South African Historical Sites

From Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years to the Battle Fields Route - the famous battle sites of the Anglo-Boer and Anglo-Zulu wars - the South African history comes alive when travelling through its cities and towns.

South Africa's rich history dates back to some of the earliest human settlements in the world. Heritage sites such as the Apartheid Museum and Robben Island will give you a glimpse of the violence of South Africa's past - and the miracle of our reconciliation.

Going back to the 17th and 18th Centuries, South Africa experienced so much conflict that the country is a veritable patchwork of battlefields.

And don't forget where it all began - the Cradle of Humankind is one of the richest hominid fossil sites in the world. Fossilised footprints near Cape Town and the wealth of rock paintings the Drakensberg mountains and elsewhere, all testify to humanity's origins on this ancient continent.