List of protected areas of South Africa
Areas protected for conservation in South Africa
The protected areas of South Africa include national parks and marine protected areas managed by the national government , public nature reserves managed by provincial and local governments , and private nature reserves managed by private landowners. Most protected areas are intended for the conservation of flora and fauna . National parks are maintained by South African National Parks (SANParks ).[ 1] A number of national parks have been incorporated in transfrontier conservation areas .
Protected areas may also be protected for their value and importance as historical, cultural heritage or scientific sites. More information on these can be found in the list of heritage sites in South Africa .
Special Nature Reserves
Special nature reserves are highly protected areas from which all people and human activities are excluded, except for conservation and scientific research. The Prince Edward Islands , which are South African territories in the Southern Ocean, have been declared as a special nature reserve.[ 2] [ 3]
National Parks
The following are the national parks of South Africa:[ 4]
Transfrontier conservation areas
South Africa is involved in the following transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), also known as "peace parks".
The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area , involving South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland, is planned to be formed from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the Nsubane Pongola, Songimvelo-Malolotja and Usuthu-Tembe-Futi TFCAs.
Marine Protected Areas
Marine protected areas of South Africa
[ 5] [ 6]
Ramsar Sites
There are 30 designated Ramsar sites in South Africa:
Barberspan
Berg Estuary – River in the Western Cape, South Africa
Blesbokspruit – River in South Africa
Bot - Kleinmond Estuarine System – Section of the Bot-Kleinmond Estuarine System
Dassen Island Nature Reserve – Ramsar site island in South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
De Berg Nature Reserve
De Hoop Vlei – Nature reserve in the Western Cape, South Africa
De Mond – Nature reserve in Western Cape, South Africa
Dyer Island Nature Reserve Complex – Protected islets off the coast of Gansbaai, South Africa
False Bay Nature Reserve
Ingula Nature Reserve
Kgaswane Mountain Reserve – Ramsar site reserve within the Magaliesberg Biosphere, North West, South Africa
Kosi Bay – series of four interlinked lakes in the Maputaland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Lake Sibhayi – Lake in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Langebaan Lagoon – Marine conservation area in the Langebaan lagoon in the Western Cape province of South Africa
Makuleke Wetlands
Middelpunt Nature Reserve
Natal Drakensberg Park – Part of a world heritage site in KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Ndumo Game Reserve – South African game reserve in Maputaland
Ntsikeni Nature Reserve – South African wetlands area
Nylsvley Nature Reserve – protected areaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Orange River Mouth – Major river in southern AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Prince Edward Islands – Two small sub-Antarctic islands belonging to South Africa
Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve – Wetland reserve in the Free State, South Africa
St Lucia System – South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastlinePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Turtle Beaches / Coral Reefs of Tongaland – Marine conservation area in northern kwaZulu-Natal in South Africa
Verloren Valei Nature Reserve – Protected area of South Africa
Verlorenvlei – River in the Western Cape, South Africa
Wilderness Lakes – town in the Western Cape, South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
uMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve – Protected Ramsar wetland in KZN, South Africa
World Heritage Sites
World heritage sites in South Africa are protected by the World Heritage Convention Act (Act 49 of 1999). These include:
Fossil Hominid sites and environs of:
Sterkfontein – Archaeological site in Gauteng, South Africa
Swartkrans – Fossil-bearing cave in South Africa
Kromdraai – Protected conservation park in South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Cape Floral Region – Smallest of the six recognised floral kingdoms of the worldPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Protected Areas
iSimangaliso Wetland Park – South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastline
Mapungubwe – Ancient kingdom in the Limpopo-Shashe Basin, northern South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Cultural Landscape
Richtersveld – Desert in South Africa Cultural and Botanical Landscape
Robben Island – Island in Table Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
uKhahlamba/Drakensberg – Mountain range in South Africa Park
Vredefort Dome – Largest verified impact structure on Earth, about 2 billion years oldPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Botanical Gardens
Durban Botanic Gardens – Africa's oldest surviving botanical gardens, in South Africa
Free State National Botanical Garden – National Botanical Garden just outside Bloemfontein, South Africa
Garden Route Botanical Garden – Botanical Garden in George, Western Cape
