We love the big and small details of every place and aspect of life that it is simply too hard to create a bucket list of places to visit in Africa. As we thought about it, we realized that all the World heritage sites were making the list and decided that they would be the best starting point.
While they are not the only places you can visit to enjoy Africa's nature and culture, there is definitely so much more. World Heritage Sites are significant for conservation and preservation - based on fully examined factors.
These are the most significant and impactful places you can visit and have a wonderful time.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has worked with countries since 1972, to identify World Heritage sites and protect them for future generations.
For an area or landmark to be designated, it has to meet some cultural or natural significance - which is considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. To be selected, the World Heritage Site has to somehow be unique and of special significance.
World Heritage Sites Selection Criteria
Before an area, or landmark can become a World Heritage Site, it must be nominated. Nominated sites must meet at least of the 10 selection criteria, and be of outstanding universal value. The selection is made up of 6 criteria for culture and 4 for natural sites.
Cultural
- "To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius"
- "To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design"
- "To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared"
- "To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history"
- "To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change"
- "To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance"
Natural
- "to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance"
- "to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features"
- "to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals"
- "to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation"
World Heritage Sites In Africa By Region
World Heritage Sites In Northern Africa
Northern Africa has the biggest share of world heritage sites on the African Continent. The rich cultural history over thousands of years is well preserved, and aArchaeologicalModernArchaeologicalArchaeologicalArchaeologicalArchaeologicals you will see in the table below, most of the sites were inscribed because of their cultural significance.
| # | WORLD HERITAGE SITE NAME | COUNTRY | CRITERIA | INSCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timgad | Algeria | Cultural | 1982 |
| 2 | Kasbah of Algiers | Algeria | Cultural | 1992 |
| 3 | M'Zab Valley | Algeria | Cultural | 1982 |
| 4 | Djemila | Algeria | Cultural | 1982 |
| 5 | Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad | Algeria | Cultural | 1980 |
| 6 | Tipasa | Algeria | Cultural | 1982 |
| 7 | Tassili n'Ajjer | Algeria | Cultural | 1982 |
| 8 | Abu Mena | Egypt | Cultural | 1979 |
| 9 | Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae | Egypt | Cultural | 1979 |
| 10 | Historic Cairo | Egypt | Cultural | 1979 |
| 11 | Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) | Egypt | Natural | 2005 |
| 12 | Memphis & its Necropolis - the Pyramid Shields from Giza to Dahshur | Egypt | Cultural | 1979 |
| 13 | Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis | Egypt | Cultural | 1979 |
| 14 | Saint Catherine Area | Egypt | Cultural | 1979 |
| 15 | Banc d'Arguin National Park | Mauritania | Natural | 1989 |
| 16 | Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chingueti, Tichitt and Oualata | Mauritania | Cultural | 1996 |
| 17 | Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou | Morocco | Cultural | 1987 |
| 18 | Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) | Morocco | Cultural | 2001 |
| 19 | Historic City of Meknes | Morocco | Cultural | 1996 |
| 20 | Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) | Morocco | Cultural | 2004 |
| 21 | Medina of Fez | Morocco | Cultural | 1981 |
| 22 | Medina of Marrakesh | Morocco | Cultural | 1985 |
| 23 | Rabat, Mordern Capital and Historic City | Morocco | Cultural | 2012 |
| 24 | Archeological Site of Volubilis | Morocco | Cultural | 1997 |
| 25 | Medina of Tetouan (formerly known as Titawin) | Morocco | Cultural | 1997 |
| 26 | Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay - Mukkawar Island Marine National Park | Sudan | Natural | 2016 |
| 27 | Archeological Sites of the Island of Meroe | Sudan | Cultural | 2011 |
| 28 | Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region | Sudan | Cultural | 2003 |
| 29 | Dougga / Thugga | Tunisia | Cultural | 1997 |
| 30 | Kairouan | Tunisia | Cultural | 1988 |
| 31 | Amphitheater of El Jem | Tunisia | Cultural | 1979 |
| 32 | Ichkeul National Park | Tunisia | Natural | 1980 |
| 33 | Medina of Sousse | Tunisia | Cultural | 1988 |
| 34 | Archeological site of Carthage | Tunisia | Cultural | 1979 |
| 35 | Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis | Tunisia | Cultural | 1985 |
| 36 | Medina of Tunis | Tunisia | Cultural | 1979 |
| 37 | Old Town of Ghadames | Libya | Cultural | 1985 |
| 38 | Archeological Site of Cyrene | Libya | Cultural | 1982 |
| 39 | Archeological Site of Leptis Magna | Libya | Cultural | 1982 |
| 40 | Rock-Art Sites of Tdrart Acacus | Libya | Cultural | 1985 |
| 41 | Archeological Site of Sabratha | Libya | Cultural | 1982 |
Memphis & Its Necropolis - The Pyramid Shields From Giza To Dahshur, Egypt.
