Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site

About Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site

The Cradle of Humankind is a significant UNESCO World Heritage Site about 50 km northwest of Johannesburg. Aptly named the Cradle of Humankind for the fact that it is the site where many of the oldest hominid fossils have been found, some dating back as far as 3.5 million years ago.

Since 1947, when Robert Broom discovered the first hominid fossil, “Mrs Ples”, literally thousands of fossils have been found at Sterkfontein Caves and the other sites that make up the Cradle of Humankind.

Besides the novelty of hanging out where our ancestors lived, the Cradle of Humankind is a fabulous place to visit and it is close to Pretoria and Johannesburg. There are plenty of small wildlife reserves, caves, restaurants, craft shops and guesthouses to keep you busy for days. You could even go for a hot air balloon ride. The Cradle is also close to Hartbeespoort Dam, the town of Magaliesburg and the Magaliesberg Mountains.