World Heritage Identification Number: 985
World Heritage since: 2000
Category: Mixed Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: Yes
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: Lesotho, South Africa
Continent: NA
UNESCO World Region: Africa
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A Transboundary Treasure: The Maloti-Drakensberg Park
The Maloti-Drakensberg Park, a transnational World Heritage Site, straddles the border between South Africa and Lesotho, showcasing a breathtaking fusion of geological wonders, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage. Established in 2000, it encompasses two distinct yet interconnected protected areas: the uKhahlamba Drakensberg National Park in South Africa and the Sehlathebe National Park in Lesotho.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The Maloti-Drakensberg Park is a transnational property composed of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg National Park in South Africa and the Sehlathebe National Park in Lesotho. The site has exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts as well as visually spectacular sculptured arches, caves, cliffs, pillars and rock pools. The site's diversity of habitats protects a high level of endemic and globally important plants. The site harbors endangered species such as the Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres) and the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus). Lesotho’s Sehlabathebe National Park also harbors the Maloti minnow (Pseudobarbus quathlambae), a critically endangered fish species only found in this park. This spectacular natural site contains many caves and rock-shelters with the largest and most concentrated group of paintings in Africa south of the Sahara. They represent the spiritual life of the San people, who lived in this area over a period of 4,000 years.
Encyclopedia Record: Maloti-Drakensberg Park
The Maloti-Drakensberg Park is a World Heritage Site, established on 11 June 2001 by linking the Sehlabathebe National Park in the Kingdom of Lesotho and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The highest peak is Thaba Ntlenyana rising to 3,482 metres.Additional Site Details
Area: 249,313 hectares
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(vii) — Contains superlative natural phenomena or beauty
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: -29.7652777778 , 29.1230555556
Image
© Francesco Bandarin, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)