There's much more to South Africa than just safaris

Trips to South Africa are a popular adventure holiday destination for anyone with an interest in wildlife.

A safari in the country is a great place to spot the 'big five' - elephants, lions, leopards, rhino and buffaloes, as well as many other fascinating animals.

But those who come to the Rainbow Nation should not make the mistake of thinking the country is only about safaris as the country has a whole lot more to offer.

From the modern cityscape and trendy bars and restaurants of Cape Town, to the Bushmen cave paintings and the rugged landscape of the Drakensberg mountain range, South Africa is also home to a rich variety of cultures and experiences.

Now, the country's government is launching a new campaign that aims to invest in and promote South Africa's many cultural and heritage sites to visitors from around the world, who may currently see the country only as a safari destination.

Tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk pointed out that South Africa has a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites within its borders.

These include the famous Robben Island - where Nelson Mandela, among others, was imprisoned, the Cradle of Humankind - an important archaeological site where fossils of some of the earliest human ancestors have been found, and Mapungubwe - the centre of the first indigenous kingdom in Southern Africa between 900 and 1,300 AD.

"We as a country are proud to be amongst the leading countries in Africa with eight World Heritage Sites," said Mr van Schalkwyk.

"Let us continue to hone, develop and promote our unique South African treasures."

The new campaign will see R6 million (£0.5 million) invested in South Africa's World Heritage Sites over three years, as well as a further R80 million on projects known for their 'global significance', including the Dinosaur Interpretative Centre in Golden Gates Highlands National Parks, the National Heritage Monument and the First Indigenous Peoples Projects in Graaff-Reinet.