Never mind the mid-week . Never mind the worries . This is life right here , right now and it ' s all I need to be focused on . All is well . It wasn ' t long before that gorgeous African sun appeared and pulling into the Montecasino parking lot the atmosphere of Europe loomed over us with it ' s replicated Tuscan Village and bright blue skies as its backdrop . The leisure and casino complex which attracts 9.3 million people annually is themed after Monte Cassino in Italy . As you walk inside you feel as though your have been transported to a small Mediterranean village with cobblestone streets , people framed by windows including ' washing ' and an amusing array of underthings strung between themed houses . Along with offering late night shopping and gambling , there is also The Teatro , the largest theatre in South Africa . It ' s hosted major productions such as The Lion King and Warhorse . The Hyundai helium balloon offers spectacular aerial views , alongside which is The Montecasino Bird Gardens : the only bird park of its kind in Africa and home to 1,000 birds , mammals , reptiles and amphibians , including some of Southern Africa ' s most venomous snakes like the Puff Adder and Black Mamba .
Following Cedar Road ( R552 ) allowed us to join Pelindaba Road ( R512 ), passing Lanseria Airport . We are lucky enough to live in this ancient part of earth - The Cradle of Humankind , a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing a complex of limestone caves which have produced both large numbers and also the oldest hominin fossils ever found , some dating back 3.5 million years . An area here known as Sterkfontein has alone produced more than a third of these fossils . The 2.3 million year old fossil Australopithecus Africanus ( nicknamed " Mrs Ples ") was found here in 1947 . The skull , the size of a chimpanzee ' s , came from an upright creature . A fantastic replica is on show at the nearby Maropeng Museum , and the genuine skull is housed in the Transvaal Museum of Natural History in our capital , Pretoria .