Summary
Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa
More commonly referred to as the Cradle of Humankind, the Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa were established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The sites include the Sterkfontein Caves, an important paleo-anthropological site where many ancient fossils have been found. Among these are the skeletons of our early hominid ancestors, the oldest thought to be nearly four million years old. Also included in the UNESCO site is the Taung Skull Fossil Site, known for the discovery of the 2.8 million-year-old skull of an Australopithecus africanus child in 1924. Today, the Maropeng Visitor Centre offers insights through engaging interactive exhibitions, located in Gauteng Province, just an hour’s drive northwest of Johannesburg.
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape is set within the scenic savannah of Mapungubwe National Park in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. Between 1200 and 1290 AD, a settlement emerged here, eventually becoming one of Africa’s wealthiest kingdoms through trade with the Far East. The kingdom flourished until the 14th century, when it was abandoned. Today, extensive ruins—including a palace and two previous capital sites—allow visitors to visualize the region’s past. A Visitor Centre near the park’s main gate showcases artefacts and offers guided tours of the ruins, including a rhino crafted from gold foil and wood.
Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape
Located near the border with Namibia in the Northern Cape Province, the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2007. Initially established as the Richtersveld Community Conservancy, this mountainous desert region has been reclaimed by the indigenous Nama people, sustaining their unique semi-nomadic lifestyle. Each year, the Nama migrate with their herds from the mountains to the river, allowing seasonal grazing lands to recover. This sustainable land use helps preserve the area’s rare flora and fauna, including almost 600 species found nowhere else on Earth. Visitors can gain insights into a vanishing ancient culture and experience pristine natural wilderness.
Robben Island
Situated off the Cape Town coast, Robben Island has a rich history as a penal colony since the 17th century. It has served as a whaling station, leper colony, and WWII military base, but it is most renowned for being a prison during the apartheid era. Many notable freedom fighters, including ANC activist Walter Sisulu, PAC leader Robert Sobukwe, and Nelson Mandela, spent years imprisoned there. Following the end of apartheid, the prison on Robben Island was permanently closed, becoming a symbol of a more equitable South Africa. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, the island is now a significant tourist attraction offering Robben Island tours.
Cape Floral Region Protected Areas
Registered as a UNESCO site in 2004, the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas encompass multiple dynamic locations in South Africa’s Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. These regions form a global biodiversity hotspot, renowned for their extraordinary plant life. With over 9,000 species, this area boasts the highest concentration of plant species globally, with about 70 percent being endemic. The region is particularly famous for its fynbos vegetation, a fragrant type of scrub exclusive to South Africa. Exploring this area’s protected sites (including Table Mountain National Park and De Hoop Nature Reserve) is best done by car, especially from September to October, when the blooms are vibrant.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Established in 1999, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park is one of South Africa’s oldest UNESCO World Heritage Sites, covering an impressive 332,000 hectares along the northeast coast, from Zululand to KwaZulu-Natal. The park comprises ten distinct regions, including Sodwana Bay, uMkhuze Game Reserve, and serene Lake St. Lucia. Recognized for its remarkable biodiversity—notably in flora and fauna—the park incorporates various habitats, such as wetlands, fig forests, nesting beaches, and vibrant estuaries. Activities like game drives, kayak safaris, scuba diving, and birdwatching cater to nature enthusiasts.
Vredefort Dome
Confirmed as a UNESCO site in 2005, the Vredefort Dome is approximately 75 miles (120 kilometers) southwest of Johannesburg. Despite its name, the dome is actually a meteorite crater formed from an impact around two billion years ago. It is among the oldest and largest meteorite craters on Earth, providing evidence of an extraordinary energy release that significantly influenced evolutionary changes on the planet. Unique for its intact geological profile, the Vredefort Dome offers scenic beauty and a plethora of diverse animal and plant species. Visitors can engage in various activities such as hiking, hot air ballooning, river rafting, and abseiling.
Maloti-Drakensberg Park
The Maloti-Drakensberg Park was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000, encompassing areas of national parks in both South Africa and Lesotho, namely the uKhahlamba Drakensberg National Park and Sehlathebe National Park. Known for their stunning natural beauty, these parks provide habitats for numerous endemic and rare plant and animal species. Birdwatchers particularly favor the park for its populations of endangered Cape and bearded vultures. Culturally significant, it houses the largest collection of ancient rock paintings in sub-Saharan Africa, created over 4,000 years and offering remarkable insights into the life of the region’s early San people.
ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape
Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, the ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape is located on the border with Botswana and Namibia in the southern Kalahari Desert. It encompasses the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and preserves the traditional home of the ǂKhomani San people, descendants of the region’s first inhabitants. Though once thought to be extinct, the remaining members of this community continue their ancient lifestyle in the Kalahari desert. Visitors may observe their unique culture through community-run tours and bush walks at lodges such as !Xaus Lodge, located in the heart of Kgalagadi.
Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains
Announced in 2018, the Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains is the most recent addition to South Africa’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This region comprises approximately 40 percent of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, an ancient geological formation considered to be among the oldest on Earth, dating back roughly 3.6 billion years. The area’s well-preserved meteor-impact fallback breccias, formed by meteoric activity, are of great geological significance. In addition to its geological allure, the region boasts stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity, making it a riveting destination for visitors interested in both natural and geological wonders.
