Border Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Near Tembe Elephant Lodge in Tembe Elephant National Park. Mngomezulu village. Lebombo Mountains in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Ingwavuma district, Elephant Coast.
Open:	Closed for the public. Probably there will be tours by the guides of the Tembe Elephant Lodge.
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As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1930s

first excavations.

Description

Border Cave is a Middle Stone Age site in the Lebombo Mountains in Swaziland. The site has an interpretive centre featuring dioramas and models that tell the story of pre-historic man living at this cave. Very recently it has been completed by a self-catering camp, consisting of two thatched rondavels (huts). One- and two-day hiking routes have also been mapped out for visitors. The site is operated by the Mngomezulu community, who also guide visitors to the cave.

Border cave overlooks a 500 m sheer drop into Swaziland and possesses spectacular views. It is more or less a large overhang, a rock shelter or abri.

The oldest evidence of man in this location dates back some 200,000 years. This are the oldest findings of Homo sapiens, the anatomically modern man, found in Africa.