In 1942 the body of an infant was found in the Border Cave, dating back 100 000 years. On the slopes of the Lebombo Mountains, is the cave that has provided us with evidence of the oldest modern humans, and 69 000 Stone Age implements. The interpretive centre exposes this for view, and is currently for free. An inscription found at the Border Cave Museum reads 'The first scientist to visit Border Cave was famous physical anthropologist, Prof Raymond Dart. When he visited the site in the 1930s little of interest was found. In the 1940s bat guano was removed from the cave to be used as fertiliser. This activity exposed human bones, again triggering scientific interest in the site. During the next forty years various prominent scientists visited and excavated the cave. Peter Beaumont from the McGregor museum in Kimberley was the last archaeologist to excavate here until the site was fenced and stabilised to prevent damage'.

“Border Cave is on the slopes of the Lebombo Mountains. Has been inhabited by man for thousands of years. No digging / excavating at the moment, but many artefacts recovered and some on display in a small interpretative centre near the road. No charge for the interpretative centre, R10 pp for the walk to the cave, plus tip as the curator is very helpful. From there the curator will take you on a short walk to the cave itself, not much to see as everything is protected by sandbags. There are two approaches, one from the south and one from the north to the cave, which is very large (about the size of Battle Cave in the Drakensberg). Cave is about 25 or 30 vertical m below the ridge and about a 10 minute walk from the interpretative centre.” - Peter Tiedt, 2009/07/06

“Photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcmechanic/sets/72157609267552996/” - Johan Niemandt, 2008/11/23

“Photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcmechanic/sets/72157609267552996/” - Johan Niemandt, 2008/11/23

Cave
Border Cave Museum