After years of construction delays, the long-awaited visitor centre at the Vredefort Dome — one of the world’s largest meteorite impact craters — is finally nearing completion and is expected to open to the public by early 2026.
Vredefort Dome signage/Leo za1/Wikimedia Commons
Funded through the Department of Tourism’s Working for Tourism programme, the new facility will feature interactive geological exhibits and audiovisual presentations detailing the formation of the 2-billion-year-old crater, as previously reported by Tourism Update.
Located around 120km south-west of Johannesburg in the Free State, the Vredefort Dome spans an incredible 190km radius and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional scientific and geological significance.
During a recent inspection of national tourism projects, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tourism reported that construction at the Vredefort Dome is 96% complete.
“There were some issues with the previous contractors, but those have been resolved with the appointment of a new team,” said Committee Chairperson Ronalda Nalumango.
“Work is progressing well with support from Wits University to finalise the visitor facilities. The site should be ready by February or March next year.”
The committee also toured other key projects in Gauteng and the Free State, including developments at Constitution Hill, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, and several heritage memorial sites across Johannesburg’s townships.
“We’ve encouraged the department to speed up completion,” added Nalumango. “The province has enormous tourism potential that should be fully developed to benefit local communities.”
The oversight visit also included stops at the Maropeng Visitor Centre in the Cradle of Humankind and the Cullinan Diamond Lodge, both part of the Department of Tourism’s broader investment in heritage and sustainable tourism projects.
