Early Humans in Kruger Park

The area that comprises the Kruger Park today was populated by early humans around 1,5-million years ago. Around 40,000 years ago (Late Stone Age) small tribes of nomadic hunter-gathers known as the San moved through the Lowveld region of present day South Africa, where the Kruger Park is located.

Through innovations like the bow and arrow and fishing hooks, the San became efficient hunters. With more time on their hands they turned to art, and more the 150 San engravings and paintings have been found in Kruger Park. Their art was central to San religion, depicting their adoration of and reverence for nature.

For centuries, the San lived without competition until about 200 AD when more technologically advanced people migrated into the Lowveld from the North bring crops and herds of domestic stock with them. These immigrants also knew the secrets of working with metal, and so the Southern African Iron Age was born. Archaeologists have identified 12 different cultural groups from this period.