Public Rock Art Sites

Rock art is a finite and fragile resource and the National Heritage Resources Act (25 of 1999) protects all rock art sites. It is an offence to damage rock art and other archaeological artefacts.

Etiquette when visiting Rock Art Sites

Always obtain permission from the landowner or relevant authorities before visiting a rock art site.
Visit rock art sites with trained guides.
Never touch, lean on or brush against the rock art.
Never throw water or any liquid on the images.
Never write, scratch or make markings on the images themselves or anywhere in the rock art site.
Never remove any archaeological artefacts from rock art sites.
Tread carefully and avoid stirring up dust from the floors at rock art sites.
Report all vandalism to the police and/or contact the South African Heritage Resource Agency.
Respect all rock art sites as places of great spiritual significance to all South Africans.

Bosworth Farm

Location

Located north-west of Klerksdorp, North-West Province, South Africa. Travel north-west out of Klerksdorp, direction Ventersdorp for 2 km on the R30. Turn right onto the Buffeldoorn road and follow this for 20 km. Turn right at the ‘Bosworth Stud’ sign and go to the farmhouse where the Orfords will direct you to the site.

Contact

The Orfords
PO Box 131
Klerksdorp
2570.

Tel & Fax: +27 (0)18 468 7527
E-mail: bosworth [at] gds [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

A large rock engraving site with over 400 Bushman and Khoe herder rock engravings. The site is notable for the many depictions of human figures. Look out for the charging rhinoceros, the large elephant, the man and ostrich dancing, the flight of birds and the many geometric motifs. Bosworth also has many stone artefacts dating from over 1 million years ago. Please leave everything as you find it.

Additional information

Let the Orfords know you are coming well in advance. A R50.00 visitors' fee is levied for a guided tour. Bosworth is one of South Africa’s 12 Rock Art National Monuments. Klerksdorp has most facilities.

Caledon River Nature Reserve

Location

Located between Wepener and Smithfield, Free State Province, South Africa. Take the R26 out of Wepener, direction Hobhouse for 8,5 km. Turn left onto the R701 dirt road to Smithfield and continue for 9 km until you see the ‘Caledon River Nature Reserve’ sign on your right. Go to the office where you will be assigned a guide who will take you to the site.

Contact

Free State Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism
Welbedacht Dam

Tel: +27 (0)51 583 1920.

What is there to see?

Superbly preserved site with Bushman rock paintings of eland, cattle, hippo, a huge snake, eland and human figures. Visited by the artist Walter Battiss in 1940s. The two panels of the site represent ‘traditional’ and ‘contact’ motifs’ that show how the Bushmen coped with change in the Caledon River Valley.

Additional information

Let Free State Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism know of your visit well in advance as access to the site is by guide only. Access is restricted during the winter hunting season. The town of Wepener has limited facilities and offers a gateway into Lesotho via the Van Rooyenshek border post.

Doornhoek, Northern Cape

Location

Located near Plooysburg, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Travel out of Kimberley on the R357, direction Douglas for 54 km. Turn off left at the ‘Plooysburg’ sign. Travel on dirt road for 7,5 km on the dirt road and look for a hidden turn off to the left with animals painted on rocks. Proceed to the farmhouse for directions to the site.

Contact

David Morris
McGregor Museum
PO Box 316
Kimberley
8300.

Tel: +27 53 842 0099
Fax: +27 53 832 9311
E-mail: dmorris [at] museumsnc [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

Spectacular glaciated pavement in the Riet River covered with hundreds of geometric engravings. These engravings were made by Khoe herders and represent a newly identified southern African rock art tradition. There are a few naturalistic engravings but sunbursts, circles, grids, meandering lines and so on dominate the site.

Additional information

Driekopseiland is best viewed during early morning and late evening. The site is extremely hot in the summer. Plooysburg has no facilities but Kimberley has all facilities. Driekopseiland is one of South Africa’s 12 Rock Art National Monuments. Please take your shoes off when walking on and near the site.

