SA's World Heritage sites to be spruced up

Cape Town - Richtersveld, Mapungubwe, uKhlahlamba and the Baviaanskloof in the Cape Floral Region will received new interpretive signage as part of a two-year development plan of South Africa's World Heritage sites.

Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom said the department of tourism had recently completed an assessment of the tourism needs of all eight World Heritage Sites and this will be done as a starting point.

The minister was speaking at the launch of Tourism month on Tuesday, held in Johannesburg’s Maboneng precinct. 

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Themed “Tourism Transforming Lives”, Hanekom reiterated the importance of Tourism Month in celebrating South Africa Heritage and "getting all South Africans exploring the unique, beautiful and diverse country of ours".

In order to bolster domestic tourism, the department has set aside R100 million in secured ring-fenced funding centred around the Nothing’s More Fun than a Sho’t Left campaign.

"All tourism businesses are encouraged to upload their value-for-money deals onto the Sho’t Left website and to provide a variety of packages and options to suit all budgets."

The minister also made special mention of the late Nelson Mandela by encouraging all South Africans to take the time to visit the sites and attractions around the country that honour of Madiba's legacy - check out the Madiba-Inspired Tourist Attractions map that makes it easy to plan a Madiba inspired itinerary. 

A closer look at SA's world Heritage sites: 

Cape Floral Kingdom

This spectacular site in the Western Cape is made up of eight protected areas. It might be less than 0.5% of the area of Africa but here you will find nearly 20% of the continent’s flora.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park


The Park's 328 000 hectares of magnificent scenery extends all the way to Mozambique and is made up of marine systems such as coral reefs and beaches, coastal forests with salt and fresh water marshes to the open estuarine waters all the way to the drier woodland areas.



(Shutterstock)

 

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape

Located in the north uniting Botswana and Zimbabwe, this extensive savannah is regarded as South Africa’s first kingdom marking the heart of a pre-Shona kingdom between 1050 AD and 1270 AD.



(Shutterstock)

Cradle of Human Kind

This 47 000 ha is the world's richest concentration of fossil hominid bearing sites - providing profound scientific value and an unparalleled window into the past.



(Selene Brophy)


Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape

A unique mountain desert wilderness found in the Northern Cape, the area is managed by the National Park Board and the local Nama people.




Robben Island
Found just off the coast of Cape Town this island was used as a prison, a hospital for socially unacceptable groups and a military base.



(Shutterstock)

Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park

This spectacular natural site contains the largest and most concentrated group of paintings in Africa south of the Sahara, made by the San people over a period of 4 000 years.