Ancestors of Mammals Dig-South Africa

Location: Karoo South Africa

Season: October 5, 2025 to October 16, 2025

Session Dates: October 5-16, 2025

Application Deadline: August 1, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://www.ancientodysseys.com/southafricafossildig

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
University of Witwatersrand, Albany Museum, Evolutionary Studies Institute

Project Director:
Bruce Rubidge

Project Description:

Join world-renowned paleontologists on a fossil-hunting expedition in the Karoo, South Africa

The Karoo and Eastern Cape of South Africa have long been regarded as the largest and richest collecting grounds for some of Earth’s most important fossils. Within the Karoo, a long extinct group of vertebrates known as therapsids, an evolutionary transition from reptiles into mammals are in abundance, while in the nearby Eastern Cape, some of the world’s oldest vertebrate fossils from the Devonian have been found.

On the Ancient Odysseys Ancestors of Mammals itinerary, you will accompany the world’s experts on Karoo and Eastern Cape paleontology on a fossil hunt and tour.

Dr. Bruce Rubidge, the world authority on Karoo fossils

Bruce Rubidge is an Internationally-known paleontologist and founder of the Evolutionary Studies Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is also Chair of the NRF-DST South African Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa.

You’ll join Dr. Rubidge for a 2 day immersion into middle-Permian terrestrial vertebrates and fossil-bearing locales in Nieu Bethesda, Doornplaats Farm and Lootsberg Pass.

Hands-on fossil hunt for therapsids with Dr. Julien Benoit

Dr. Julian Benoit is a Permian-Triassic expert and professor at the Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand. Dr. Benoit’s work focuses on paleobiology, neuroscience and evolutionary biology of therapsids from the Karoo.

You’ll join Dr. Benoit for 4 days of fieldwork int he Karoo to excavate hands-on for therapsids and other fossils.

Search for Devonian vertebrates with Dr. Rob Gess

Dr. Gess is South Africa’s primary researcher on South African Devonian early vertebrates, including fish and early tetrapods. To date, Dr. Gess has described 23 new taxa, from the world’s oldest lampreys to Africa’s earliest tetrapods, terrestrial invertebrates, algae and plants.

You will be working with Dr. Gess for 2 days to hunt for Devonian life-forms from the fossiliferous rocks of the Waterloo Farm estuarine lagerstätte.

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All this is one fantastic itinerary!

+12 days/11 nights, including accommodations

+Breakfast daily

+Some lunches and dinners (with the researchers!)

+Guided transportation through the Karoo

+Field trip to the NEW Karoo Fossil Origins Museum and Kitching Fossil Center

+2-day Big 5 Safari

Period(s) of Occupation: Permian-Triassic and Devonian

Notes:
This is a fully curated itinerary that includes all accommodations and transportation from Port Elizabeth to all the different sites listed above. Most meals are included. Cost is USD $6,099 per person for shared room. Single pricing also available. Ancient Odysseys works with GENUS Paleosciences, and on this expedition, a portion of your fees fund bursaries for black female South African paleontologists. Please review the website for all details and to book .

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 11 days

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: No experience required