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The protected areas of South Africa include
national park A national park is a natural park in use for conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual ...
s and marine protected areas managed by the national government, public
nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological o ...
s managed by provincial and
local governments Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-loca ...
, 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 South African National Parks (SANParks) is the body responsible for managing South Africa's national parks. SANParks was formed in 1926, and currently manages 19 parks consisting of , over 3% of the total area of South Africa. Many parks offer ...
(''SANParks''). A number of national parks have been incorporated in
transfrontier conservation area A transboundary protected area (TBPA) is an ecological protected area that spans boundaries of more than one country or sub-national entity. Such areas are also known as transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) or peace parks. TBPAs exist in man ...
s. 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 This is a list of national and provincial heritage sites in South Africa, as declared by the South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA) and the nine provincial heritage resources authorities. The list is maintained by SAHRA by means of an onli ...
.


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 The Prince Edward Islands are two small uninhabited islands in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean that are part of South Africa. The islands are named Marion Island (named after Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne, 1724–1772) and Prince Edward Islan ...
, which are South African territories in the Southern Ocean, have been declared as a special nature reserve.


National Parks

The following are the
national park A national park is a natural park in use for conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual ...
s of South Africa: * * * * * * * * * (shared with
Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label= Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kal ...
) * * * * (visitors not allowed) * * * * * * * (shared with
Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
)


Transfrontier conservation areas

South Africa is involved in the following
transfrontier conservation area A transboundary protected area (TBPA) is an ecological protected area that spans boundaries of more than one country or sub-national entity. Such areas are also known as transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) or peace parks. TBPAs exist in man ...
s (TFCAs), also known as "peace parks". * – includes the
Richtersveld The Richtersveld is a desert landscape characterised by rugged kloofs and high mountains, situated in the north-western corner of South Africa’s Northern Cape province. It is full of changing scenery from flat, sandy, coastal plains, to craggy ...
in South Africa and the
Fish River Canyon The Fish River Canyon (Afrikaans: ''Visrivier Canyon'' or'' Visrivier Kuil'', german: Fischfluss Canyon), is located in the south of Namibia. It is the largest canyon in Africa, as well as the second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia.Ma ...
and Ai-Ais Hot Springs in Namibia * – includes
Kruger National Park Kruger National Park is a South African National Park and one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends from north to south and from ea ...
and parks in
Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
and
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...
* – includes the former Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and Gemsbok National Park and Mabuasehube Game Reserve in Botswana * – includes Golden Gate Highlands National Park,
Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve, Free State, South Africa is an 18,000 Ha reserve situated to the south west of Harrismith. The reserve is close to the Drakensberg Mountain nature reserve. The reserve offers campsites and hiking trails and a la ...
,
uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is a protected area in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, covering , and is part of a world heritage site. The park includes Royal Natal National Park, a provincial park, and covers part of the Drakensber ...
and
Royal Natal National Park Royal Natal National Park is a park in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa and forms part of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site. Notwithstanding the name, it is actually not a South African National Park managed by the SANPa ...
in South Africa, and
Sehlabathebe National Park The Sehlabathebe National Park is located in the Maloti Mountains in Qacha's Nek District, Lesotho and is part of the Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site. The park was first established on May 8. 1969 and since then, it is recognized importa ...
in Lesotho * –
Mapungubwe National Park Mapungubwe National Park is a national park in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is located by the Kolope River, south of the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers and about to the NE of the Venetia Diamond Mine. The National Park border ...
in South Africa, Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana, and Tuli Circle Safari Area in Zimbabwe * – including
Phongolo Nature Reserve Phongolo Nature Reserve is an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife reserve in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reserve is 10,485 ha in extent. The reserve is a co-operative conservation project between private landowners, tribal communities and go ...
in South Africa and various farms in Swaziland * – including
Songimvelo Game Reserve Songimvelo Game Reserve is a provincial park managed by the Mpumalanga Parks Board in Mpumalanga, South Africa. ''Songimvelo'' is a plural word that means 'we are conserving nature' in the siSwati language. This park forms part of the Songimve ...
in South Africa and
Malolotja Nature Reserve 280px, View on the national park Malolotja National Park covers of mountain wilderness on Eswatini's northwestern border with South Africa. The park includes Ngwenya Mountain, Eswatini's second highest mountain (1,829 m), and Malolotja Falls which ...
in Swaziland * – including
Ndumo Game Reserve Ndumo Game Reserve is a small () South African game reserve located in the far northeast district of KwaZulu-Natal known as Maputaland. It is situated on the border with Mozambique where the Pongola River joins the Great Usutu River. It is adjac ...
and
Tembe Elephant Park Tembe Elephant Park is a 30 012 ha game reserve in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is adjacent to Ndumo Game Reserve. The park was developed by Tembe Tribal Authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. It was established in 1983 to protect ...
in South Africa, Maputo Special Reserve in Mozambique, and Usuthu Gorge Conservancy in Swaziland. The
Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area was born out of the Peace park, Peace Park Foundation’s vision to establish a network of transfrontier conservation biology, conservation areas in southern Africa. It straddles the border between Sout ...
, involving South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland, is planned to be formed from the
iSimangaliso Wetland Park iSimangaliso Wetland Park (previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park) is situated on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 235 kilometres north of Durban by road. It is South Africa's third-largest protected are ...
and the Nsubane Pongola, Songimvelo-Malolotja and Usuthu-Tembe-Futi TFCAs.