Hantam National Botanical Garden – Botanical Garden just outside Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape, South Africa
Harold Porter National Botanical Garden – Conservation area at Betty's Bay in the Western Cape, South Africa
Johannesburg Botanical Garden – Botanical garden in Emmarentia, Johannesburg, South Africa
Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden – Botanical garden focused on succulents and other plants of arid regions
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden – Botanical garden at the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town
Kwelera National Botanical Garden – National botanical garden in the Eastern Cape
Pietermaritzburg National Botanical Garden – Botanical garden in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Lowveld National Botanical Garden – Botanical garden near Mbombela in Mpumalanga, South Africa
Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden – Botanical garden in Pretoria, South Africa
North-West University Botanical Garden – Botanical Garden on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University
Pretoria National Botanical Garden – Garden in eastern Pretoria, Gauteng
Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden – Oldest university botanical garden in South Africa
University of KwaZulu-Natal Botanical Garden – Botanical garden in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden – Botanical reserve in Roodepoort near Johannesburg
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves of South Africa
Eastern Cape
National Parks situated in the Eastern Cape
Mega Parks in the making, predominantly in the Eastern Cape
Parks Managed by Eastern Cape Parks
Bridle Drift Dam Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Commando Drift Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Dwesa Nature Reserve , also known as Dwesa-Cwebe Provincial Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
East London Coast Nature Reserve – Protected area in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (consists of 12 smaller reserves)
Fort Fordyce Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Great Fish River Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Great Kei Nature Reserve
Hluleka Nature Reserve , also known as Hluleka Provincial Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Mkhambathi Nature Reserve , also known as Mkambati – Coastal nature reserve at Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Mpofu Nature Reserve , also known as Mpofu Provincial Game Reserve – Nature reserve in the Amatole district of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Oviston Nature Reserve – Protected area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Potters Pass Nature Reserve – Coastal reserve in the Eastern Cape
Quenera Nature Reserve – Riverine protected area in the Eastern Cape
Shamwari Game Reserve – Game reserve outside Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Silaka Nature Reserve , also known as Silaka Provincial Wilderness Reserve – Nature reserve in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, near Port St Johns
Thomas Baines Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Eastern Cape, South Africa, near Grahamstown
Tsolwana Nature Reserve – Nature reserve on the edge of the Winterberg Mountain range in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Waters Meeting Nature Reserve – Forest reserve in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Natural Heritage Sites
Private and Other Parks
Forest Reserves
Protected Areas
Free State
National Parks
World Heritage Sites
Private and Other Parks
Caledon Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Free State, South Africa around the Welbedacht Dam .
Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve
Gariep Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in South Africa formerly known as Hendrik Verwoerd Dam Nature Reserve , only on the Free State side of the Gariep Dam , the park on the Eastern Cape side of the dam is called the Oviston Nature Reserve .
Kalkfontein Nature Reserve around the Kalkfontein Dam .
Koppies Dam Nature Reserve – Nature Reserve in the Free State, South Africa
Laohu Valley Reserve – National reserve in South africa
Maria Moroka Nature Reserve
Paul Saunders Nature Reserve
Rolfontein Nature Reserve around the Vanderkloof Dam .
Rustfontein Dam Nature Reserve
Sandveld Nature Reserve – nature reserve in the Free State, South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback around the Bloemhof Dam (Free State ) side only, the park on the North West is called the Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve .
Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve – Wetland reserve in the Free State, South Africa
Sneeuwberg Protected Environment near Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve
Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in West State, South Africa around the Sterkfontein Dam .
Soetdoring Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Free State, South Africa around the Krugersdrift Dam .
Tussen-die- Riviere Nature Reserve , also at the Gariep Dam , on the other side of the Orange River is the Oviston Nature Reserve , Eastern Cape.
Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve around the Allemanskraal Dam .
