Discover the origins of human life

Riverhorse Lodge is situated in the privately owned Greater Cradle Nature Reserve (GCNR). This unique ecotourism destination boasts two world famous active paleoanthropological sites – Gladysvale and Malapa – which dig into the area’s roughly 4.5-million-year history and at which both hominid and animal fossils are being unearthed.

Also on site is the Malapa Museum, built in partnership with renowned paleoanthropologist Lee Berger’s Foundation for Exploration, the Malapa Motsetse Foundation and National Geographic. Berger’s 2023 documentary Unknown: Cave of Bones, currently on Netflix, shows how he and his team investigate what might be considered the world’s oldest graveyard to date while his recently released book, Cave of Bones, takes the reader deep into South African caves to discover fossil remains that compel a monumental reframing of the human family tree. 

Near Riverhorse Lodge is the Malapa Fossil viewing platform – designed by Krynauw Nel Associates – which has won a number of major local and international awards.

All profit earned from our commercial hospitality offering is ploughed back into preserving this ancient land that birthed us all – in perpetuity. Help us keep the sustainability dream alive and ensure that this place of our origin remains untouched forever. Support us:

Donate NOW to the Malapa Motsetse Foundation Trust:

Malapa Motsetse Foundation Trust
First National Bank
Account number 62546001984
Branch Code 260202
Business Account

Malapa Motsetse Foundation NPO 154-160