Marine Protected Areas

* (Eastern Cape) * (Western Cape) * (Eastern Cape) * (Western Cape) * (KwaZulu-Natal) * * * (Western Cape) * (Eastern Cape) * * (Western Cape) * * (Western Cape) * (Eastern Cape) * (Western Cape) * (Western Cape) * (Eastern Cape) * (KwaZulu-Natal) * (Western Cape) * (Western Cape) * (Western Cape) * (Western Cape) * (Southern Ocean) * (Northern Cape) * (Northern Cape) * (Northern Cape) * (KwaZulu-Natal) * (Eastern Cape) * (Prince Edward Islands) * (KwaZulu-Natal) * (Western Cape) * (Western Cape) * (Eastern Cape) * (Western Cape) * (Western Cape) * * (Western Cape) * (Western Cape) * (Eastern Cape) * (Eastern Cape) * (KwaZulu-Natal) * (Western Cape)


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 The Hominidae (), whose members are known as the great apes or hominids (), are a taxonomic family of primates that includes eight extant species in four genera: '' Pongo'' (the Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutan); ''Gorilla'' (the ...
sites and environs of: ** ** ** * Protected Areas * * Cultural Landscape * Cultural and Botanical Landscape * *uKhahlamba/ Park *


Botanical Gardens

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


UNESCO Biosphere Reserves of South Africa

* * * * * * * * * *


Eastern Cape


National Parks situated in the Eastern Cape

* * , (
Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
), also see Greater Addo Elephant National Park below * * , also see
Garden Route National Park The Garden Route National Park is a national park in the Garden Route region of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces in South Africa. It is a coastal reserve well known for its indigenous forests, dramatic coastline, and the Otter Trail. It ...
below


Mega Parks in the making, predominantly in the Eastern Cape

* ** (
Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 202 ...
) ** (
Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 202 ...
) ** * ** , (
Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
). ** , (
Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
). ** , (
Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
). *** *** * ** , (
Western Cape The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 202 ...
) ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **


Parks Managed by Eastern Cape Parks

* * * , also known as the Dwesa-Cwebe Provincial Nature Reserve ** * (consists of 12 smaller reserves) ** ** ** ** ** (accessed through the
Kwelera National Botanical Garden The Kwelera National Botanical Garden is located at the Kwelera Nature Reserve on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape. It lies at the mouth of the Kwelera River. The garden is the 10th national botanical garden established in South Afric ...
) ** ** ** * * * ** ** * , also known as Hluleka Provincial Nature Reserve ** * , also known as Mkambati ** * , also known as Mpofu Provincial Game Reserve * * * * * , also known as Silaka Provincial Wilderness Reserve * * *


Natural Heritage Sites

* * * * *


Private and Other Parks

* Aberdeen Nature Reserve * Alexandria Coast Reserve * Amakhala Game Reserve * Amalinda Nature Reserve * * * see
Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve is a protected area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Characteristics The Baviaanskloof - (Dutch for "Valley of Baboons") - lies between the Baviaanskloof and Kouga mountain ranges. The easternmost point of ...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ** * * (Mierhoopplaat) * see
Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve is a protected area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Characteristics The Baviaanskloof - (Dutch for "Valley of Baboons") - lies between the Baviaanskloof and Kouga mountain ranges. The easternmost point of ...
* * * * * * * * * Kuzuko Private Game Reserve * * Kwantu Private Game Reserve * * * * * * Mbumbazi Nature Reserve * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Forest Reserves

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * , part of the
Tsitsikamma National Park The Tsitsikamma National Park is a protected area on the Garden Route, Western Cape and Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is a coastal reserve well known for its indigenous forests, dramatic coastline, and the Otter Trail. On 6 March 2009 it was ...
* *


