To help inspire or plan your trip to South Africa, some of its major attractions
for travellers are shown below, including some of the best natural, historical, cultural and adventure sites in the country.
These include all of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for South Africa which represent the best
of the world's cultural and natural heritage.
Click on the icons below to focus on specific types of features
(click again to return to all).
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural | History | Wildlife | Trekking | Cities | Religious Monument | Boat Journey | Rail Journey | Diving | Cultural | Adrenaline | UNESCO WHS |
Eastern Provinces of South Africa - Historical attractions
| Zulu Battlefields | |
|---|---|
The battlefields of Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana were the scene of hugely important events in Zulu history, the battles between the Zulus and the British in 1879, which have been immortalised in film. A visit to the site, almost unchanged since the battles, with an expert guide can bring the historical events to life. | |
| uKhahlamba / Drakensberg Park | |
|---|---|
uKhahlamba or Drakensberg Park is a dramatic and spectacular mountain landscape. With deep river valleys. Rocky gorges, waterfalls, grasslands and forests, it's an area of exceptional natural beauty and a great destination for hiking and trekking. The park is also home to the largest and most concentrated group of rock paintings in Africa south of the Sahara, made by the now extinct San people over 4,000 years.  UNESCO World Heritage Site: uKhahlamba / Drakensberg Park | |
| Spionkop - Boer War Battlefield | |
|---|---|
Spionkop was the site and a bloody and costly battle between the Boers and British forces. The guerrilla warfare tactics adopted by the Boers claimed the lives of about 22,000 British troops, their worst losses since the Napoleonic wars. The battle has been immortalised in Britain with its name being adopted by the famous football stand in Liverpool. | |
| Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs | |
|---|---|
These archaeological sites have provided important insights into human evolution, enabling the identification of several specimens of early hominids dating backs millions of years, including the Taung Skull – a specimen of the species Australopithecus africanus. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs | |
| Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape | |
|---|---|
Mapungubwe, near the border with Zimbabwe and Botswana, was the site of the largest and wealthiest kingdom in southern Africa which traded with India, China and Arabia. It was abandoned in the 14th century due to climactic changes. Today, the remains of palace sites and other settlements provide insight into this civilisation. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape | |
Garden Route - Historical attractions
| Robben Island | |
|---|---|
 Robben Island was used as a prison between the 17th and 20th centuries, most infamously when incarcerating Nelson Mandela and fellow anti-apartheid campaigners. These days, the island acts as a museum offering tours of the island and prison buildings. Visits guided by former prisoners offer a fascinating insight to the brutal regime. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Robben Island | |