Swartkrans, Cradle of Humankind

#6 among attractions in Cradle of Humankind

Archaeological site

Map

Facts and practical information

Swartkrans is a fossil-bearing cave designated as a South African National Heritage Site, located about 32 km from Johannesburg. It is located in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and is notable for being extremely rich in archaeological material, particularly hominin remains. Fossils discovered in the limestone of Swartkrans include Homo ergaster, Paranthropus and Homo habilis. The oldest deposits present at the site are believed to be between 1.9 and 2.1 million years old. ()

Alternative names: Coordinates: 25°55'45"S, 27°47'20"E

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Cradle of Humankind South Africa

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Day trips

Swartkrans – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Wonder Cave, Rising Star Cave, Malapa Fossil Site, Gladysvale Cave.

3 miS
, Natural attraction, Cave
Wonder Cave, Cradle of Humankind
78 min walk • The Bothongo WonderCave in Kromdraai, Gauteng, South Africa is situated within the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve in the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cave is the third-largest cave chamber in the country. It is 5-10 million years old.
0.9 miN
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Rising Star Cave, Cradle of Humankind
24 min walk • The Rising Star cave system is located in the Malmani dolomites, in Bloubank River valley, about 800 meters southwest of Swartkrans, part of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site in South Africa.
2.5 miN
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Malapa Fossil Site
64 min walk • Malapa is a fossil-bearing cave located about 15 kilometres northeast of the well known South African hominid-bearing sites of Sterkfontein and Swartkrans and about 45 kilometres north-northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa.
3.1 miNW
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Gladysvale Cave
81 min walk • Gladysvale Cave is a fossil-bearing breccia filled cave located about 13 kilometres northeast of the well-known South African hominid-bearing sites of Sterkfontein and Swartkrans and about 45 kilometres north-northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa.
5.5 miSW
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Kromdraai fossil site
139 min walk • Kromdraai is a fossil-bearing breccia-filled cave located about 2 kilometres east of the well-known South African hominid-bearing site of Sterkfontein and about 45 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa.
3.4 miSW
Archaeological site
Drimolen, Cradle of Humankind
87 min walk • The Drimolen Palaeocave System consists of a series of terminal Pliocene to early Pleistocene hominin-bearing palaeocave fills located around 40 kilometres north of Johannesburg, South Africa, and about 6 kilometres north of Sterkfontein in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cradle of Humankind.
3.4 miS
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Plovers Lake, Cradle of Humankind
88 min walk • Plovers Lake Cave is a fossil-bearing breccia filled cavity in South Africa. The cave is located about 4 km Southeast of the well known South African hominid-bearing sites of Sterkfontein and Kromdraai and about 36 km Northwest of the City of Johannesburg, South Africa.
3.1 miNE
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Motsetsi
79 min walk • Motsetsi Cave is a fossil-bearing breccia filled cavity located about 14 kilometres east of the well known South African hominid-bearing sites of Sterkfontein and Kromdraai and about 45 kilometres north-northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa.
5.7 miNE
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Haasgat
145 min walk • Haasgat is a fossiliferous South African paleocave located in the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Area, approx. 20 kilometres northeast of the hominin-bearing sites of Sterkfontein and Swartkrans and approx. 60 kilometres north-northwest of the City of Johannesburg.