Rising Star Cave, Cradle of Humankind

#3 among attractions in Cradle of Humankind

Nature, Natural attraction, Cave

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Facts and practical information

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. Recreational caving has occurred there since the 1960s. Fossils found in the cave were, in 2015, proposed to represent a previously unknown extinct species of hominin named Homo naledi. ()

Alternative names: Coordinates: 25°55'0"S, 27°46'60"E

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Cradle of Humankind South Africa

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Day trips

Rising Star Cave – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

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

3.8 miS
, Natural attraction, Cave
Wonder Cave, Cradle of Humankind
97 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.
1.9 miNE
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Malapa Fossil Site
48 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.
2.4 miNW
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Gladysvale Cave
61 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.
4 miSW
Archaeological site
Drimolen, Cradle of Humankind
101 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.
4.2 miS
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Plovers Lake, Cradle of Humankind
108 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 miE
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Motsetsi
80 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.
0.9 miS
Archaeological site
Swartkrans, Cradle of Humankind
24 min walk • Swartkrans is a fossil-bearing cave designated as a South African National Heritage Site, located about 32 km from Johannesburg.
5.2 miNE
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Haasgat
132 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.