The Origin of Humankind Information

There is no doubt that the Cradle of Humankind is tourism gold for Johannesburg, but it certainly deserves far more attention from tourists than it receives.

The Cradle is a beautiful area of rolling hills, grassland and even some wildlife, only half an hour from Sandton and next door to the Lanseria International Airport. Staying there, it is difficult to believe that you are so near to the mighty business hub of Southern Africa, because little disturbs the sights and sounds of nature in the Cradle.

However, not all is as it appears at first sight, because from the earth below the Cradle some of the most dramatic fossil discoveries in the world have been made. It is a revelation when one realises that all available scientific evidence shows that mankind actually originated in the Cradle approximately 3 million years ago, and that over 40% of the worlds human fossils found to date have come from here. For this reason the Cradle of Humankind has been recognized as a World Heritage site, and, more recently, one of the top 12 evolution sites in the world. This is an area of huge significance which definately deserves a visit.

Our recommendation is that you spend some time in the Cradle, before heading off elsewhere. Why not stay at places in the Cradle itself?. There are plenty of Things To Do - including the essential visits to Maropeng Visitor Centre and Sterkfontein Caves, which explain the origins of humankind very clearly!