The Best of... World Heritage Sites

The Cradle of Humankind

A large network of fossil hominid sites at Sterkfontein and other caves near Krugersdorp, Gauteng. The site became internationally famous when the skull of an ape-like human (Pleisanthropus transvaalensis or 'Mrs Ples'), estimated to be about 2.6 million years old and the 'missing link' between ape and modern man, was discovered here by Dr Robert Broom in 1947.

Since then, the 12 excavation sites in the Cradle have continued to produce insights into the evolution of humankind over the past 3.5 million years. In 1998, the skull and skeleton of an Australopithicus, thought to be 3,3 million years old, was found at Sterkfontein.

The Cradle area contains more than 500 hominid fossils, as well as thousands of animal fossils and Stone Age and other tools.

For info tel 011 956 6342

The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park

The recently consolidated and proclaimed World Heritage site, stretching from the St Lucia estuary all the way to Maputaland, contains five distinct eco systems

The area is unique and fragile because of the interplay between these various eco-systems. Controlled by KZN wildlife, the Park boasts a spectacular diversity of plant, animal and bird species.

For info tel 033 845 1000

Robben Island

Across the bay from Cape Town, Robben Island was the prison of former president Nelson Mandela.

A flat windswept island with a notorious history and spectacular views of Table Mountain, it was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 largely because of its association with the liberation struggle.

Visitors arrive by boat from the V& A waterfront and are given a conducted tour of the island, taking in the old prison, limestone quarry, small village and harbour.

For info tel 021 419 1300

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Proclaimed a World Heritage site in 2000 because of its outstanding natural beauty and wealth of evidence of early San life, the Drakensberg contains rock paintings covering a period of 4,000 years.

There are an estimated 600 rock art sites in the mountains, depicting 35,000 individual San images, and archaeological sites dating back to the early Stone Age, nearly a million years ago.

The Drakensberg's natural significance lies in its contrasting geological features, its eleven wetland plant communities, its unique plant varieties and its rare and threatened bird species, such as the wattled crane and the striped flufftail.

For info tel 033 702 0540

*Cape Floral Kingdom

The Cape Floral Kingdom, to be found along the Cape Peninsula and especially on Table Mountain, is one of only six floral kingdoms in the world. Because the entire area, which encompasses the Cedarberg, Hottentots Holland mountains and other sensitive habitats, is under constant threat from development, the SA Government has applied to have the entire floral kingdom declared a World Heritage Site.

The indigenous flora of the 470 sq km Cape Peninsula alone contains 2 256 different plant species. Table Mountain has some 1,470 species, including more than 500 species of erica and 100 of iris. South Africa's national flower, the protea, is found in abundance on mountain slopes.