Doornhoek, Gauteng Province

Location

Located between Hekpoort and Magaliesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Travel from Krugersdorp north of Johannesburg on the Hekpoort road. At the T-Junction turn left towards Magaliesburg town on the R24. Approximately 10 km west of Hekpoort is a dirt road to the right marked ‘Nooitgedacht’. Travel for about 6 km until you see the ‘Sunbird Cottage’ sign on your left. Turn in and report at the farmhouse.

Contact

Jo & Chris Yoxen
PO Box 142
Hekpoort
1792

Tel: +27 14 577 2811
E-mail: yoxenc [at] iafrica [dot] com

What is there to see?

Three clusters of Bushman rock engravings in the distinctive Magaliesberg fineline manner. Rhinoceros, eland – including the unique ‘bisexual eland’, giraffe, zebra, geometric designs. Also the ‘Beatles’ stone and vintage car engravings. Gentle low hills and good views of the Magaliesberg.

Additional information

Accommodation and a variety of activities such as walking, birding, game drives and so forth on the farm and in the area. The farm is on the western edge of the ‘Cradle of Humanity’ that includes the early hominid sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and similar sites in the Bloubankrivier valley.

Driekopseiland

Location

Contact

David Morris
McGregor Museum
PO Box 316
Kimberley
8300

Tel: +27 53 842 0099
Fax: +27 53 832 9311
E-mail: dmorris [at] museumsnc [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

Additional information

Ganora

Location

Located 8 km east of Nieu Bethesda - home of Helen Martins' `Owl House' - in the Cradock District of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province.

Contact

Hester and J.P. Steynberg
Tel: +27 49 841 1302
E-mail: ganora [at] xsinet [dot] co [dot] za
Web site: http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/ganora-tours/index.html

What is there to see?

Rock shelter in an intricate ravine system with Bushman (San) rock paintings of eland, felines, human figures with shields and spears. There are also lesser-known Khoe (Khoi) finger painted tradition that consists of finger dots, crosses and other enigmatic geometric motifs.

Additional information

Ganora also has an excellent fossil museum, a wool shearing museum, Anglo-Boer war memorabilia, farm tours and comfortable accommodation. The nearby Nieu Bethesda has the famed `Owl House' and many quaint charms.

Hoekfontein

Location

Located between Clocolan and Ficksburg, Free State Province, South Africa. Travel out of Ficksburg on the R26, direction Clocolan for 8 km. Turn right at the ‘Hoekfontein Ossewa Kamp’ sign and travel on dirt road for 9 km. Turn left into ‘Ossewa Kamp’ where a guide will take you to the site.

Contact

Mr Gerhard Wille
PO Box 354
Ficksburg
9730

Tel: +27 51 933 3915

What is there to see?

There are 3 Bushman rock painting sites at Hoekfontein. Notable is a panel of 14 human figures dancing. 6 of these figures are infibulated – an artistic convention where a bar was drawn across the penis to show the link between hunter and prey. The site also has two very rare ‘Palettes’ that Bushman used to rub to gain supernatural potency. Please don’t rub these palettes! There are also 7 steenbok and an eland depicted. Near the paintings is a Late Iron Age refuge site consisting of 14 stone walled enclosures that dates to Mfecane times between 1790 AD – 1840 AD.

Additional information

Hoekfontein offers accommodation in genuine ox wagons and meals of spit-roasted beef, lamb and game. Ficksburg has most facilities.

Kalkoenkraal

Location

Located between Aliwal North and Jamestown, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Travel 25 km south of Aliwal North, direction Jamestown on the R30. Turn off right just after bridge over Klipspruit and travel 800 m to farmhouse for directions to the site.

Contact

Mr Marinus de Bruin
PO Box 56
Aliwal North
9750

Tel: +27 51 633 3164

What is there to see?

