World Heritage Identification Number: 985
World Heritage since: 2000
Category: Mixed Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Protected Areas & National Parks
Transboundary Heritage: Yes
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: Lesotho, South Africa
Continent: Africa
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.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (i): The rock art of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park is the largest and most concentrated group of rock paintings in Africa south of the Sahara and is outstanding both in quality and diversity of subject.
Criterion (iii): The San people lived in the mountainous Maloti-Drakensberg area for more than four millennia, leaving behind them a corpus of outstanding rock art, providing a unique testimony which throws much light on their way of life and their beliefs.
Criterion (vii): The site has exceptional natural beauty with soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks and golden sandstone ramparts. Rolling high altitude grasslands, the pristine steep-sided river valleys and rocky gorges also contribute to the beauty of the site.
Criterion (x): The property contains significant natural habitats for in situ conservation of biological diversity. It has outstanding species richness, particularly of plants. It is recognised as a Global Centre of Plant Diversity and endemism, and occurs within its own floristic region – the Drakensberg Alpine Region of South Africa. It is also within a globally important endemic bird area and is notable for the occurrence of a number of globally threatened species, such as the Yellow-breasted Pipit. The diversity of habitats is outstanding, ranging across alpine plateaux, steep rocky slopes and river valleys. These habitats protect a high level of endemic and threatened species.
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
Number of Components: 2
(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
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Maloti-Drakensberg Park reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
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© Francesco Bandarin, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Maloti-Drakensberg Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Scaling innovative, low-impact tourism practices in African mixed world heritage sites post-COVID: perspectives from Maloti-Drakensberg Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Mixed UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) require tailored recovery frameworks to effectively scale low-impact tourism practices post-pandemic, according to new research. The study, focusing on Maloti-Drakensberg Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, reveals that while both sites demonstrated operational resilience through health protocols, digital engagement, and domestic tourism pivots, they face persistent systemic barriers such as governance fragmentation, limited innovation capacity, and cultural resistance to scientific adaptation. These findings underscore the need for integrated governance, diversified funding, and inclusive policy reform to strengthen long-term sustainability in African mixed WHS contexts. The research draws on qualitative interviews with 12 key informants in site management and planning roles, providing rare empirical insights from under-represented regions.
Mchunu, P., Mearns, K., Makoni, L., & Mariki, S. B. (2026). Scaling innovative, low-impact tourism practices in African mixed world heritage sites post-COVID: perspectives from Maloti-Drakensberg Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 16(7), 452–465. https://doi.org/10.1108/jchmsd-05-2025-0144
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Bridging Borders, Ecological Connectivity, Peace Parks Linking Conservation Corridors in the Conflict Zones: Climate Change &; Environmental Peacebuilding to Transform Transboundary Environmental Challenges into Opportunities
Climate change, while posing significant challenges to conflict-prone regions, also presents opportunities for fostering peace and cooperation through environmental conservation initiatives. This study demonstrates that transboundary protected areas (TBPAs), such as peace parks and conservation corridors, can serve as powerful tools for ecological connectivity and environmental peacebuilding. Analyzing three case studies—Cordillera del Cóndor between Peru and Ecuador, Maloti-Drakensberg Park between Lesotho and South Africa, and Siachen Glacier within Pakistan and India—the research highlights how shared vulnerabilities to climate change can spur collaboration, trust-building, and long-term peace. By linking conservation efforts across borders, countries can mitigate environmental degradation, enhance biodiversity, and transform contentious landscapes into symbols of ecological harmony. The findings underscore the potential for TBPAs to address transboundary challenges while fostering sustainable development and cooperation.
Rashid, M. A., Bilal, F. E., & Javaid, M. (2025). Bridging Borders, Ecological Connectivity, Peace Parks Linking Conservation Corridors in the Conflict Zones: Climate Change &; Environmental Peacebuilding to Transform Transboundary Environmental Challenges into Opportunities. ACADEMIA International Journal for Social Sciences, 4(4), 135–166. https://doi.org/10.63056/acad.004.04.0875
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On Octavius from Maloti-Drakensberg and Golden Gate National Parks, South Africa (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Euaesthetinae)
A groundbreaking study identifies nineteen species of the genus Octavius from Maloti-Drakensberg and Golden Gate National Parks, South Africa, with thirteen being newly described. These include O. aureaportalis, O. clarkei, O. flagellatus, O. gracilis, O. gxaligengwanus, O. kambergensis, O. lothenicus, O. monachicucullus, O. penicullatus, O. regius, O. squamatus, O. subulatus, and O. undulatus. Additionally, distribution records for six more species are provided, all illustrated in the study. This research significantly expands our understanding of biodiversity within these UNESCO World Heritage Sites, contributing to the documentation of South Africa's rich insect fauna.