The pyramids in Egypt are the best representation of the first scientific advancements in human civilization and technology. While they are a sight to behold, learning about their known history and walking through is a time travel experience worth all the protection and preserving.
Amphitheater Of El Jem, Tunisia.
Built around 230 AD, the El Jem Amphitheater is thought to have sat around 35,000 people. It is one of the best-preserved Roman Empire ruins outside of Italy, and a good illustration of the extent and reach of the Roman Empire.
World Heritage Sites In Eastern Africa
In East Africa, Ethiopia has the most World Heritage Sites with a total of 9 sites. Given Ethiopia's rich and unique culture, it is no wonder that all but one, are cultural sites.
| # | WORLD HERITAGE SITE NAME | COUNTRY | CRITERIA | INSCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asmara | Eritrea | Cultural | 2017 |
| 2 | Lower Valley of the Awash | Ethiopia | Cultural | 1980 |
| 3 | Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela | Ethiopia | Cultural | 1978 |
| 4 | Konso Cultural Landscape | Ethiopia | Cultural | 2011 |
| 5 | Lower Valley of the Omo | Ethiopia | Cultural | 1980 |
| 6 | Simien National Park | Ethiopia | Natural | 1978 |
| 7 | Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town | Ethiopia | Cultural | 2006 |
| 8 | Fasil Ghebbi, Gonda Region | Ethiopia | Cultural | 1979 |
| 9 | Tiya | Ethiopia | Cultural | 1980 |
| 10 | Aksum | Ethiopia | Cultural | 1980 |
| 11 | Lamu Old Town | Kenya | Cultural | 2001 |
| 12 | Fort Jesus, Mombasa | Kenya | Cultural | 2011 |
| 13 | Mount Kenya National Park / Natural Forest | Kenya | Natural | 1997 |
| 14 | Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests | Kenya | Cultural | 2008 |
| 15 | Lake Turkana National Parks | Kenya | Natural | 1997 |
| 16 | Thimlich Ohinga Archeological Site | Kenya | Cultural | 2018 |
| 17 | Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley | Kenya | Natural | 2011 |
| 18 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Tanzania | Natural & Cultural | 1979 |
| 19 | Selous Game Reserve | Tanzania | Natural | 1982 |
| 20 | Stone Town of Zanzibar | Tanzania | Cultural | 2000 |
| 21 | Serengeti National Park | Tanzania | Natural | 1981 |
| 22 | Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara | Tanzania | Cultural | 1981 |
| 23 | Kondoa Irangi Rock Paintings | Tanzania | Cultural | 2006 |
| 24 | Kilimanjaro National Park | Tanzania | Natural | 1987 |
| 25 | Rwenzori Mountains National Park | Uganda | Natural | 1994 |
| 26 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | Uganda | Natural | 1994 |
| 27 | Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi | Uganda | Cultural | 2001 |
| 28 | Lake Malawi National Park | Malawi | Natural | 1984 |
| 29 | Chongoni Rock-Art Area | Malawi | Cultural | 2006 |
| 30 | Island of Mozambique | Mozambique | Cultural | 1991 |
| 31 | Aapravasi Ghat | Mauritius | Cultural | 2006 |
| 32 | Le Morne Cultural Landscape | Mauritius | Cultural | 2008 |
| 33 | Rainforests of the Atsinanana | Madagascar | Natural | 2007 |
| 34 | Royal Hill of Ambohimanga | Madagascar | Cultural | 2001 |
| 35 | Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve | Madagascar | Natural | 1990 |
| 36 | Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve | Seychelles | Natural | 1983 |
| 37 | Aldabra Atoll | Seychelles | Natural | 1982 |
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is very popular because it is home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Apart from the gorillas, Bwindi's Natural and thick rainforest forms a rich ecosystem of plants and animals and is thought to have survived the last ice age.