Protected Areas

* * *


Free State


National Parks

* ** **


World Heritage Sites


Private and Other Parks

* around the Welbedacht Dam. * * formerly known as ''Hendrik Verwoerd Dam Nature Reserve'', only on the Free State side of the
Gariep Dam The Gariep Dam is located in South Africa, near the town of Norvalspont, bordering the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces. Its primary purpose is for irrigation, domestic and industrial use as well as for power generation. Name The Gariep Dam ...
, the park on the
Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
side of the dam is called the Oviston Nature Reserve. * around the Kalkfontein Dam. * * * * * around the
Vanderkloof Dam The Vanderkloof Dam (originally the P. K. Le Roux Dam) is situated approximately downstream from Gariep Dam and is fed by the Orange River, South Africa's largest river. Vanderkloof Dam is the second-largest dam in South Africa (in volume), hav ...
. * * around the Bloemhof Dam ( Free State) side only, the park on the North West is called the Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve. * * around the Sterkfontein Dam. * around the
Krugersdrift Dam The Krugersdrift Dam in the Modder River is 35 km northwest of Bloemfontein, Free State Province of South Africa with a capacity of 73.2 million cubic metres. It was built in 1970 with a wall length of 3114 m, height of 26 m and a surface ar ...
. * , also at the
Gariep Dam The Gariep Dam is located in South Africa, near the town of Norvalspont, bordering the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces. Its primary purpose is for irrigation, domestic and industrial use as well as for power generation. Name The Gariep Dam ...
, on the otherside of the
Orange River The Orange River (from Afrikaans/Dutch: ''Oranjerivier'') is a river in Southern Africa. It is the longest river in South Africa. With a total length of , the Orange River Basin extends from Lesotho into South Africa and Namibia to the north ...
is the Oviston Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape. * around the Allemanskraal Dam.


Gauteng


GDACE Parks

* * * * *


Protected Areas

* *


Other parks and private reserves

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * (The Cradle) * * * * * * * * * Bishop Bird, Rooihuiskraal, Centuion


KwaZulu-Natal


Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

* previously known as Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, including ** , ** , ** , *** (the town is not part of the park) ** , ** , ** , ** ** , ** , ** , ** , ** , ** , ** and ** . * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ** ** ** ** see also Cathedral Peak (South Africa) ** see also Cathedral Peak (South Africa) ** ** ** see also
Giant's Castle Giant's Castle is a mountain located within the Drakensberg range in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It includes a grassy plateau nestled among the deep valleys of the southern end of the central Drakensberg. Together, the shape of the peaks an ...
** see also
Giant's Castle Giant's Castle is a mountain located within the Drakensberg range in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It includes a grassy plateau nestled among the deep valleys of the southern end of the central Drakensberg. Together, the shape of the peaks an ...
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **


Private and Other Parks

* , also known as Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve * * * * * * * * , also known as Craigie Burn Dam Nature Reserve * , also see Dhlinza Forest * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * , also known as Richards Bay Nature Reserve * * * * * * * * * * , also known as Weenen Provincial Nature Reserve


Natural Heritage Sites

* * * * * * *


Limpopo


National Parks

* ** , also known as Pafuri Triangle. * *


Provincial Parks

* * * * * *


Private and Other Parks

* in the
Greater Kruger National Park Kruger National Park is a South African National Park and one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends from north to south and from ea ...
** , also known as Bulule Private Game Reserve. ** , also known as Kapama Private Game Reserve. ** ** ** , also known as Klaserie Private Game Reserve. ** , also known as Timbavati Private Game Resereve. *** *** ** , also known as Thornybush Private Game Reserve. ** . See
Mpumalanga Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. ...
, province. ** Private Game Reserve *** *** *** *** *** *** *** . ** , also known as Umbabat Private Game Reserve. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * region, Kruger NP * * * * * * * * * * , also known as Ndzalama Wildlife Reserve * * * *
Philip Herd Nature Reserve Background Philip Herd Nature Reserve is a nature reserve within the UNESCObr>Vhembe Biosphere Reservein the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The reserve is located east of the town of Musina on the Limpopo River which form ...
* * * * * * * * * * *


Mpumalanga


National Parks

*


Provincial Parks

* * (mostly in Mpumalanga, small section in
Limpopo Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature ...
) * * * * * * * * * * *


Private and Other Parks

* * * * * * * Lionspruit, part of


Northern Cape


National Parks

* * * * * * ** ** *


Private and Other Parks

* * ** * * * * * *


North West


National Parks


Provincial Parks

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * , also known as Wolwespruit Nature Reserve


Protected Areas

* * National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 Section 12


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

* * * * * * * * * * for the rest see
Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Incl. the Lebenon State Forest. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * , also known as Mostertshoek Forest *


Forests

* * * (Petrus Brand) * Reserve (Goldfield) * Area * * * Reserve * Reserve * * Reserve * (Kruisfontein) * * *


Natural Heritage Sites

* * * * * * * *


Mountain Catchment Areas

* Mountain Catchment Area * * Mountain Catchment Area * Mountain Catchment Area * Mountain Catchment Area * Mountain Catchment Area * Mountain Catchment Area * East Mountain Catchment Area * Mountain Catchment Area


See also

* * * * * * *


References


External links


National Park

South African National Parks (SANParks)

National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Bill (39 of 2003)

World Heritage Convention Act (49 of 1999)

National Heritage Resources Act (25 of 1999)

Astronomy Geographic Advantage Bill (61 of 2007)
{{Africa in topic, List of national parks of
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring coun ...
National parks A national park is a natural park in use for conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individua ...
Protected areas
protected Protection is any measure taken to guard a thing against damage caused by outside forces. Protection can be provided to physical objects, including organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like civil and political rights. Although th ...