List of World Heritage Sites in Botswana

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation, or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage. Botswana accepted the convention on 23 November 1998. There are two World Heritage Sites in Botswana, with a further seven on the tentative list.

The first site in Botswana to be inscribed to the list was Tsodilo Hills in 2001. The most recent site listed was the Okavango Delta in 2003. The Okavango Delta was listed for being a natural site, and Tsodilo was listed for being a cultural site. Botswana has never served on the World Heritage Committee. The Okavango Delta became the one thousandth World Heritage Site worldwide.

World Heritage Sites

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.

Tentative list

In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. Botswana maintains seven properties on its tentative list.

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