Africa is the continent of our ancestors. It is here that the the drama of our evolution unfolded, where primates emerged from their forest existence to take their first tentative steps on the savannah. In five million years of human development, Africa witnessed the birth of technology in the manufacture of stone tools, the taming of fire, the dawn of culture and the eventual emergence of our own species, Homo sapiens sapiens. Nowhere is this more evident than in Sterkfontein Valley, located within South Africa's first World Heritage Site, on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Sterkfontein is home to the planet's longest running paleontological excavation and has yielded thousands of ancient fossils, including three species of extinct hominids. More recently a 3.5-million year old skeleton has been discovered, which could shed further light on the transition from ape to human.

With the establishment of South Africa's first World Heritage Site a new and exciting field of "Paleo and Archaeo-tourism" is very rapidly emerging. Passage to Africa is at the leading edge of this development having pioneered this concept and formally trained the first human evolution guides. Under the Prime Origins brand, a number of specialist tour packages have been constructed, including exposure to Southern Africa's remarkable rock art record where some of the oldest paintings in the world are to be found. Key consultant in this area is Brett Hilton-Barber, co-author of In the Footsteps of Eve, a guide to human origins published by National Geographic Adventure Press.

Rock art tours are co-ordinated by Tony Manhire, who with the University of Cape Town has studied the rock art of the Western Cape for the past 20 years. Prime Origins, in association with tour operators Felix Unite and luxury lodge Bushmanskloof, offer the definitive southern African rock art experience. Prime Origins is advised by the Rock Art Research Institute of South Africa to ensure that the information is of the highest standard available and that clients have access to sites not accessible to the general public.

Mike Kirkinis was appointed and served as one of the trustees on the World Heritage Site committee. This committee was formed to structure the application for the Sterkfontein Valley's World Heritage status to UNESCO, which included the land utilisation and tourism management plan for the area. In addition, we are in the process of formalising a relationship with Provincial Government and Wits University relating to guide education and training, focusing on this new field of tourism. Passage To Africa has already developed specific tour packages focusing on Human Origins in association with key players locally and internationally.

For details contact Mike Kirkinis at mk@iafrica.com