The Cradle Of Humankind: An Absolute South African Wonder

From all the amazing sites and destinations South Africa, or more importantly, the entire world, offers, I do believe that the Cradle of Humankind should be amongst the top ten. This world-famous heritage site is located somewhere around 50 kilometres from Johannesburg and consists of 47 000 hectares of mainly privately owned terrain. This site hosts about 17 000 locals who make their living off the 400 attractions around the heritage site, varying from places to eat, lodges, bed and breakfasts, arts and crafts stores and wildlife facilities.

The Cradle of Humankind provides a fantastic, never-to-be-forgotten encounter for national and global visitors. It is known as one of the richest sources of information for scientists, research workers and archaeologists alike. It’s also recognized for its economic development and job creation opportunities.

The Cradle of Humankind was originally proclaimed a World Heritage site in 1999 because of the area’s excellent contribution to our understanding of the historical past of humankind. Probably the most famous fossil site in South Africa, the Sterkfontein caves, can also be found on this site. Many of the most famous fossils in the world were discovered inside the Sterkfontein caves, like “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot”. More than a third of early Hominid fossils ever found came from the Sterkfontein caves: this is definitely something South Africa can be proud of.

The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is also popular for a number of different adventure activity opportunities and hotels existing around it. Amongst these activities are mountain climbing, kloofing, abseiling and zip lining, an activity that enables you to travel from platform to platform on steel cables, while viewing the animals and area below you. Some of the hotels most famous in this area would be the Forum Homini Boutique Hotel, the Cradle Guesthouse, Mount Grace Country Lodge and Spa and Valley Lodge. 

It’s difficult to think that some 2.5 billion years ago, according to scientists, this area was an inland shallow sea. The water evaporated over time and the mud formed dolomite rock. Some 3.5 million years ago, openings of the caves started showing and many researchers think that they may have been occupied by sabre-toothed cats as well as other predators. The remains of enormous herbivores found in these caves could be evidence of predators occupying these caves. Other historic caves like Plover’s Lake and Wonder Cave have also produced remains of rodents, frogs, lizards and birds and they are still being explored today.

It is hard to, while walking around and studying this area, understand the age of the sites and the importance of the knowledge they have brought forward through the fossil finds. The Cradle of Humankind offers South Africans, tourists from all over the world, scientists, researchers, archaeologists, believers and non-believers a different kind of wealth: a wealth that only our past can provide us with: the treasure of heritage and origin. A trip to this information-rich World Heritage Site will make you a richer, wealthier person. I’m prepared to take a bet on that.