The Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Environs, known as the Cradle of Humankind, were declared a World Heritage Site on 2nd December 1999. The Cradle of Humankind covers an area of over 47 000 hectares of privately owned land in the north western corner of Gauteng and is home to over 17 000 residents.
In 2005, two other highly significant sites, Makapan and Taung were listed as serial sites together with the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS). Together, these are the Fossil Hominid sites of South Africa.
The area is of outstanding universal value, because it contains a complex of palaeo-anthropological sites, which have yielded some of the most valuable evidence, world-wide, of the origins of modern humans, hence its name “ Cradle of Humankind”.
There are currently over 200 caves on the site, with possibly more to be discovered. There are 13 fossil sites which have been extensively examined and some have produced fossils of human ancestors and their relatives.
Maropeng is the official visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. The Sterkfontein Caves are open every day of the year except Christmas and Easter. Tours through the cave run every half an hour, with the first tour leaving at 09h00 and the last tour leaving at 16h00. These tours last approximately 45 minutes.
Another popular cave which does tours is Wonder Caves. Both of these venues are suitable for children, but not easily accessible for the elderly or disabled. Near to Wonder Cave is the Lion and Rhino Nature Reserve. Specialised scientist-led trips to Drimolen, Swartkrans and Sterkfontein can be organised by prior arrangement.
