List of Ramsar sites in South Africa explained

This list of Ramsar sites in South Africa are wetland environs that are considered to be of international importance, and protected under the Ramsar Convention. As of 2024, South Africa has 30 such sites covering 574 028 hectares.^{[1] [2]}

For a complete list of all Ramsar sites worldwide, see the List of Ramsar wetlands of international importance.

List of Ramsar sites

Name	Location	Description	Image	Area (km^2)	Designated	Ref.
Barberspan	Delareyville	A 5km long and 2.5km wide, permanent, alkaline, freshwater lake, surrounded by grassland.		31.18	12/03/1975	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA35RIS.pdf
Berg Estuary	Velddrif	Wetland mudflat vegetation in a flood plain that contains 127 waterbird species.		11.63	01/02/2022	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA35RIS.pdf
Blesbokspruit	Marievale Bird Sanctuary			18.58	02/10/1986	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA343RIS.pdf
Bot - Kleinmond Estuarine System	Kleinmond			13.50	31/01/2017	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA2291RIS_1703_en.pdf
Dassen Island Nature Reserve	Dassen Island			7.37	29/03/2019	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA2383RIS_1908_en.pdf
De Berg Nature Reserve	Dullstroom			12.65	02/02/2024	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA2532RIS_2401_en.pdf
De Hoop Vlei	De Hoop Nature Reserve			7.5	12/03/1975	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA34RIS.pdf
De Mond	De Mond Nature Reserve			9.18	02/10/1986	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA342RIS.pdf
Dyer Island Nature Reserve Complex	Dyer Island / Geyser Island			2.88	29/03/2019	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA2384RIS_1908_en.pdf
False Bay Nature Reserve	Zeekoevlei			15.42	02/02/2015	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA2219RIS_1505_en.pdf
Ingula Nature Reserve	Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme			80.84	01/03/2021	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA2446RIS_2103_en.pdf
Kgaswane Mountain Reserve				49.52	29/03/2019	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA2385RIS_1908_en.pdf
Kosi Bay	Maputaland			109.82	28/06/1991	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA527RIS.pdf
Lake Sibaya	Maputaland			77.50	28/06/1991	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA528RIS.pdf
Langebaan Lagoon	Langebaan			60.00	25/04/1988	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA398RIS.pdf
Makuleke Wetlands	Kruger National Park			77.57	22/05/2007	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA1687RIS.pdf
Middelpunt Nature Reserve	Dullstroom			5.10	15/03/2023	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA2501RIS_2303_en.pdf
Natal Drakensberg Park	uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park			2428.13	21/01/1997	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA886RIS.pdf
Ndumo Game Reserve	Maputaland			101.17	21/01/1997	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA887RIS.pdf
Ntsikeni Nature Reserve				92.00	02/02/2010	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA1904RIS.pdf
Nylsvley Nature Reserve	Mookgophong			39.70	07/07/1998	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA952RIS.pdf
Orange River Mouth	Alexander Bay			20.00	28/06/1991	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA526RIS.pdf
Prince Edward Islands	sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean			375.00	22/05/2007	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA1688RIS.pdf
Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve	Memel			47.54	21/01/1997	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA888RIS.pdf
St. Lucia System	iSimangaliso Wetland Park			1555.00	02/10/1986	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA345RIS.pdf
Turtle Beaches /Coral Reefs of Tongaland	iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area			395.00	02/10/1986	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA344RIS.pdf
Verloren Valei Nature Reserve	Steenkampsberg, Mpumalanga			58.91	16/10/2001	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA1110RIS.pdf
Verlorenvlei	Redelinghuys			15.00	28/06/1991	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA525RIS.pdf
Wilderness Lakes	Wilderness			13.00	28/06/1991	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA524RIS.pdf
uMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve				9.58	19/03/2013	https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/ZA2132RIS.pdf

See also

• Marine protected areas of South Africa
• List of protected areas of South Africa

External links

• Ramsar Profile - South Africa

Notes and References

1. Web site: The List of Wetlands of International Importance . 45.
2. Web site: Country Profile - South Africa Ramsar List . 2024-04-21 . rsis.ramsar.org.