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The Karoo was
1 once an inland sea Roughly 260 million years ago, the region now known as the Great Karoo was covered by a vast inland sea, part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. Over time, the sea filled with mud and silt, preserving layers of sediment that would become rock. |
Shaped by
2 fire and ice Both volcanic activity and glacial movement shaped the Karoo basin. Around 180 million years ago, massive volcanic eruptions covered much of the area in basalt, forming the hard caprock that influences its flat-topped hills and mesas today. |
Fossil goldmine
3 The Karoo is one of the world’ s richest repositories of fossils. Long before dinosaurs, it was home to therapsids – ancient mammal-like reptiles. The fossil record here offers vital insight into pre-dinosaur life, making it a treasure trove for palaeontologists. |
Human footprints
4 Archaeological sites across the Karoo show evidence of early human habitation dating back more than 200 000 years. Stone tools, hearths and rock engravings tell the story of early huntergatherers who followed game and water through the seasonal cycles. |