Gauteng
GDACE Parks
Protected Areas
Other parks and private reserves
Bishop Bird, Rooihuiskraal, Centuion
KwaZulu-Natal
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
iSimangaliso Wetland Park – South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastline previously known as Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, including
Cape Vidal Game Reserve ,
False Bay Park – Nature reserve in South Africa,
Kosi Bay Nature Reserve ,
Kosi Bay – series of four interlinked lakes in the Maputaland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback (the town is not part of the park)
Lake Eteza Nature Reserve ,
Lake Sibhayi – Lake in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,
Mapelane Nature Reserve ,
Maputaland Marine Protected Area , also known as Maputaland Marine Reserve – Marine conservation area in northern kwaZulu-Natal in South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Mfabeni ,
Ozabeni ,
St Lucia Game Reserve ,
St Lucia Marine Reserve ,
St Lucia Marine Sanctuary ,
Sodwana Bay National Park – National park in South Africa,
Tewate Wilderness Area and
UMkhuze Game Reserve , also known as Mkuze Game Reserve – Game reserve in Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Chelmsford Nature Reserve , also known as Chelmsford Dam Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park , also known as Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve – Nature reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Ithala Game Reserve , also known as Itala Game Reserve – game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Krantzkloof Nature Reserve – A nature reserve in Kloof, KwaZulu-NatalPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Midmar Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Ndumo Game Reserve – South African game reserve in Maputaland
Tembe Elephant Park – protected areaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve
Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve – Reserved area in South Africa
Tembe Elephant Park – protected areaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Umtamvuna Nature Reserve – Coastal nature reserve in South Africa
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park – Part of a world heritage site in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Private and Other Parks
Natural Heritage Sites
Limpopo
National Parks
Provincial Parks
Private and Other Parks
Associated Private Nature Reserves in the Greater Kruger National Park
Atherstone Nature Reserve – Reserve in Limpopo province, South Africa
Ben Alberts Nature Reserve – Protected area in Limpopo, South Africa
Ben Lavin Nature Reserve – Protected area in Limpopo, South Africa
Blouberg Nature Reserve – South African nature reserve
Blyde-Olifants Conservancy – Game farm group
D'nyala Nature Reserve
Doorndraai Dam Nature Reserve – nature reserve in Limpopo, South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Entabeni Game Reserve – Private reserve in Limpopo, South Africa
Hanglip Reserve – mountain in Soutpansberg, Limpopo, South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Hans Merensky Wilderness – Nature reserve in South Africa
Kaingo Private Game Reserve
Kololo Game Reserve – Biosphere reserve in South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Langjan Nature Reserve
Lapalala Game Reserve – Conservation area in South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Luvhondo Private Nature Reserve
Mabalingwe Game Reserve – protected area in Limpopo, South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Mabula Game Reserve – Private game reserve in Limpopo, South Africa
Makuleke – Northernmost section of Kruger National Park, South Africa region, Kruger NP
Makalali Conservancy
Makapansgat Valley – Archaeological and palaeontological site in South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Makuya Nature Reserve
Mapesu Private Game Reserve
Masebe Nature Reserve
Matshakatini Nature Reserve – Military base in Limpopo, South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Modjadji Nature Reserve – Cycad nature reserve in Limpopo
Mohlabetsi Conservancy
Mokolo Dam Nature Reserve – Protected area in Limpopo, South Africa
Musina Nature Reserve
Mwanedi Game Reserve
Ndzalama Reserve , also known as Ndzalama Wildlife Reserve – Limpopo province, South Africa
Nylsvley Conservancy – protected areaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Nwanedi Game Reserve – Nature reserve in South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Percy Fyfe Conservancy
Philip Herd Nature Reserve
Polokwane Game Reserve – game reserve in South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Rust De Winter Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in South Africa
Schuinsdraai Nature Reserve
Selati Game Reserve – game reserve in Limpopo, South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Soutpansberg Conservancy
Touchstone Game Reserve
Tshukudu Private Game Reserve – Family-owned game reserve in South Africa
Umhlametsi Game Reserve
Welgevonden Game Reserve
Wolkberg Wilderness Area – Protected area in Limpopo, South Africa
Wonderkop Nature Reserve
Mpumalanga
National Parks
Provincial Parks
Private and Other Parks
Northern Cape
National Parks
Private and Other Parks
North West
National Parks
Provincial Parks
Protected Areas
Private and Other Parks
Western Cape
National Parks
Provincial Parks
West Coast
Winelands
Overberg
Cape Karoo
Garden Route and Little Karoo
Private and other Reserves
Akkeren Dam Nature Reserve
Anrewsfield Private Nature Reserve
Annet Private Nature Reserve
Annex Arch Rock Private Nature Reserve
Aquila Private Game Reserve
Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve – Historic estate in the Western Cape, South Africa
Babilonstoring Nature Reserve
Banghoek Private Nature Reserve
Basjanskloof Private Nature Reserve
Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve – Protected area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets for the rest see Eastern Cape .
