Origins Centre

Description

The Origins Centre, situated at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, features many exhibits designed to feed the interest of the visitor hungry for knowledge about the origins of humankind. With exhibits carefully tailored to capture the attention of everyone from young children to academics, all visitors can enjoy an 80,000 year journey in search of ancient art and culture.

The Origin Centre hosts between 4 and 6 temporary exhibitions every year in its custom-built exhibition space, The Gallery. The subject matter is wide and has included hominid finds, artistic representations and interpretations of palaeontological, archaeological and cultural themes, works of contemporary art, and displays of indigenous South African music and art.

Highlights

• See the earliest image made by man, found right here in South Africa. • A computer game where the virtual game world mimics the real space of the museum. • Fun, interactive exhibits designed for youngsters. • 5 films set in mini-theatres offer visitors a chance to sit down while taking in the core themes on massive wall screens. • Well-informed tour guides can also be booked in advance. • Personal audio-guides (available in 6 languages) allow visitors to explore the museum on their own. Set aside at least 90 minutes – 2 hours for a tour. The centre also has a shop with beautiful embroidery and ostrich eggshell crafts from around South Africa, as well as an unrivalled selection of books related to Africa.