South Africa | World Heritage Explorer

South Africa has been a State Party to the World Heritage Convention since 1997. With 12 inscribed properties, the country maintains a well-established presence on the World Heritage List. Its inscriptions include cultural and natural properties, representing a diverse heritage portfolio. Some of these properties are shared with neighboring countries, demonstrating cooperation across borders in heritage conservation.

South Africa as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: July 10, 1997

Status: Ratification

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 1999-2005, 2009-2013, 2019-2023

Total of Mandate Years: 14

Total of Mandates: 3

WHC Electoral Group: V(a) (Africa)

World Heritage Sites in South Africa (12)

Cultural: 7 | Natural: 4 | Mixed: 1

Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains · Natural
Cape Floral Region Protected Areas · Natural
Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa · Cultural
Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites · Cultural
Maloti-Drakensberg Park · Mixed (Transboundary)
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape · Cultural
Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape · Cultural
Robben Island · Cultural
The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa · Cultural
Vredefort Dome · Natural
iSimangaliso Wetland Park – Maputo National Park · Natural (Transboundary)
ǂKhomani Cultural Landscape · Cultural

Map of World Heritage Sites

This interactive map shows the location of all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Africa.

Tentative World Heritage Sites

No tentative sites yet.

Country Profile South Africa

Official Name: Republic of South Africa

Continent: Africa

Subregion: Southern Africa

UNESCO Region: Africa

Capital: Pretoria; Bloemfontein; Cape Town

Population (2024): 64,007,187

Land Area: 1,213,090 km²

Currency: South African rand (ZAR)

Country Data Sources

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: State Party South Africa

About States Parties

States Parties are countries that have joined the World Heritage Convention. They commit to identifying, nominating, and protecting properties of outstanding cultural or natural value on their territory. States Parties are also expected to monitor and report on the condition of inscribed sites.

World Heritage Insights

How Politics and Institutions Shape the UNESCO World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage List is usually seen as a catalogue of the world’s most important cultural and natural places. Yet behind every inscription there is a structured decision process: countries must first join the Convention, run for a seat on the World Heritage Committee, prepare nominations through a fixed procedure, and finally obtain enough votes for inscription.

World Heritage Info

Background

Learn about UNESCO, the World Heritage Convention, Tentative Lists, and how World Heritage Sites are selected and preserved. Explore the history, structures, and processes that protect humanity’s cultural and natural treasures.

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