Large frieze of over 200 Bushman rock paintings. There are 3 part-bird, part-human creatures, a ‘monster’ which is part of the pantheon of the Bushman spirit world, birds, eland, elephant, fish, human figures, lions and people fighting. Tranquil setting.

Additional information

Kalkoenkraal is one of South Africa’s 12 Rock Art National Monuments and is where A.C. Hoffman – a former Director of the National Museum – suffered a fatal heart attack! Aliwal North has most facilities.

Kiara

Location

Located between Clarens and Golden Gate National Park, Free State Province, South Africa. Travel out of Clarens, direction Golden Gate National Park on the R711/712 for 15 km. Turn right at the ‘Kiara Lodge’ sign and checkpoint. Ask at reception for directions to the site.

Contact

The Manager
Kiara Lodge
PO Box 42
Clarens
9707

Tel: +27 58 256 1324
Fax: +27 58 256 1393
E-mail: kiaralodge [at] iafrica [dot] com

What is there to see?

A small rock shelter with 47 Bushman rock paintings including eland, rhebuck and human figures. This site is truly unique in that it has South Africa’s only unequivocal example of a dassie or rock hyrax (Procavia capensis).

Additional information

Kiara Lodge offers accommodation, meals and fuel. Clarens has accommodation, fuel and limited postal services. Golden Gate National Park is beautiful and has accommodation, meals and fuel. Beyond Golden Gate on the Phuthaditjhaba road is the Basotho Cultural Village – well worth a visit!

Leliekloof

Location

Located between Burgersdorp and Jamestown, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Travel south out of Jamestown, direction Queenstown on the R30 for 5 km. Turn right onto Predikantskop road, direction Burgersdorp and travel until you get to the crossroads (about 15 km). Turn right onto dirt road. After 6 km the road has a hairpin bend to the left. The ‘Delila/Leliekloof’ road is on the right just before this bend. Travel to the end of the road and report at the farmhouse.

Contact

The de Klerks
Tel: +27 51 653 1240 or +27 82 761 7975

What is there to see?

Walter Battiss called this the ‘Valley of Art’ on account of its rich collection of Bushman rock paintings. Almost every conceivable subject in 4 painted shelters. Well-preserved and detailed images from the Bushman religious imagination.

Additional information

Getting to the sites requires a reasonable level of fitness. Aliwal North has most facilities. Please book well in advance. The valley is one of the best in South Africa.

Machete and Koaxa’s Shelter

Location

Located in the Limpopo River Valley, Northern Province, South Africa, Machete is located on the Messina – Pont Drif road and can be approached from either sides. Machete is 80 km from Messina (reached via the N1) and 71 km from Alldays on the Pont Drif road – the R521.

Contact

Duncan & Hazel MacWhirter
Machete Natural Heritage Site
PO Box 1100
Messina
0900
South Africa

Tel: +27 15 575 1416 or +27 15 534 0433

What is there to see?

An impressive 25 m long rock shelter called Koaxa’s Shelter with over 190 rock paintings. There are at least 16 animal species depicted, including 13 unique rock paintings of locusts. Look out for the mongooses, the aprons and the geometric finger paintings. This site is the first Public Rock Art Site in the Limpopo Valley.

Additional information

Machete offers day visits, backpacker style camping and luxury accommodation. The farm is a Natural Heritage Site with rich wildlife.

Malealea

Location

Located in western Lesotho, Malealea is best approached from the Van Rooyenshek border post at Wepener, South Africa. Travel on the Mafateng road to Motsekuoa and turn right and travel past Matelile and follow the signs. Alternatively, enter Lesotho at Maseru Bridge and travel south-west on Mafateng road turning left at Motsekuoa.

Contact

Di and Mick Jones
Malealea Lodge
PO Box 12118
Brandhof
9342
South Africa

Tel & Fax: +27 51 447 3200/448 3001
E-mail: malealea [at] pixie [dot] co [dot] za

Web site: http://www.malealea.co.ls

What is there to see?

