Celebrate Heritage month by visiting South Africa's top Heritage sites
As we celebrate Heritage month it is only fitting that we take a look at South Africa's top Heritage sites and maybe make plans to visit them.
Whether you’re feeling out of touch with your heritage or seeking inspiration, here are SA’s top beautiful heritage sites you need to explore this heritage month.
South Africa has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, areas that have been given special international status for their unique qualities. If you are interested in culture and natural history, then you may well want to plan a visit to at least one of these sites.
Robben Island
One of the most famous tourist destinations in the Cape, Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela and many other Freedom Struggle heroes were imprisoned. Stand in the jail cell of Nelson Mandela and experience life in the yard as you go on a guided tour done by previous inmates, which together with the location, history and prison conditions make for a highly emotive experience.
uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park
If you ever look at the mountain range and imagine parts of Middle Earth you are definitely on the right track. As the largest mountain range in South Africa this is where J.R.R. Tolkien got a little inspiration for his Lord of the Rings book series. Experience exceptional scenic beauty, a diverse habitat harbouring a number of endangered plant and bird species and a concentration of historic rock art paintings.
The Cradle of Humankind
This area boasts the richest evidence of human evolution over the past 3.5-million years. It also is home to the remains of some of the oldest hominids, the early ancestors of the human race.
Ancient Mapungubwe
This Iron Age site shows evidence of a highly advanced indigenous society that existed centuries before European colonialism spread across Africa. This is where the famous golden rhinoceros and many other artifacts were found.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
One of the largest estuary systems in Africa, it's acclaimed for its exceptional biodiversity and over 520 bird species. Here you’ll find the world's highest sand dunes, golden beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, mangrove swamps, woodlands, coastal forests and grasslands.
Cape Floral Region
The Western Cape's fynbos is one of the richest and most diverse floral areas in the world. Around 70% of its floral species occur nowhere else on the planet. Table Mountain National Park, which is part of this remarkable wilderness area, has more plant species in its 22 000 hectares than Britain or New Zealand.
Vredefort Dome
The world's biggest meteor crater dates back two million years when a gigantic meteorite 10km in diameter hit the earth. Today this site is the oldest and largest clearly visible meteorite impact site in the world.
The Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape
A remarkable mountainous desert in the north-west of the country that is uniquely owned and managed by the Nama communities.
