The World Heritage sites in Africa are rather scattered, with few sites in the central parts of the continent. The eastern part of Africa boasts, among other things, vast nature areas that are extremely rare on a global scale, such as Mana Pools National park (Zimbabwe) and Kilimanjaro National Park (Tanzania).

(Photo right: Kilimanjaro Park, Tanzania)

The areas where many of the oldest traces of mankind were discovered are also on the African continent, such as Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and surroundings (South Africa). And Africa also has many remnants of European, Arab and Indian trading posts and of the later colonialism. This did not lead to what could be called a melting pot of cultures, however. Arab, Indian or European qualities usually predominate. Examples are the old city of Lamu (Kenya), the island of Mozambique (Mozambique) and the island of St. Louis off the west coast (Senegal). Africa also has valuable remnants of indigenous origin. For example, structures in and around the Sahara were built thousands of years ago under the Egyptian pharaohs, such as the necropolis of Memphis and its pyramids. This original African World Heritage sites also includes the forts and castles in Ghana, the man-made landscape of Sukur (Nigeria) and a few settlements which developed into way stations in the Sahara, such as Djenné (Mali).


(Photo: Mosque of Djenné, Mali)