World Heritage Sites in Southern Africa

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are irreplaceable sources of life, identity, and inspiration. From the iconic rock art of Tsodilo Hills to the dramatic Namib Sand Sea and the sacred peaks of Mount Mulanje, Southern Africa is home to a rich diversity of World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO for their outstanding universal value.

What Is World Heritage?

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched the World Heritage Convention in 1972 to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation of sites that represent the cultural and natural legacy of humanity. These World Heritage Sites belong to everyone—regardless of borders.

UNESCO's World Heritage Mission Includes:

Encouraging countries to sign and implement the World Heritage Convention
Helping nations nominate and manage sites of outstanding value
Providing technical assistance, training, and emergency aid
Promoting public awareness and community involvement
Fostering international cooperation in conservation efforts

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

UNESCO World Heritage Sites by Country

Angola

Mbanza Kongo (Cultural, 2017) – Spiritual heart of the former Kingdom of Kongo
Zaire Province

Botswana

Tsodilo Hills (Cultural, 2001) – “Louvre of the Desert,” over 4,500 rock paintings in 10 km²
Ngamiland District
Okavango Delta (Natural, 2014) – Africa's largest inland delta teeming with wildlife
Ngamiland District

Lesotho (Shared)

Maloti–Drakensberg Park (Mixed, 2000/2013) – Transboundary park with biodiversity and San rock art
Drakensberg Range

Malawi

Lake Malawi National Park (Natural, 1984) – Home to hundreds of endemic cichlids
Southern Region
Chongoni Rock Art Area (Cultural, 2006) – Rock art still used in Chewa rituals
Central Region
Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape (Cultural, 2025) – Sacred granite massif with spiritual value
Southern Region

Mozambique

Island of Mozambique (Cultural, 1991) – Historic Portuguese trading post
Nampula Province
Maputo National Park (Natural, 2025) – Recently added as an extension to iSimangaliso
Maputo Province

Namibia

Twyfelfontein / |Ui-?aes (Cultural, 2007) – Africa's largest rock engraving concentration
Kunene Region
Namib Sand Sea (Natural, 2013) – Coastal fog desert with endless dune fields
Namib-Naukluft National Park

South Africa

Fossil Hominid Sites (Cultural, 1999/2005) – “Cradle of Humankind” and ancient fossils
Gauteng, Limpopo
Robben Island (Cultural, 1999) – Political prison of Nelson Mandela
Western Cape
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (Cultural, 2003) – Site of a powerful African kingdom
Limpopo
Richtersveld Cultural & Botanical Landscape (Cultural, 2007) – Nama pastoralist heritage
Northern Cape
Khomani Cultural Landscape (Cultural, 2017) – Home of the San people
Northern Cape
Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour Sites (Cultural, 2024) – Pinnacle Point, Sibudu, Diepkloof
Various provinces
Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites (Cultural, 2024) – Includes Qunu, Robben Island & others
Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Western Cape
iSimangaliso Wetland Park (Natural, 1999/2025) – Now a cross-border wetland with Mozambique
KwaZulu-Natal
Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (Natural, 2004/2015) – Among the world's richest floral hotspots
Western & Eastern Cape
Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (Natural, 2018) – World's oldest surface geology
Mpumalanga
Vredefort Dome (Natural, 2005) – Ancient meteorite impact site
Free State, North West
Maloti–Drakensberg Park (Mixed, 2000/2013) – Shared with Lesotho
KwaZulu-Natal

Zambia

Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls (Natural, 1989) – One of the world's largest waterfalls
Southern Province

Zimbabwe

Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls (Natural, 1989) – Shared with Zambia
Matabeleland North
Mana Pools, Sapi & Chewore (Natural, 1984) – Floodplains with diverse wildlife
Mashonaland North
Great Zimbabwe (Cultural, 1986) – Ancient city of stone and African civilization
Masvingo Province
Khami Ruins (Cultural, 1986) – A post-Great Zimbabwe trading centre
Matabeleland
Matobo Hills (Cultural, 2003) – Sacred granite formations with San rock art
Matabeleland South

Total as of July 2025:

30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are currently recognized across Southern Africa:

South Africa – 13
Zimbabwe – 5
Malawi – 3
Botswana – 2
Namibia – 2
Mozambique – 2
Zambia – 1
Angola – 1
Lesotho – 1 (shared)