South AfricaSouth 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.
World Heritage Inscription Timeline
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)
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.