Pleistocene Occupation Sites – The 11th South African World Heritage Site!

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa has recently been inscribed as
the UNESCO World Heritage site, declared by Mr. Gayton McKenzie, Sport, Arts
and Culture Minister, on 26 th July 2024, i.e., Friday.  For South Africa, this is an
unforgettable moment and the continent to have yet another site added to the
much-respected World Heritage Listing, said the minister.
At the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi, India, the
inscriptions were made, recognizing the sites’ Outstanding Worldwide Values. It is
made of three separate archaeological sites, Diepkloof Rock Shelter, Pinnacle
Point Site Complex, and Sibhudu Cave, situated in the Western Cape and
KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. The excellent protection of these sites,
amid the climactic challenges and increasing sea levels stand as evidence to their
ancestor’s ingenuity, resilience, and transformation to environmental
modifications.
How to reach: The best way to reach Cape Town is by flight. From Cape Town one
can take train or taxi services which takes roughly 5 hrs 19 mins to reach western
cape. The Cape Town International Airport serves domestic as well as
international flights. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa and Ethiopian have their
flight services to Cape Town.
Best Hotels: Canelands Beach Club, One&Only Cape Town, The Bay Hotel, and
Madwaleni River Lodge – Babanango Game Reserve are few among many others
to consider.
Other things to see: Other than these sites, one can also see boulders beach,
Durba Botanic Garden, V&A Waterfront, Congo Caves, Cape of Good Hope and
others.
Best Time to visit: Between December to March are the ideal times to enjoy the
beaches and sunny weather.
Tourism Figures: Between January and March 2024, the attractions in Western
Cape across its six regions recorded a total of 2,587,808 visitors.