Sterkfontein caves complex, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, Makapan, Taung, where the fossils were found 2 to 3 million. Years ago, and the neighborhood - known as a monument of World Heritage Cradle of Humankind. This area covers an area of ​​over 47 000 ha and is located to the north-west of Johannesburg. It was found more than 17,000 fossils.

This area has an outstanding value, since it contains a complex of paleo-anthropological places which gave valuable evidence of the origin of modern humans - hence its name "Cradle of Humankind". Currently, more than 200 caves found in the park (of which 13 have already been well studied), where they found fossils of human ancestors and wild animals, extinct millions of years ago. It found a variety of stone tools used by ancient people, such as axes and scrapers. They were found fossils of ancient extinct animals such as the giraffe korotkoshey giant buffalo, giant hyena and several species of saber-toothed tigers. And also it has been found numerous fossils of the now existing animals, such as leopard and antelope torus.

In 1935, Robert Broom found the first fossils in the Sterkfontein Caves. There were obtained evidence of the existence of African Australopithecus, who lived about 2.4 million years ago. Scientists believe that these hominids (bipedal apes) were the ancestors of humans. Hominids may have lived throughout Africa, but their remains are found only in places where there were suitable conditions for the preservation of the remains.

In this area were also found fossils of another species of hominid - a massive Paranthropus, which is considered extinct branch of the genealogical tree of human development. "A man runs," who lived about 1 million years ago, the more likely is the direct ancestor of the "reasonable person" than Australopithecus, with a very close resemblance to modern humans.

The cradle of humanity is one of the most visited attractions in South Africa.