+27 11 381 3100
This blog was written by prominent South African travel blogger Mzansi Girl and first appeared on her website. In it, she lists her top 10 heritage attractions in South Africa – a list that includes the Cradle of Humankind, Mapungubwe and, importantly, Constitution Hill. A portion of the original blog is reproduced below, and the full blog can be found on the Mzansi Girl website.
---
South Africa is a country blessed with rich natural and cultural heritage sites – definitely too many for one blog post! Besides our 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites there are hundreds of national and provincial heritage attractions.
So when Webjet asked me to share my insights on my top heritage site in SA, I decided to focus on our cultural and historical heritage. Here are my picks, in no particular order:-
1. Drakensberg
Growing up in KZN, we often went for family weekends away to the Drakensberg. These ancient mountains are home to the greatest concentration of San Bushman rock art in South Africa. The ‘Berg’ (as we locals call it) is perhaps more famous for its hiking and spectacular mountain scenery than its thousands of Bushman rock art sites. The best way to experience San rock art is by hiking to some of the many sites. The ‘Main Caves Museum’ on the Giant’s Castle Reserve are the most accessible – you don’t have to do a major trek to get there.
2. The Cradle of Humankind
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Cradle is the world’s richest hominid fossil site, where around 40% of the world’s human ancestor fossils were discovered. Heard of Mrs Ples and Little Foot? A visit to the Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng information centre to learn about the origins of mankind is a must when you’re in Gauteng.
Maropeng Visitor Information Centre
3. Robben Island
The island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. Besides being a prison, over the years the island has housed a hospital, mental institution, leper colony and a military base. I think it’s pretty cool that their tours are guided by former political prisoners of the island, offering visitors unique insight into the personal stories of prison life.
Read the rest of this article on the Mzansi Girl website.
