Cradle of Humankind, UNESCO World Heritage paleoanthropological site in Gauteng, South Africa

This area holds limestone caves where fossil chambers connect through underground passages and lakes, covering a wide region north of Johannesburg. The site consists of several cave systems, including Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Kromdraai, each with its own excavation sites and geological formations.

Researchers found the 2.3-million-year-old skull of an Australopithecus africanus in the Sterkfontein Caves during 1947, naming it Mrs Ples. Later digs uncovered many more early hominin remains, establishing the region as a central location for studying human evolution.

The name Maropeng comes from Setswana and means "returning to the place of origin". The visitor centre opened in 2005 near the Sterkfontein Caves, and its building is partly shaped like a burial mound. Inside, displays cover the formation of fossils and human evolution, with replicas of the main hominin fossils.

Tours through the caves run several times each day, letting visitors explore excavation areas and learn about paleontological finds. Pathways inside can be slippery, so sturdy footwear is recommended, and the temperature remains cool even in summer.

The Rising Star cave system yielded over 1,200 specimens of Homo naledi in 2013, suggesting this early human species deliberately placed bodies in specific locations. The narrow passages researchers had to crawl through to reach the chamber raise questions about how these hominins themselves accessed such difficult areas.