A large painted shelter with a variety of imagery. Look out for the clear black men, the many eland and the dance.

Additional information

Malealea offers a range of accommodation and meals. It also offers hikes and pony trekking and a taste of authentic Basotho culture.

Matsieng

Location

Located between Mochudi and Mosomane on the main Gaborone – Francistown road, southern Botswana. Travel 15 km north of Mochudi, direction Francistown until you see the ‘Matsieng’ sign. Turn right onto dirt road and travel until you get to the fenced in site. Report to the site custodian who will show you around the site.

Contact

National Museum
Monuments and Art Gallery
Private Bag 00114
Gaborone
Botswana

Tel: +267 374 616
Fax: +267 302 797

What is there to see?

117 Bushman rock engravings of feline and human footprints. The premier Tswana creation site, Matsieng is the name of the first MoTswana who emerged from a hole in the ground and left his footprints on the still-new landscape. See the ‘bloodstone’ and the natural sumps in the sandstone rock outcrop.

Additional information

A National Monument. Matsieng has toilets and an interpretive centre. Great museum in Mochudi and all facilities in Gaborone.

McGregor Museum, Kimberley

Location

2 Egerton Road, Kimberley, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Follow the ‘Diggie Diamond’ route markers.

Contact

David Morris
PO Box 316
Kimberley
8300

Tel: +27 53 842 0099
Fax: +27 53 832 9311
E-mail: dmorris [at] museumsnc [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

New ‘Ancestors’ Archaeological Gallery. Over 100 Bushman and Khoe rock engravings. Comprehensive archaeological coverage of the Northern Cape Province. Also good Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) military displays.

Additional information

Kimberley has all facilities. There are more rock engravings on display at the William Humphreys Art Gallery. Kimberley is famous for its ‘Big Hole’ made during the diamond rush and the Star of the West is one of South Africa’s oldest working pubs – not for the faint-hearted!

Modderpoort

Location

Located between Ladybrand and Clocolan, Free State Province, South Africa. Travel north out of Ladybrand, direction Clocolan on the R26 for 10 km. Turn left at the ‘Modderpoort’ sign and travel 4 km. Cross over the railway line at Modderpoort. Travel 200 m on dirt road and turn off left at ‘St Augustine’s’ sign. Report to reception for the start of a self-guided trail.

Contact

The Lange Family
St Augustine’s Bed & Breakfast
PO Box 28
Modderpoort
9746

Tel & Fax: +27 51 924 3318

What is there to see?

Bushman rock paintings of birds, a cattle raid, eland and human figures. Also home to the sacred sites of the Anglican church, the Sotho prophetess Mantsopa’s grave and the Zionist Christian Church’s Cave Church. Beautiful surroundings and a special atmosphere. A real hierophany.

Additional information

Good accommodation and meals at St Augustine’s. Ladybrand has most facilities and is only 17 km from Maseru, capital of Lesotho. Modderpoort is one of South Africa’s 12 Rock Art National Monuments and a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. A visitor fee of R3-00 per person is levied.

Moolmanshoek

Location

Near Rosendal, Free State Province, South Africa. Travelling from Bethlehem, Ficksburg or Senekal, take the R70 to Rosendal. Take the S385 for 8.7 km to the farm and lodge where the Nel Family will guide you to the site.

Contact

The Nel Family
PO Box 332
Ficksburg
9730

Tel: +27 519 33 2220
Fax: +27 519 33 2444
E-mail: info [at] moolmanshoek [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

A large painted cave with an unusual 3 m deep tunnel at the northern end and a spectacular view. There are 47 Bushman rock paintings. These include 2 felines, eland, a shaman transforming into her/his source of animal potency, 7 women with weighted digging sticks and some enigmatic parallel red lines.

Additional information

Moolmanshoek also offers accommodation, walks, 4x4 trails, fly-fishing, hunting, conference facilities and is a Natural Heritage Site (#199).

