Situated in North-Eastern South Africa, the site comprises 40% of the Barberton Greenstone Belt, one of the World’s oldest Geological structures. The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains represents the best-preserved succession of volcanic and sedimentary rock dating back 3.6 to 3.25 Billion Years, when the first Continents were starting to form on the primitive Earth. It features meteor-impact fallback Breccia's rock, resulting from the impact of meteorites formed just after the Great Bombardment (4.6 to 3.8 billion years ago). Is one of the Ten South African World Heritage Sites! This Mountain is found in the Somgimvelo Game Reserve.
Place record
Makhonjwa Mountains, Barbeton
- Coordinates
- -25.7751, 31.0240
- Updated
- 20 Jul 2026

Viewing Spot in Barbeton Over the Makhonjwa Mountians,PHOTO BY:Tony Ferrar Image source
Location Map
Makhonjwa Mountains, Barbeton
How we know this
- 01https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1575
Last updated · 20 Jul 2026
South African History Online. (2018, July 3). Makhonjwa Mountains, Barbeton. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/P-0125124
South African History Online (2018) 'Makhonjwa Mountains, Barbeton', South African History Online, 3 July. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/P-0125124 (Accessed: 22 July 2026).
South African History Online, Makhonjwa Mountains, Barbeton [website], https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/P-0125124, (accessed 22 July 2026).
"Makhonjwa Mountains, Barbeton." South African History Online, 3 July 2018, https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/P-0125124. Accessed 22 July 2026.
South African History Online. "Makhonjwa Mountains, Barbeton." South African History Online. July 3, 2018. https://sahistory.org.za/xh/ref/P-0125124.
Further reading
Cradle of Humankind
Greater St. Lucia Wetland
Rock Art
Mapungubwe
South Africa’s World heritage sites
Marakele National Park, Waterberg Mountains
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