Protected areas of 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''). 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.

National Parks

The following are the national parks of South Africa:
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Transfrontier conservation areas

South Africa is involved in the following transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), also known as "peace parks".
* – includes the Richtersveld in South Africa and the Fish River Canyon and Ai-Ais Hot Springs in Namibia
* – includes Kruger National Park and parks in Mozambique and Zimbabwe
* – 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, uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and Royal Natal National Park in South Africa, and Sehlabathebe National Park in Lesotho
* – Mapungubwe National Park in South Africa, Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana, and Tuli Circle Safari Area in Zimbabwe
* – including Phongolo Nature Reserve in South Africa and various farms in Swaziland
* – including Songimvelo Game Reserve in South Africa and Malolotja Nature Reserve in Swaziland
* – including Ndumo Game Reserve and Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa, Maputo Special Reserve in Mozambique, and Usuthu Gorge Conservancy in Swaziland.

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

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Ramsar Sites

There are 30 designated Ramsar sites in South Africa:

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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:
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* Cultural Landscape
* Cultural and Botanical Landscape
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*uKhahlamba/ Park
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Botanical Gardens

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UNESCO Biosphere Reserves of South Africa

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Eastern Cape

National Parks situated in the Eastern Cape

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* , (Eastern Cape), also see Greater Addo Elephant National Park below
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* , also see Garden Route National Park below

Mega Parks in the making, predominantly in the Eastern Cape

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Parks Managed by Eastern Cape Parks

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Natural Heritage Sites

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Private and Other Parks

* Aberdeen Nature Reserve
* Alexandria Coast Reserve
* Amakhala Game Reserve
* Amalinda Nature Reserve
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* Kuzuko Private Game Reserve
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* Kwantu Private Game Reserve
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* Mbumbazi Nature Reserve
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Forest Reserves

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Protected Areas

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Free State

National Parks

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World Heritage Sites

Private and Other Parks

* around the Welbedacht Dam.
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* 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.
* around the Kalkfontein Dam.
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* around the Vanderkloof Dam.
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* around the Bloemhof Dam ( Free State) side only, the park on the North West is called the Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve.
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* near Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve
* around the Sterkfontein Dam.
* around the Krugersdrift Dam.
* , also at the Gariep Dam, on the other side of the Orange River is the Oviston Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape.
* around the Allemanskraal Dam.

Gauteng

GDACE Parks

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Protected Areas

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Other parks and private reserves

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Bishop Bird, Rooihuiskraal, Centuion

KwaZulu-Natal

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

* previously known as Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, including
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Private and Other Parks

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Natural Heritage Sites

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Limpopo

National Parks

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Provincial Parks

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Private and Other Parks

* in the Greater Kruger National Park
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*** ''Motswari Game Reserve''
*** ''Ngala Game Reserve''
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** Private Game Reserve
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* Philip Herd Nature Reserve
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Mpumalanga

National Parks

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Provincial Parks

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Private and Other Parks

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Northern Cape

National Parks

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Private and Other Parks

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North West

National Parks

Provincial Parks

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Protected Areas

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

Private and Other Parks

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Western Cape

National Parks

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Provincial Parks

West Coast

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Winelands

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Overberg

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Cape Karoo

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Garden Route and Little Karoo

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Private and other Reserves

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Forests

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* Reserve (Goldfield)
* Area
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* Reserve
* Reserve
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* Reserve
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Natural Heritage Sites

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Mountain Catchment Areas

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

See also

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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
National parks
Protected areas
protected