National Museum, Bloemfontein

Location

36 Aliwal Street, Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa.

Contact

Sven Ouzman
Rock Art Department
National Museum
PO Box 266
Bloemfontein
9300.

Tel: +27 51 447 9609
Fax: +27 51 447 6273
E-mail: rockart [at] nasmus [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

Facilities include displays, a shop and a large rock art display within the museum, on Charles Street and at Oliewenhuis Art Museum. See the Bushman diorama, hallucinatory rain-animals and coverage of the Archaeology of South Africa’s central interior. The Rock Art Department also maintains a display series in its offices in Elizabeth Street.

Additional information

Bloemfontein has all facilities. See the Military Museum, Oliewenhuis Art Museum, the Orchid House and the giraffe on top of Naval Hill.

Nelspoort

Location

Located 50 km north of Beaufort West and 550 km north of Cape Town on the N1 in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Signs saying ‘Nelspoort’ are encountered both north and south of the small town of Nelspoort. Once there, go to Restvale Primary School or the Sanatorium where you will be assigned a guide. Often the guides are street children from Beaufort West that have received Heritage Training and who now protect the sites as well as find new ones.

Contact

Mr. Lawrence Rathenham: Head: Restvale Primary School
PO Box 350
Beaufort West
6970

Tel & Fax: +27 23 416 1648
E-mail: head [at] restvale [dot] wcape [dot] school [dot] gov [dot] za

What is there to see?

A vast complex of rock engraving and gong rocks sites. Engravings were made by Bushmen hunter-gatherers, Khoekhoen herder peoples as well as Historic Period names, self-portraits and so forth. Classic doleritic Karoo landscape. There are rare bird-human images, feline tracks, rare human figures, large eland, rhinoceros and elephant engravings. The unique 99 cm long giant buffalo engraving suggests that some of the engravings can be 6 000 years old and even older.

Additional information

Not only rock engravings but ‘gong rocks’ – naturally occurring ironstone/dolerite boulders occur. These have been hit by Bushmen to produce a rhythmic and repetitive, percussive sound that added greatly to the spirituality of the engravings and the rock art sites.

Nooitgedacht

Location

Located between Kimberley and Barkly West, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Travel north-west out of Kimberley, direction Barkly West on the R31 for 20 km until you see the ‘Glaciated pavement’ sign. Turn right onto dirt road. Travel for 6 km and stop beyond stone house at small round roofed structure. Here is a site map for the self-guided tour.

Contact

David Morris
McGregor Museum
PO Box 316
Kimberley
8300

Tel: +27 53 842 0099
Fax: +27 53 832 9311
E-mail: dmorris [at] museumsnc [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

3 sections of glaciated pavement with over 250 Bushman and Khoe rock engravings. Eland, geometric motifs, giraffe, human figures, rhinoceros and historic graffiti. See the Vaal River in the distance. The site can be very hot in summer.

Additional information

Limited on-site information and it is wise to first visit the McGregor Museum. Nooitgedacht is one of South Africa’s 12 Rock Art National Monuments and also the site of alluvial diamond diggings. Kimberley has all facilities. The /Xu and !Khwe Bushman Cultural Project is 8 km south of Nooitgedacht on the R31.

Ntlo Kholo

Location

Located between Maseru and Thaba Bosiu, Lesotho. Travel 18 km south-west out of Maseru on St Michael’s road. Turn off left onto dirt road for Ntlo Kholo and report to village headman. It is advisable to use a guide to get you to Ntlo Kholo.

Contact

Eric Theko
Lesotho Protection and Preservation Commission
Lesotho National Museum
PO Box 1125
Maseru
Lesotho

Tel: +266 31304
Fax: +266 310060

Speak to the village headman on arrival – this is essential.

What is there to see?

