The Stone Man, gazing out over the stunning Egoli Granite Grasslands of the CRR, is a surprisingly recent addition to the Reserve’s collection of intriguing landmarks. Roughly seven years ago, he mysteriously appeared on the horizon, baffling the landowners who look out onto the ridge where he now stands. No one could quite figure out how he suddenly materialized—especially since he certainly wasn’t there the night before! Over time, he even became a religious symbol, drawing churches to the site for prayer.

The Stone Man is positioned just a stone’s throw from the Stone Circle, another point of interest in the area.

These stone circles are found throughout the region and are believed to date back to the Iron Age. Constructed by the Sotho-Tswana or Ndebele settlers in around 1500 AD, their presence has been confirmed through discoveries of these circles and patterned pottery shards. Unfortunately, many of these ancient formations have been damaged or dismantled due to human interference.

As for the Stone Man, we prefer to let those who encounter him marvel at his mysterious origins. After all, sometimes the most enjoyable aspect of a mystery is what we’re left to imagine!