South Africa has 11 World Heritage Sites.
Cultural heritage sites.
World Heritage Sites are places of historical and cultural importance that are protected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). South Africa has 11 World Heritage Sites. The first was granted in 1978 when Robben Island was selected as a world heritage site. Other popular South African sites include Table Mountain National Park and Cape Floral Kingdom where you can see many unique plants.
Heritage sites are important because they represent the history and culture of a place. They tell us about our past from ancient times until today, so we must protect them for future generations to learn about their history too!
Natural heritage sites.
South Africa has five natural heritage sites, including the Kruger National Park, the Cape Floral Kingdom, and Table Mountain National Park.
The largest game reserve in the world is Kruger National Park, which covers an area of 19,485 sq km (7,580 sq mi). It is home to over 2 500 animal species and over 400 bird species. The flora consists mainly of savannah grasses with acacia trees scattered throughout. President Paul Kruger established a game reserve in 1898 it and later proclaimed it a national park in 1926.
Preparatory projects.
The preparatory phase is an essential part of the inscription process. It enables a State Party to systematically prepare a site for inscription on the World Heritage List.
This process involves:
- comprehensive research and analysis of relevant documentation;
- the identification of physical, natural and cultural heritage values within the boundaries of the proposed property;
- carrying out a state-of-the-art study on how best to preserve these values for future generations;
We present this information in an ICOMOS questionnaire which is submitted to UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre by all States Parties concerned during this phase.
Conclusion
This is just a small sample of what you can find in South Africa. The country has so much more to offer, and we encourage you to explore its rich culture and natural beauty.