World Heritage Sites In Southern Africa
South Africa has the highest number of world heritage sites in Africa, with 10. As with many other countries all around Africa, most sites are designated for their cultural significance.
| # | WORLD HERITAGE SITE NAME | COUNTRY | CRITERIA | INSCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maloti-Drakensberg Park | Lesotho, South Africa | Cultural & Natural | 2000 |
| 2 | Vredefort Dome | South Africa | Natural | 2005 |
| 3 | Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa | South Africa | Cultural | 1999 |
| 4 | Cape Floral Region Protected Areas | South Africa | Natural | 2004 |
| 5 | Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape | South Africa | Cultural | 2003 |
| 6 | Robben Island | South Africa | Cultural | 1999 |
| 7 | Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains | South Africa | Natural | 2018 |
| 8 | Isimangaliso Wetland Park | South Africa | Natural | 1999 |
| 9 | Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape | South Africa | Cultural | 2007 |
| 10 | Khomani Cultural Landscape | South Africa | Cultural | 2017 |
| 11 | Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls | Zambia, Zimbabwe | Natural | 1989 |
| 12 | Mana Pools National Park, Sapi, and Chewore Safari Areas | Zimbabwe | Natural | 1984 |
| 13 | Khami Ruins National Monument | Zimbabwe | Cultural | 1986 |
| 14 | Matobo Hills | Zimbabwe | Cultural | 2003 |
| 15 | Great Zimbabwe National Monument | Zimbabwe | Cultural | 1986 |
| 16 | Okavango Delta | Botswana | Natural | 2014 |
| 17 | Tsodilo | Botswana | Cultural | 2001 |
| 18 | Namib Sand Desert | Namibia | Natural | 2013 |
| 19 | Twefelfontein | Namibia | Cultural | 2007 |
Vredefort Dome, South Africa
The crater, with a diameter of 190 km, is the largest, oldest, and most deeply eroded astrobleme found on Earth. The meteorite impact that happened more than 2 billion years ago when the only life form on earth was algae left the Vredefort Impact Crater.
Matobo Hills, Zimbabwe
The large, free-standing boulders have been used as natural shelters since the early Stone Age (about 3.4 million years ago) - and feature on some rock paintings.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango is an inland delta whose seasonally flooding waters don't drain into any ocean, and less than 5% go into a lake. The ecosystem of the wetland is great for a large number of animals and has made the Okavango as legendary and as sought after, as the Serengeti.
Twefelfontein, Namibia
Twelfelfontein has one of the largest concentrations of rock engravings in Africa. The Twefelfontein rock art dates back to a period of over 2,000 years.
World Heritage Sites In Central Africa
In Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo has the most World Heritage sites 4 - which are all Natural sites. As an area that has been less explored and still has so much untouched nature, most sites in Central Africa are designated as Natural World Heritage Sites.
| # | WORLD HERITAGE SITE NAME | COUNTRY | CRITERIA | INSCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lope-Okanda | Gabon | Cultural & Natural | 2007 |
| 2 | Okapi Wildlife Reserve | D.R Congo | Natural | 1996 |
| 3 | Salonga National Park | D.R Congo | Natural | 1984 |
| 4 | Virunga National Park | D.R Congo | Natural | 1979 |
| 5 | Kahuzi-Biega National Park | D.R Congo | Natural | 1980 |
| 6 | Mbanza-Kongo | Angola | Cultural | 2017 |
| 7 | Dja Faunal Reserve | Cameroon | Natural | 1987 |
| 8 | Sangha Trinational | Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo | Natural | 2012 |
| 9 | Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park | Central African Republic | Natural | 1988 |
| 10 | Lakes of Ounianga | Chad | Cultural | 2012 |
| 11 | Ennedi Massif: Natural and Cultural Landscape | Chad | Cultural & Natural | 2016 |
Okapi Wildlife Reserve, D.R Congo
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve found in DRC's Ituri forest protects one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, with many plants and animals that are rare or non-existent in the adjacent low-altitude forest system.