Ben Etive Nature Reserve
Blouberg Nature Reserve – South African nature reserve
Boosmansbos Nature Reserve
Caledon Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Free State, South Africa
Ceres Mountain Fynbos Nature Reserve
Dassieshoek Nature Reserve
Doringriver Nature Reserve
Drie Kuilen Private Nature Reserve
Duiwenhoksriviermond Private Nature Reserve
Dyer Island Nature Reserve Complex – Protected islets off the coast of Gansbaai, South Africa
Elim Private Nature Reserve
Eyerpoort Private Nature Reserve
Fonteintjiesberg Nature Reserve
Gamtoos River Mouth Nature Reserve
Gondwana Game Reserve – Game reserve in the Western Cape, South Africa
Goukamma Nature Reserve
Gouriqua Kernkor Private Nature Reserve
Greyton Nature Reserve
Groenlandberg Nature Reserve
Groote Kapelfontein Private Nature Reserve
Groot Swartberg Nature Reserve
Hasekraal Private Nature Reserve
Hoek-van-die-Berg Private Nature Reserve
Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve – Mountain range in the Western Cape, South Africa.Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
Inverdoorn Private Nature Reserve
Kaplip Private Nature Reserve
Kareedouw Nature Reserve
Keurboomsrivier Nature Reserve
Kleinmond Coastal and Mountain Nature Reserve
Klipfontein Dam Private Nature Reserve
Koeberg Nature Reserve – Nature reserve surrounding Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, South Africa
Hexberg Nature Reserve
Hopefield Private Nature Reserve
Houwhoek Nature Reserve , including the Lebenon State Forest
Ladismith Klein Karoo Nature Reserve
Lourens River Protected Natural Environment – Section of protected land along the Lourens River in the Helderberg region, South Africa.
Lutzville Nature Reserve
Maanschynkop Nature Reserve
Marloth Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in South Africa
Matjiesfontein Nature Reserve
Matroosberg Private Nature Reserve
Moedverloren Nature Reserve
Montagu Mountain Nature Reserve
Mount Rochelle Nature Reserve
Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve
Quoin Point Nature Reserve
Riverland Nature Reserve
Riviersonderend Nature Reserve
Robberg Nature Reserve – Conservation area at Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
Rooiberg Nature Reserve
Rooikrans Private Nature Reserve
Ruiterbos Nature Reserve
Salmonsdam Nature Reserve – nature reserve in South AfricaPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
Sas Saldanha Nature Reserve
Skuilkrans Private Nature Reserve
Steenbokkie Private Nature Reserve
Susterdal Private Nature Reserve
Swartberg East Nature Reserve
Swartkops Valley Nature Reserve
Theewaters Nature Reserve
Towerkop Nature Reserve
Thaba Manzi Game Farm
Twistniet Nature Reserve
Tygerberg Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Cape Town, South Africa
Uintjieskraal Private Nature Reserve
Vaalkloof Private Nature Reserve
Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Warmwaterberg Nature Reserve
Witfontein Nature Reserve
Wittebrug Nature Reserve , also known as Mostertshoek Forest
Witzenberg Nature Reserve
Forests
Natural Heritage Sites
Mountain Catchment Areas
Hawequas Mountain Catchment Area
Kammanassie Mountain Catchment Area
Klein Swartberg – Mountain range in Western Cape, South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Mountain Catchment Area
Koue Bokkeveld – Mountain range in Western Cape, South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Mountain Catchment Area
Langeberg East Mountain Catchment Area
Langeberg West Mountain Catchment Area
Matroosberg – Second tallest mountain in the Western Cape, South Africa Mountain Catchment Area
Swartberg – Mountain range in Western Cape, South Africa East Mountain Catchment Area
Winterhoek – Mountain range in the Western Cape region of South AfricaPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Mountain Catchment Area
See also
References
External links
Flag of South Africa
National taxon checklists
Plants
Animals Arthropods Arachnids
Harvestmen
Microwhip scorpions
Pseudoscorpions
Scorpions
Shorttailed whipscorpions
Solifugae
Araneae
Ixodida
Whip spiders and tailless whip scorpions
Insects
Alderflies, dobsonflies and fishflies
Beetles
Booklice, barklice and barkflies
Butterflies and moths
Caddisflies
Cockroaches and termites
Dragonflies and damselflies
Earwigs
Fleas
Flies
Jumping bristletails
Lice
Mantises
Mayflies
Net-winged insects
Notoptera
Orthoptera
Sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants
Scorpionflies
Silverfish and firebrats
Stick and leaf insects
Stoneflies
Strepsiptera
Termites
Thrips
True bugs
Webspinners
Molluscs Vertebrates
Seaweeds Fungi Related
Regional taxon checklists and other minor lists
Biodiversity research in SA
Research organisations Research projects Citizen science databases Botanical gardens Taxonomists
Related
Regional biodiversity Legislation Publications
Protected areas of Africa
Sovereign states States with limited recognition
Dependencies and other territories
Sovereign states States with limited recognition
Dependencies and other territories