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10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa

Home to unsurpassed mountains, waterfalls, wildlife, architecture, and antiquity, South Africa boasts a diverse range of sites and attractions. Its city life to adventure, picturesque sceneries to sun-soaked beaches, everyone discovers the Rainbow Nation in different ways.

If you want to explore the cultural, historical and natural treasures, include the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa to your list, testifying to its diverse varieties.

Team Digit

List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa

Among the 10 UNESCO Sites in South Africa, five are listed as cultural, four natural and one mixed. Read along to learn about the timings, entry fee, the best time to visit and other aspects of each site to plan your trip accordingly.

Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa

The following Cultural Heritage Sites in South Africa are listed as per the year of inclusion by UNESCO:

1. Robben Island (1999)

Robben Island is an eloquent witness of a sombre history and a symbol of democracy and freedom over oppression. Here, Nelson Mandela, the 1st elected President of South Africa has served 18 years in prison. Today, it is home to the famous Robben Island Museum and a few remains of 17th-century quarries, dilapidated military structures of World War II, etc.

Location: Cape Town 7400
Ideal Time to Explore: November, February and March
Hours of Operation: From 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM; open 7 days a week
Entry Fee: R360 per adult, including the ferry trip out to sea

2. Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa (1999, 2005)

Recognised as the Cradle of Humankind, this undulating landscape is one of the richest concentrations of hominid fossils as old as 3.5 million years. It contains dolomitic limestone ridges, rocky outcrops and valley grasslands, bearing rare testimony of Australopithecine specimens.

Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng Province
Ideal Time to Explore: NA
Hours of Operation: NA
Entry Fee: R120 per adult for Maropeng Visitor Centre

3. Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (2003)

This World Heritage Site in South Africa resonates with the rise and fall of the 1st indigenous kingdom, Mapungubwe (place of the stone of wisdom) State. It serves as evidence of the cultural and social interchange of human values and climate change. It is situated in the Mapungubwe National Park where the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers are meeting.

Location: Limpopo Province
Ideal Time to Explore: March and May
Hours of Operation: Mapungubwe National Park remains open from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM between September to March and from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM between April and August
Entry Fee: R55 per adult for Mapungubwe National Park

4. Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (2007)

Did you know that the Cultural and Botanical Landscape of Richtersveld is in a desert? This makes it one of the most unique UNESCO Sites in South Africa. Its dramatic landscape represents the transhumance pastoral grazing of the Nama tribe for 2,000 years. Further, this indigenous community helps sustain and protect this extensive bio-diversity.

Location: Northern Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province
Ideal Time to Explore: During day time
Hours of Operation: NA
Entry Fee: R71 per adult for Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

5. ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape (2017)

Its association with ethnobotany and !Ui-Taa languages illustrates a life and beliefs that are virtually extinct. What will astonish you is the adoption of innovative technologies by the nomadic tribe to thrive the extreme desert conditions. Learn more about their life through guided walks, local guides, the Living Museum, and local modes of transportation.

Location: South and North of Upington, Northern Cape Province
Ideal Time to Explore: NA
Hours of Operation: NA
Entry Fee: NA

Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa

6. iSimangaliso Wetland Park (1999)

Listed as one of the Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park is home to unadulterated marine, wetland, coastal, terrestrial and estuarine environments. It is a confluence of coral reefs, coastal dunes, extensive coastline, and more. Notable attractions are the 10 Jewels, including Coastal Forest, False Bay and many more.

Location: East Coast of KwaZulu-Natal
Ideal Time to Explore: April to October
Hours of Operation: From 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM between April and September and 5:00 AM or 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM between October to March
Entry Fee:
- Eastern Shores (Bhangazi Gate): R59/adult, R43/children, R118/international adult, R86/international children
- uMkuze (Ophansi and eMshopi Gates): R59/adult, R43/children, R118/international adult, R86/international children
- Western Shores (Dukuduku &Nhlozi Gates): R59/adult, R43/children, R118/international adult, R86/international children
- Sodwana Bay: R32/adult, R22/children, R64/international adult, R44/international children

7. Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (2004)

It contains some of the richest plant biodiversity and is home to 11,000 marine animals and 560 vertebrate species. Further, it comprises 8 protected areas: Table Mountain, Boland Mountain Complex, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area, Swartberg Mountains, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, and Baviaanskloof.

