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


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 South Africa
    • Swartkrans – Fossil-bearing cave in South Africa
    • Kromdraai – Protected conservation park in South Africa
  • Cape Floral Region – Smallest of the six recognised floral kingdoms of the world Protected Areas
  • iSimangaliso Wetland Park – South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastline
  • Mapungubwe – Medieval state in South Africa 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 old

Botanical Gardens

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

Natural Heritage Sites

  • Barville Park Natural Heritage Site
  • Elmhurst Natural Heritage Site
  • Glendour Natural Heritage Site
  • Kasouga Farm Natural Heritage Site
  • Kruizemuntfontein Natural Heritage Site

Private and Other Parks

  • Aberdeen Nature Reserve
  • Alexandria Coast Reserve
  • Amakhala Game Reserve
  • Amalinda Nature Reserve
  • Asanta Sana Game Reserve
  • Aylesbury Nature Reserve
  • Baviaankloof Wilderness Areas – Conservation area in South Africa see Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve
  • Beggar's Bush Nature Reserve
  • Bayeti Game Reserve
  • Beakosneck Private Nature Reserve
  • Coleridge Game Reserve
  • Citruslandgoed Game Farm
  • Christmas Rock to Gxulu River Marine Protected Area
  • Cycad Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
  • Dorn Boom Game Farm
  • Doubledrift Provincial Nature Reserve
  • East Cape Game Farm
  • Emlanjeni Private Game Reserve
  • Fort Fordyce Provincial Nature Reserve
  • Great Fish River Complex Provincial Nature Reserve
    • Andries Vosloo Kudu Nature Reserve
    • Doubledrift Provincial Nature Reserve
  • Ghio Wetland Nature Reserve – Wetland nature reserve in the Eastern Cape
  • Groendal Wilderness Nature Reserve (Mierhoopplaat)
  • Guerna Wilderness Nature Reserve see Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve
  • Hoeksfontein Game Farm
  • Hillside Safaris Game Farm
  • Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve
  • Inthaba Lodge Game Farm
  • Jarandi Safaris Game Farm
  • Karoo Safaris Game Farm
  • Kingsdale Game Farm
  • Koedoeskop Game Farm
  • Kuzuko Private Game Reserve[5]
  • Kwandwe Private Game Reserve – Private game reserve, northeast of Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  • Kwantu Private Game Reserve
  • Lady Slipper Nature Reserve
  • Lanka Safaris Game Farm
  • Loerie Dam Nature Reserve
  • Lottering Coast Reserve
  • Luchaba Wildlife Reserve
  • Mbumbazi Nature Reserve
  • Mierhoopplaat Nature Reserve
  • Minnawill Game Farm
  • Monteaux Game Farm
  • Nyara River Mouth Marine Area
  • Hopewell Game Reserve
  • Hunters Lodge Game Farm
  • Hunts Hoek Safaris Game Farm
  • Oudekraal Game Farm
  • Pumba Private Game Reserve[6]
  • Rockdale Game Farm
  • Rupert Game Farm
  • Samara Private Game Reserve – Private game reserve near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
  • Scotia Safaris Game Farm
  • Schuilpatdop Game Farm
  • Sepree River Private Nature Reserve
  • Shamwari Game Reserve – Game reserve outside Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  • Stinkhoutberg Nature Reserve
  • Timbili Game Reserve
  • Tregathlyn Game Farm
  • Trumpetters Drift Game Farm

Forest Reserves

  • Andrews State Forest
  • Blue Lily's Bush Forest Reserve
  • Hankey State Forest
  • Hogsback State Forest
  • Inyarha (Nyara) Forest Reserve
  • Isidenge State Forest
  • Katberg State Forest
  • Kologha Forest Reserve
  • Koomans Bush State Reserve
  • Kruisrivier Forest Reserve
  • Kubusi Indigenous State Forest
  • Longmore State Forest
  • Lottering Forest Reserve
  • Plaatbos Forest Nature Reserve
  • Robbe Hoek Forest Reserve
  • Storms River Forest, part of the Tsitsikamma National Park
  • Welbedacht State Forest
  • Witelsbos State Forest

