Origins Centre, Wits University — Attraction in Gauteng

A brilliant experience for scholars and adults alike. The thoroughly engaging interactive tour, presented by the immensely knowledgable and witty Brian, made for an excellent excursion for our learners. Every item in the exhibition was described in such a way as to make it easy for every learner to understand. All the elements in the exhibit were presented in a carefully-considered manner, respectful of the people who were the reason for this educational tour, namely, the indigenous people of South Africa.

In addition to the museum tour, our learners did the Ochre Workshop, organised and presented by Dr Tammy Hodgskiss, with the assistance of some of her students. Our learners discovered that powdered ochre, blended with honey and water, was the paint used on the walls of caves. They ground and blended their own ochre paint and then got to paint their own artwork. This hands-on experience was a superb culmination to what was an outstanding experience that all high school learners should have, especially as it contributes to a clearer understanding of rock art as a part of South African traditional...

What should have been a wonderful morning for the children was ruined by a disastrous experience just trying to get into the event. Advertising a child friendly event and then forcing families to wait for forty minutes to pay is mind-bogglingly foolish. The gift shop staff were clearly not equipped or capable of handling the inevitable fallout. Awful. I don't think anyone there would want to return.

Four years later! Hard to believe the experience could get worse, but they pulled it off. At least we got in easily this time. But then our children were subjected to a "tour" which involved following a person screaming in pain through a dark, creepy space, resulting in very-easily-predicted trauma. Having escaped the horror, we were then informed we weren't allowed to even tour the museum on our own until the show was over.

It is mystifying that there was no content warning or age-appropriate guidance for this. Given this lack of guidance, parents, do not trust the Origins Centre to provide safe content for...

A place I will definitely visit again with the kids, the museum is fresh and modern with loads of interactive features - pull out the drawers to see 3D models of humanoid skulls, for instance, and views in the floor of a recreated San burial scene. For my kids hooked on the TV series Bones it is a must-visit. The shop stocks a great range and variety of contemporary African design, hand-made goods and books with a strong focus on the origins of humankind. With South Africa so full of fascinating humanoid remains, and great explorers in this regard coming from Wits in particular, it is only fitting that this museum is within the Wits complex. Perfect for school tours. Coffee is...