JANÁK, J. (2024). On Octavius from Maloti-Drakensberg and Golden Gate National Parks, South Africa (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Euaesthetinae). Zootaxa, 5443(4), 495–522. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5443.4.2
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Tourism and fracking in the northern Drakensberg area: emerging challenges for tourism sustainability
Tourism business owners in the Northern Drakensberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its scenic beauty and cultural richness, strongly oppose fracking due to anticipated negative impacts on sustainable tourism. The study highlights significant challenges posed by fracking, including poor public consultation, environmental degradation, and economic disruptions. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved education and awareness about fracking's potential benefits while addressing its risks. The research used an interpretive qualitative approach, gathering insights from semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with seven tourism-related business owners in the area.
Dube-Xaba, Z. (2024). Tourism and fracking in the northern Drakensberg area: emerging challenges for tourism sustainability. Discover Sustainability, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00650-3
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Engaging local communities in conservation and governance of the World Heritage in a transnational context: An example from the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site (Lesotho/South Africa)
Local communities and indigenous peoples play a pivotal role as custodians of World Heritage sites, yet their engagement in conservation and governance remains underexplored. This study highlights the strategic importance of involving these groups in the stewardship of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, emphasizing equitable benefit-sharing as a key objective of the World Heritage Convention's 5th 'C' (Communities). Using the Maloti-Drakensberg Park—a transnational site spanning Lesotho and South Africa—as a case study, the research examines how community engagement can enhance conservation efforts while ensuring sustainable development. The approach combines qualitative analysis with participatory methods to assess governance structures, highlighting both challenges and opportunities in transnational contexts.
Loza, J. (2023). Engaging local communities in conservation and governance of the World Heritage in a transnational context: An example from the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site (Lesotho/South Africa). Managing Transnational UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa, 47–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80910-2_5
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Long-term frequent fires do not decrease topsoil carbon and nitrogen in an Afromontane grassland
Contrary to expectations, long-term frequent fires do not decrease topsoil carbon and nitrogen in Afromontane grasslands of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park. Instead, annual spring burning significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON), with an average C sequestration rate of 0.30 Mg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ across all treatments. This unexpected finding is attributed to the aluandic properties of Drakensberg soils, which are acidic and high in organic matter. The study compared SOC and SON from six fire regimes (annual, biennial, five-year, infrequent) with varying seasons over a 39-year period, revealing that autumn burning did not yield similar increases. Infrequently burnt plots exhibited the lowest carbon stocks, highlighting the importance of fire season in shaping soil organic matter dynamics.
Findlay, N., Manson, A., Cromsigt, J. P., Gordijn, P., Nixon, C., Rietkerk, M., Thibaud, G., Wassen, M. J., & Beest, M. t. (2022). Long-term frequent fires do not decrease topsoil carbon and nitrogen in an Afromontane grassland. African Journal of Range & Forage Science, 39(1), 44–55. https://doi.org/10.2989/10220119.2021.2016966
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To what degree does a UNESCO World Heritage Site listing improve the conservation of heritage sites? Insights from the case of the Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site (South Africa-Lesotho)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site listing significantly enhances heritage conservation, but its effectiveness varies depending on multiple factors. This study examines the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, a transboundary site spanning South Africa and Lesotho, to assess how the 2013 extension of its listing—particularly for rock art sites—impacted conservation practices. The research finds that while the designation can drive positive changes, its success hinges on parameters such as property type, listing procedure, governance mechanisms, stakeholders involved, and multi-scale contextual issues. The analysis underscores the need for tailored, context-sensitive strategies to maximize the benefits of World Heritage status, suggesting pathways for improvement in conservation outcomes.
Duval, M. (2021). To what degree does a UNESCO World Heritage Site listing improve the conservation of heritage sites? Insights from the case of the Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site (South Africa-Lesotho). International Journal of Heritage Studies, 28(3), 376–399. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2021.2009540
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