Rock shelter with Bushman rock paintings of eland – some go into a crack showing the Bushman belief of a spirit world that existed behind the rock – human figures and enigmatic motifs. Behind the village is the large cliff into which houses and the ‘Great Hut’ of Ntlo Kholo are built.

Additional information

You must take a guide from the village and you must ask permission of the headman. Thaba Bosiu, premier Basotho cultural site, is nearby and worth a visit. Maseru has most facilities.

Qwa Qwa National Park

Location

Qwa Qwa National Park, Free State Province, South Africa. Travel on R712 from Clarens, through Golden Gate National Park for 10 km until you see the ‘Honingkloof’ or ‘Klerksvlei’ sign. Turn right and report at the office. A guide will take you to the ‘Heuweltop’ rock painting site. Prior arrangement is essential.

Contact

Basotho Cultural Village
PO Box 403
Kestell
9860

Tel: +27 58 721 0300
Fax: +27 58 721 0304
E-mail: basotho [at] dorea [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

Unique Bushman rock painting of two crabs. Also rare painted animal spoor and quivers. Beautiful shaded eland and human figures. The whole cliff line is one big site with 3 ‘pulses’ at which paintings occur.

Additional information

Accommodation and meals available at Golden Gate National Park and Clarens. The Basotho Cultural Village is only 10 km from Qwa Qwa National Park and well worth a visit.

Schaapplaats

Location

Near Clarens, Free State Province, South Africa. Travelling from Fouriesburg to Clarens on R711, pass the Clarens turn off on the left and take the next turn to the right. Travel to the end of the road where the Walwyns will give you directions to the site.

Contact

The Walwyns
PO Box 53
Clarens
9707

Tel: +27 58 256 1176
Fax: +27 58 256 1258
E-mail: dwalwyn [at] rdd [dot] aeci [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

A large painted cave with 35 Bushman rock paintings. These include 8 paintings of therianthropes or part-human, part-animal beings that represent Bushman shamans utilising the potency of certain powerful animals whilst in an altered state of consciousness. Also nice eland and a rhebuck hunt. Look out for the fossil footprint at the site.

Additional information

The Walwyns offer accommodation and meals, as does the town of Clarens. Schaapplaats is one of South Africa’s 12 Rock Art National Monuments.

Slypsteenberg

Location

Located within the city limits of Bloemfontein, capital of the Free State Province, South Africa.

Contact

Sven Ouzman
Rock Art Department
National Museum
PO Box 266
Bloemfontein
9300

Tel: +27 51 447 9609
Fax: +27 51 447 6273
E-mail: rockart [at] nasmus [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

A large Bushman/San engraving site with about 80 images including baboon, eland, ‘goats’, human figures, a rain-animal and some large quadrupeds. The site is also used for mining – people looking for a legendary missionary treasure. Further, the site is used in Sotho boys’ initiation ceremonies. For this reason, visits to the site are by appointment only.

Additional information

Bloemfontein has all facilities, including the National Museum.

Spitskop

Location

Located 12 km west of Verkeerdevlei on the link road to the N1 in the Brandfort District, Free State Province, South Africa.

Contact

Nico and Sandra Vivier
PO Box 77
Verkeerdevlei
9401

Tel: +27 51 841 1086

What is there to see?

Spitskop site complex consists of three San or ‘Bushman’ as well as Khoe or ‘Khoi’ rock-engraving sites located on adjacent farms. These sites are all within sight of the 1580 m high sandstone mountain known as Spitskop. There are images of eland – one is 1.35 m long – geometric forms, human figures, ostrich and also the remains of a mysterious historic settlement. Tragically, the last gathering and hunting San was shot 15 km from the farm in the 1860s.

Additional information

Spitskop is a functioning B&B and farm tours are also available.

Sterkstroom

Location

Located between Rouxville and Aliwal North, Free State Province, South Africa. Travel north out of Aliwal North on N6, direction Rouxville. Cross the Orange River and travel for 6 km. Turn right onto dirt road. Continue for 24 km and turn right at large bluegum tree where the Lombaards will give you directions to the site.