Protected Areas

Free State

National Parks

World Heritage Sites

Private and Other Parks

Gauteng

GDACE Parks

Protected Areas

Other parks and private reserves

  • Aloe Ridge Game Reserve – Game reserve in Gauteng, South Africa
  • Andros Private Nature Reserve
  • Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary – A bird sanctuary in Pretoria, South Africa
  • Avalon Private Nature Reserve
  • Beaulieu Bird Sanctuary
  • Cheetah Park Private Nature Reserve
  • Daisy Private Nature Reserve
  • Diepsloot Nature Reserve
  • Dinokeng Game Reserve – South Africa wildlife sanctuary
  • Ezemvelo Nature Reserve
  • Faerie Glen Nature Reserve – A nature reserve in the east of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Gelderland Private Nature Reserve
  • Groenkloof Nature Reserve – A nature reserve near Pretoria, South Africa
  • Hartbeesthoek Radio Astronomy Conservation Area
  • Hartebeeshoek Municipal Nature Reserve
  • Johanna Jacobs Private Nature Reserve
  • John Ness Private Nature Reserve
  • Kloofendal Nature Reserve – Nature reserve near Roodepoort, South Africa
  • Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve – Largest nature reserve in Johannesburg
  • Kromdraai Conservancy – Protected conservation park in South Africa
  • Krugersdorp Nature Reserve – Game reserve in South Africa
  • Leeuwfontein Nature Reserve
  • Montsetse Nature Reserve (The Cradle)
  • Moreletaspruit Nature Reserve
  • Olifantsvlei Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Johannesburg South
  • Onderstepoort Nature Reserve
  • Rietfontein Nature Reserve
  • Rietvlei Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Pretoria, South Africa
  • Sterkwater Private Nature Reserve
  • Tweefontein Private Nature Reserve
  • Waldr Nature Reserve
  • Wonderboom Nature Reserve – Nature Reserve in Pretoria, South Africa

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 Africa (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 protected area (MPA) along the Indian Ocean coastline of northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    • 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 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 Africa
  • Krantzkloof Nature Reserve – A nature reserve in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal
  • Midmar Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
  • Ndumo Game Reserve – South African game reserve in Maputaland
  • Tembe Elephant Park – protected area
  • Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve
  • Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve – Reserved area in South Africa
  • Tembe Elephant Park – protected area
  • Umtamvuna Nature Reserve – Coastal nature reserve in South Africa
  • uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park – Part of a world heritage site in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    • Royal Natal National Park – National park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    • Rugged Glen Nature Reserve
    • Mlamboja Wilderness Area
    • Mfiffyela Nature Reserve
    • Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve see also Cathedral Peak (South Africa)
    • Cathedral Peak State Forest see also Cathedral Peak (South Africa)
    • Cathkin Peak Forest Reserve
    • Monk's Cowl Nature Reserve
    • Giants Castle Nature Reserve see also Giant's Castle
    • Giants Castle Game Reserve see also Giant's Castle
    • Highmoor State Forest
    • Mkhomazi Nature Reserve
    • Kamberg Nature Reserve
    • Lotheni Nature Reserve
    • Vergelegen Nature Reserve
    • Cobham Nature Reserve
    • Mzimkulu Wilderness Area
    • Garden Castle State Forest
    • Garden Castle Nature Reserve
    • Mzimkulwana Nature Reserve

Private and Other Parks

  • Albert Falls Game Reserve, also known as Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve – Game reserve in South Africa
  • Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area – Marine conservation area at Aliwal Shoal off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
  • Amatikuku Nature Reserve
  • AmaZulu Game Reserve
  • Athole Natural Reserve
  • Beachwood Mangroves Natural Reserve
  • Bonamanzi Game Park
  • Coleford Nature Reserve
  • Craigie Burn Nature Reserve, also known as Craigie Burn Dam Nature Reserve
  • Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve, also see Dhlinza Forest
  • eMakhosini Ophathe Heritage Park – Wildlife park and historic place in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
  • Enseleni Nature Reserve
  • Falaza Game Park
  • Himeville Nature Reserve
  • Hlatikulu Nature Reserve
  • Impendle Nature Reserve
  • Iphithi Nature Reserve – nature reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
  • Iqxalingenwa Nature Reserve
  • Karkloof Nature Reserve
  • Makasa Nature Reserve
  • Mount Currie Nature Reserve
  • Mtsikeni Wildlife Nature Reserve
  • Ophathe Nature Reserve
  • Paardeplaats Nature Reserve
  • Phinda Resource Reserve – Private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal
  • Poccolan (Robinson's) Bush Nature Reserve
  • Pongola Bush Nature Reserve
  • Pongolapoort Nature Reserve – park in South Africa
  • Qudeni Nature Reserve
  • Richards Bay Game Reserve, also known as Richards Bay Nature Reserve
  • Shongweni Game Reserve
  • Sileza Nature Reserve
  • Sodwana Game Reserve
  • Springside Nature Reserve
  • Ubombo Mountain Nature Reserve
  • Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in South Africa
  • Umlalazi Nature Reserve – nature reserve in South Africa
  • Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve
  • Vryheid Mountain Provincial Nature Reserve
  • Weenen Game Reserve, also known as Weenen Provincial Nature Reserve