Location: Western, Eastern and Northern Cape
Ideal Time to Explore: August to September
Hours of Operation: Different sections of Cape Floral Region Protected Areas operate as follows:
- Van Loveren Family Cellar remains open from 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM.
- Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary remains open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Viljoensdrift remains open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- IBIS Galley remains open from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Entry Fee: NA

8. Vredefort Dome (2005)

This Natural UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to 2,030 million years when an enormous meteorite hit the earth. You can visit the Anglo-Boer War sites, and Venterskroon, the largest wild olive forest in the country here. Alternatively, you can opt for adventurous activities like river tubing, mountain biking, river rafting and many more.

Location: Ngwathe, Fezile Dabi in Free State Province
Ideal Time to Explore: All year round but mostly between May to July
Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday between 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 7:00 to 1:00 PM; remains closed on Saturday and Sunday
Entry Fee: R3,100 per person

9. Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (2018)

The latest in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa is the best-preserved sequence of volcanic and sedimentary rocks, dating back 3.2 to 3.6 billion years. The most distinctive feature here is the belt of greenstone rock, rocky hills, forested valleys and an array of endemic and rich diversity of plant species.

Location: Mpumalanga Province
Ideal Time to Explore: NA
Hours of Operation: Throughout the day
Entry Fee: Free

Mixed UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa

10. Maloti-Drakensberg Park (2000)

This UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Africa comprises 12 protected areas. It is distinguished by golden sandstone ramparts, soaring basaltic rocks, dramatically sculptured caves, arches, rock pools, and cliffs. However, what will grab your attention is its group of Bushmen paintings which are exceptional in terms of quality and diversity of subject.

Location: KwaZulu-Natal Province
Ideal Time to Explore: November to April
Hours of Operation: NA
Entry Fee: NA (only available for SA residents/citizens and SADC residents)

What Are the Criteria for Listing Places As UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

A site of exceptional universal value must meet either of the 10 criteria to be included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Those parameters are as follows:

A site must be an example of human creative genius.
Any site with a unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation be it living or extinct.
The next criterion demands for a site that illustrates traditional human settlement, land use or sea use. Further, it should represent a culture or more of human interaction with nature, preferably if it is vulnerable as a result of irreversible changes.
Another requirement is for a site or a landscape that explains significant stages in human history. It should possess a striking building, any architectural or technological ensemble or landscape. Also, it must
It should represent an interchange of human values for some time or within any cultural area, exhibiting exceptional architectural or monumental marvels or monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design.
To be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it must comprise magnificent natural phenomena or areas with exceptional beauty and aesthetic significance.
A site must be directly or substantially related to living traditions or events illustrating ideas, beliefs or any artistic and literary work of exceptional universal importance.
The next parameter is to contain the most significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity. This includes endangered species of exceptional universal value in terms of science or conservation.
A site should illustrate different stages of the earth's history. Some of them are records of life, any notable ongoing ecological and biological process in the evolution, evolution of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.
Lastly, a site must exhibit significant stages of the earth's history such as important ongoing geological processes involving the development of landforms, geomorphic or physiographic aspects, or records of life.

FAQS About UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa

All

Which UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to five ecosystems in South Africa?

iSimangaliso Wetland Park is home to five interlinked ecosystems. They extend notable diversity of African biota like several endemic species.

What types of animals can be spotted in the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape?

You will come across different types of mammals, reptiles, and birds at the Richtersveld. A few of them include aardwolfs, caracal, striped polecats or zorilla, Nile Monitor or waterlikkewaan, black spitting cobra, Lanner falcon, Black eagle, Southern pale chanting goshawk, etc.

How to reach Robben Island from mainland South Africa?

You have to opt for a ferry service from Victoria and Albert Waterfront to reach Robben Island from the mainland of South Africa. However, book the tickets at least a day before as the demand is quite high.

Other Articles about the UNESCO Sites Around the World

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Australia

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Egypt

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Indonesia

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in USA

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