UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa

South Africa is now home to ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The sites are testimonies to past civilizations and cultures as well as beautiful natural artworks. Find out which World Heritage Sites you can visit in South Africa here.

Fossil hominid sites in South Africa

The UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was inscribed in 1999 and extended in 2005, includes the fossil hominid sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and the surrounding area, as well as the Makapan Valley and Taung Skull fossil sites. The caves are also known as the "Cradle of Humankind" because, among other things, an approximately 2 to 3 million year old ape skull was found here. The numerous hominid finds are among the oldest in the world.

iSimangaliso-Wetland Park

The iSimangaliso-Wetland Park has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. It links five ecosystems and provides a habitat for many plant and animal species. A large number of endangered species also find a protective home here, including the famous hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles.

Robben Island

Robben Island is an island off the coast of Cape Town and is best known for its role as a maximum security prison for political prisoners, but at various times it has also been used as a military base and hospital. Former South African President Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his life in the prison. Today the island is a symbol of the victory of democracy over oppression and racism. For this reason, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Maloti Drakensberg Park

The Maloti-Drakensberg Park is a transboundary World Heritage Site and is composed of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg-.National Park in South Africa and the Sehlathebe National Park in Lesotho. This World Heritage Site is home to the largest collection of rock paintings south of the Sahara. The paintings are distinguished by their outstanding quality and thematic diversity. The park's mountainous landscape also provides a habitat for a number of rare and endangered plant and animal species. Because of these features, the park was designated both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a World Natural Heritage Site in 2000.

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape

Mapungubwe was once the largest kingdom on the continent until it collapsed in the 14th century. In the 1930s, royal tombs and ruins were found during excavations. Today, untouched remnants of the palace complexes and the entire settlement area dependent on them, as well as two former capital complexes, remain. In 2003, the cultural landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Protected areas of the Cape Floral region

Protected areas of the Cape Floral region are composed of Table Mountain-National ParkCederberg Wilderness Area, Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area, Boland Mountain Complex, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Boosmansbos Nature Reserve, Swartberg Complex and the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve. The eight protected areas are home to nearly 20 percent of the flora in Africa, although they account for less than 0.5 percent of the land area. Approximately 69 percent of the 9,00 estimated plant species are endemic. The Cape Floral Region has been recognized as a biodiversity hotspot and became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Vredefort Crater

Vredefort crater is one of the largest impact craters in the world (320 km long and 180 km wide). The crater hit the earth about 2 billion years ago and is therefore the oldest astrobleme found so far. The astroid impact was an event that influenced the climate, living conditions and evolution on Earth. Because of its magnitude, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. But the World Heritage Site also impresses with its overwhelming flora and fauna.

Richtersveld cultural and plant landscape

The Richtersveld cultural and plant landscape covers 160,000 hectares and is home to the Nama people. The landscape is characterized by the pastoralism of the people and represents and demonstrates their way of life. The Nama are always moving with their herds, giving each grazing area a chance for recreation. Through sustainable use they preserve the rare flora and fauna. In 2007, the Richtersveld cultural and plant landscape became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cultural landscape of the ǂKhomani

The cultural landscape of the ǂKhomani coincides with the Kalahari-Gemsbok National Park and is home to a small group of the Khomani-San people. The people live as hunter-gatherers like their ancestors, the first inhabitants of southern Africa. The ancestors developed specific ethnobotanical knowledge, cultural practices, and a worldview based on the geographic features of their environment. They also developed simple but sophisticated technologies for exploiting meager resources such as water, finding plant food in a hostile environment, and coping with drought and predators. To protect the landscape and its inhabitants, the cultural landscape became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017.
It is a unique example of human settlement (from the Stone Age until today).

Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains

The latest UNESCO World Heritage Site to date is the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains. They were added to the list in 2018. The natural heritage site consists of volcanic and sedimentary rocks that are among the oldest in the world. The mountains were formed 3.6 to 3.25 billion years ago when the first continents were formed. They illustrate geological processes during the formation of the Earth and provide a picture to one of the first main stages of the Earth's history - the Archean.

Now that you know that South Africa is more than just safaris and beautiful beaches, you'll want to pack your bags and get on the next plane to South Africa. Why not visit the country with us and explore the country in a sustainable way. Our South Africa round trip shows you the country off the beaten track.

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