Natural Heritage Sites

  • Kombewaria
  • Langfontein
  • Oshoek
  • Oudehoutdraai
  • Tafelkop – human settlement in South Africa
  • Theespruit
  • Rooikraal

Limpopo

National Parks

Provincial Parks

Private and Other Parks

Mpumalanga

National Parks

Provincial Parks

Private and Other Parks

  • Edeni Game Reserve
  • Josefsdal Songimvelo Game Reserve
  • K'Shani Private Game Reserve
  • Mthethomusha Game Reserve
  • SterkSpruit Nature Reserve
  • Kudu Private Nature Reserve
  • Lionspruit, part of Marloth Park – place in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Northern Cape

National Parks

Private and Other Parks

  • Archaeological Reserve
  • Goegab Nature Reserve
    • Hester Malan Veldblom Reserve
  • Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in South Africa
  • Spitskop Nature Reserve
  • Sunnyside Game Farm
  • Tswalu Desert Reserve
  • Thuru Lodge
  • Witsand Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in the Northern Cape, South Africa

North West

National Parks

Provincial Parks

  • Barberspan Bird Sanctuary
  • Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve
  • Borakalalo Game Reserve
  • Boskop Dam Nature Reserve
  • Botsalano Game Reserve – game reserve in South Africa
  • Kgaswane Mountain Reserve – Ramsar site reserve within the Magaliesberg Biosphere, North West, South Africa
  • Lichtenburg Game Reserve
  • Madeleine Robinson Nature Reserve
  • Madikwe Game Reserve – game reserve
  • Mafikeng Game Reserve
  • Marico-Bosveld Nature Reserve
  • Molemane Eye Nature Reserve
  • Molopo Game Reserve
  • Oog van Malmanie Nature Reserve
  • Pienaar Nature Reserve
  • Pilanesberg National Park – Wildlife reserve in an extinct volcano in South Africa
  • Rustenburg Nature Reserve
  • Rust De Winter Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in South Africa
  • SA Lombard Nature Reserve
  • Schoonspruit Nature Reserve
  • Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve
  • Wolwespruit Dam Reserve, also known as Wolwespruit Nature Reserve

Protected Areas

Private and Other Parks

  • Faan Meintjies Nature Reserve
  • Magaliesberg Natural Area
  • Marico Bosveld Nature Reserve
  • Knysna National Lakes Nature Reserve

Western Cape

National Parks

Provincial Parks

West Coast

Winelands

Overberg

Cape Karoo

Garden Route and Little Karoo

  • Outeniqua Nature Reserve
  • Goukamma Nature Reserve
  • Keurbooms River Nature Reserve
  • Robberg Nature Reserve – Conservation area at Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
  • Pledge Nature Reserve – Nature reserve in Knysna, South Africa

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. 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.
  • 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 Africa
  • 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

  • Bergplaas Forest
  • Diepwalle Forest
  • Fisantehoek Forest (Petrus Brand)
  • Jubilee Creek Forest Reserve (Goldfield)
  • Groeneweidebos Forest Area
  • Hankey State Forest
  • Harkerville Forest
  • Lelievlei Forest Reserve
  • Millwood Forest Reserve
  • Knysna Forest – Ecoregion of the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome in South Africa
  • Quar Forest Reserve
  • Sinclair Forest (Kruisfontein)
  • Walker Bay State Forest
  • Wilderness Forest
  • Witelsbos State Forest

Natural Heritage Sites

  • Altydgedacht National Heritage Site
  • Barkai National Heritage Site
  • Elandsberg
  • Groothagelkraal
  • Gys se Kraal
  • Kareedouw – Town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa
  • Paardenberg-Bewarea
  • Tierberg – Mountain in Switzerland

Mountain Catchment Areas

  • Hawequas Mountain Catchment Area
  • Kammanassie Mountain Catchment Area
  • Klein Swartberg – Mountain range in Western Cape, South Africa Mountain Catchment Area
  • Koue Bokkeveld – Mountain range in Western Cape, South Africa 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 Africa Mountain Catchment Area

See also

References

  1. "Biodiversity & ecosystems". Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (South Africa). Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  2. Cooper, John (June 2006). "Antarctica and Islands – Background Research Paper produced for the South Africa Environment Outlook report on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism" (PDF). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  3. 1993 United Nations list of national parks and protected areas. World Conservation Monitoring Centre, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Commission on Natural Parks and Protected Areas, United Nations Environment Programme. 1993. p. 173. ISBN 2-8317-0190-2.
  4. "SANParks – South African National Parks (A-Z)". South African National Parks. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  5. "Kuzuko Lodge, Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa".
  6. "Pumba Private Game Reserve | Eastern Cape Safari". www.pumbagamereserve.co.za. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  7. "Mountain Zebra-Camdeboo Protected Environment" (PDF).
  8. National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 Section 12
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