UNESCO World Heritage Sites Worth Visiting in South Africa
Planning a family holiday is an amazing, yet daunting task and if you’re like us, you like to slip some educational outings into the itinerary too. In fact, any parent would know how important it is to give your child an experience that will teach them something and leave a lasting impression. With that in mind, these two South African UNESCO World Heritage Sites are bound to broaden the horizons of both young and old.
The Cradle of Humankind
While many of Gauteng’s inhabitants escape the city over the holidays, some often stay at home. Subsequently, they will be indulging in the rare event of less traffic and natural sounds. It’s also the ideal time to explore the reasons why those in the know consider the region special.
Just 50km northwest of Joburg lies one of the world’s most important paleontological sites: The Cradle of Humankind. In 1999, this site – spanning over 47 000 hectares – was labelled a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses a network of limestone caves that have yielded some of the oldest and most important hominid fossils ever discovered.
This site reshaped the world’s understanding of the human evolution, with notable finds like the well-preserved Australopithecus skull, Mrs. Ples. Furthermore, it is also home to the nearly complete 3.6-million-year-old skeleton, Little Foot. It is said that over a third of the world’s early hominid fossils have been uncovered in one of the key sites – the Sterkfontein Caves.
At the Cradle of Humankind, where the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST) has been involved in excavations for the past 30 years, there are many, many lessons to be learned.
Witness groundbreaking science at the Maropeng Visitor Centre, with engaging, interactive exhibits. And, learn more about biodiversity, adaptation and the environment.
The Cradle’s dedication to education, conservation and community involvement will most certainly leave a lasting impression with lessons that are bound to inspire future generations.
The Cradle of Human Culture
The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024. It traces the origins and development of human culture over the past 160 000 years. Furthermore, it showcases humanity’s first steps toward abstract thought, symbolic expression and complex innovation.
At the sites within the Cradle of Human Culture, you’ll find evidence of how our ancestors started to manifest abstract and complex thinking. Among others, the key sites include Pinnacle Point Site Complex in Mossel Bay, Blombos Cave in Stilbaai and Diepkloof Rock Shelter on the West Coast.
Here, you can view the first evidence of the use of bow-and-arrow technology and the consistent use of shellfish. They have also discovered engraved ostrich eggshell and bone tools, shell beads and the extensive use of ochre for functional and symbolic uses here.
Together, these two cradles serve as a reminder that South Africa is so much more than a beautiful country to visit. In fact, it’s where our collective human story begins, making it the perfect destination for educational tourism.