Lakes Of Ounianga, Chad
This series of 18 lakes are found in the Sahara desert, in North-Eastern Chad. The lakes have various sizes, chemical compositions, colourationsSites, depths, and more.
World Heritage Sites In Western Africa
Senegal and Ivory Coast have the highest number of world heritage sites in West Africa, with 7 and 4 sites - respectively. The sites reflect a good balance of nature and rich culture, all of which have been preserved for centuries, and need to be protected for future generations.
| # | WORLD HERITAGE SITE NAME | COUNTRY | CRITERIA | INSCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Palaces of Abomey | Benin | Cultural | 1985 |
| 2 | W-Arly-Pendjari Complex | Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger | Natural | 1996 |
| 3 | Ruins of Loropeni | Burkina Faso | Cultural | 2009 |
| 4 | Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso | Burkina Faso | Cultural | 2019 |
| 5 | Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande | Cape Verde | Cultural | 2009 |
| 6 | Tai National Park | Ivory Coast | Natural | 1982 |
| 7 | Historic Town of Grand Bassam | Ivory Coast | Cultural | 2012 |
| 8 | Comoe National Park | Ivory Coast | Natural | 1983 |
| 9 | Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve | Ivory Coast | Natural | 1981 |
| 10 | Kunta Kinteh Island and Related sites | Gambia | Cultural | 2003 |
| 11 | Stone Circles of Senegambia | Gambia & Senegal | Cultural | 2006 |
| 12 | Island of Saint-Louis | Senegal | Cultural | 2000 |
| 13 | Saloum Delta | Senegal | Cultural | 2011 |
| 14 | Island of Goree | Senegal | Cultural | 1978 |
| 15 | Bassari Country; Bassari, Fula and Bedik Cultural Landscapes | Senegal | Cultural | 2012 |
| 16 | Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary | Senegal | Natural | 1981 |
| 17 | Niokolo-Koba National Park | Senegal | Natural | 1981 |
| 18 | Asante Traditional Buildings | Ghana | Cultural | 1980 |
| 19 | Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions | Ghana | Cultural | 1979 |
| 20 | Timbuktu | Mali | Cultural | 1988 |
| 21 | Tomb of Askia | Mali | Cultural | 2004 |
| 22 | Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) | Mali | Cultural & Natural | 1989 |
| 23 | Old Towns of Djenne | Mali | Cultural | 1988 |
| 24 | Air and Tenere Natural Reserves | Niger | Natural | 1991 |
| 25 | Historic Centre of Agadez | Niger | Cultural | 2013 |
| 26 | Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove | Nigeria | Cultural | 2005 |
| 27 | Sukur Cultural Landscape | Nigeria | Cultural | 1999 |
| 28 | Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba | Togo | Cultural | 2004 |
Forts And Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central And Western Regions - Ghana
These sites feature the remains of fortified trading posts along the coast of Ghana for around 300 years, between 1482 and 1786.
Old Towns Of Djenne, Mali
The city was inhabited since 250 BCE and was an important link in the trans-Saharan gold trade that peaked between the 8th and 17th centuries. The area has about 2,000 traditional houses.
Final Thoughts
This turned into a massive article - very fast but we love it. World Heritage Sites can be a very easy indicator of where you will see, do or learn about something unique and different. And travel is about experiencing, the new - right?
Cultural sites can be incredible for learning about the various cultures and how they used to live life a long time ago. Natural sites on the other hand are sure to give you something hard to forget. Either way, it is a win-win situation.
Thank you for the time, which sites have made it on your African travel bucket list as you went through this article? Feel free to share with us, we'd like to know.