[Old Professer]

If we rule out boredom and wanderlust in these early men we must consider food shortages and inclement climate conditions.

Why leave a virtual paradise where the food grows on trees and bushes, the forest floor makes a comfortable bed, the water runs clear and plentiful and time clocks are millenia in the unanticipated future?

[meandog]

Why leave a virtual paradise where the food grows on trees and bushes, the forest floor makes a comfortable bed, the water runs clear and plentiful and time clocks are millenia in the unanticipated future?

I dunno, I wonder why Peary and Byrd explored the arctic, Admunsen the antarctic, why Hillary climbed Everest, why Burton explored the source of the Nile and why Stanley looked for Livingston...because it was there?

[CarrotAndStick]

If we rule out boredom and wanderlust in these early men we must consider food shortages and inclement climate conditions.

One more reason. Why did the early Europeans leave for America?

Persecution.

Those places in Africa from where humans spread, humans still live, don't they? Maybe the ones that left, were chased away.

[frithguild]

Why leave a virtual paradise where the food grows on trees and bushes, the forest floor makes a comfortable bed, the water runs clear and plentiful and time clocks are millenia in the unanticipated future?

[shuckmaster]

Why leave a virtual paradise where the food grows on trees and bushes, the forest floor makes a comfortable bed, the water runs clear and plentiful and time clocks are millenia in the unanticipated future?

In the early era of modern humans between 120-200kya they were already evolved to jog over 50 miles a day on a near perpetual basis and swim large channels separating the east coast beaches in the region where all existing evidence suggests they lived. A long period of good weather and rainfall to the immediate north of their domain would simply give them expanded room to explore.