Contact

The Lombaards
Diepkloof
Rouxville
9958

Tel: +27 5572 1230 or +27 51 663 1230

What is there to see?

A spectacular 18 m long wall of Bushman rock paintings. Baboon, eland, elephant, hartebeest, monsters, spirit world beings and much more. The famous rain-animal of the Bushman chief Baartman. Look also for the smallest known painting of a buck in South Africa. Look also at the Khoe geometric motifs at the far end of the shelter. Visit the waterhole 300 m downstream where the spirit world rain-animal was believed to live.

Additional information

Aliwal North has most facilities. The site can be hot in summer. Look out for game and rich birdlife in the area.

Stowlands

Location

Located 4 km from Christiana, Free State Province, South Africa. Travel east out of Christiana on the R708, in the direction of Boshof. Cross over the Vaal River and 100 m on is a ‘Rock engraving’ sign. Turn left onto a dirt road and travel for 4 km. Turn left at the ‘Stowlands’ sign and report to the farmhouse for directions and site key.

Contact

Mr Roy Fourie
PO Box 2036
Potchefstroom
2520

Tel: +27 148 294 8780.

What is there to see?

Over 320 Bushman and Khoe rock engravings scattered on the summit of a hill overlooking the Vaal River. Elephant, geometric motifs, giraffe, human figures rhino, spirit-world animals, weird beasts. Look out for the hermaphrodites and the ‘rhinopotamous’. Look carefully as some images are old and hard to see.

Additional information

Stowlands is one of South Africa’s 12 Rock Art National Monuments. Early morning and late afternoons are best for viewing the engravings. There is also the Phillipson-Stow and Nel graveyard and an Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) fortification to see. Christiana has most facilities.

Tandjesberg

Location

Located between Ladybrand and Clocolan, Free State Province, South Africa. Travel north-east out of Ladybrand, direction Clocolan on the R26 for 10 km. At the ‘Modderpoort’ sign turn right onto a dirt road. Travel until you get to a T-junction. Turn left and cross over the bridge. Just after you pass a road going off to the left, there is a ‘Tripolitania’ sign on the left. Turn in here and go to the farmhouse for directions and key to the site and game reserve.

Contact

Mr Liguori
Tripolitania
PO Box 137
Ladybrand
9745.

Tel & Fax: +27 51 924 2036 or +27 51 924 2475

What is there to see?

Small, spectacular shelter with over 500 Bushman rock paintings. See bees, birds, cattle, exotic elephant, a frenetic medicine dance, animated human figures, rain-animals and the enigmatic ‘weird white’ tradition. Archaeological excavations establish that Bushmen lived here for at least 1 000 years. An important pilgrimage site located among the impressive tandjes or ‘teeth’ of sandstone.

Additional information

Tandjesberg is one of South Africa’s 12 Rock Art National Monuments. A site maintenance fee of R10-00 per person is levied. Facilities include a stone floor and interpretative redrawings. Ladybrand has most facilities.

Thaba Bosiu

Location

Located at Thaba Bosiu, premier National Monument of Lesotho, 25 km south-east of Maseru, capital of Lesotho.

Contact

Eric Theko
Lesotho Protection and Preservation Commission
Lesotho National Museum
PO Box 1125
Maseru
Lesotho

Tel: +266 31304
Fax: +266 310060

Speak to the village headman on arrival – this is essential.

What is there to see?

Apart from being the stronghold of King Moshoeshoe I, founder of the Basotho nation, there is also a rock art site on Thaba Bosiu. The site is hidden but it is worth seeking out as it contains a rare Bushman rock painting of a plant. This plant – a Brunsvigia – has many medicinal properties. Also painted are eland, a Basotho shield and a giraffe – an animal that is and was exotic to this area.

Additional information

Contact Lesotho Tourism for brochures on attractions in Lesotho. Maseru has most facilities. It is essential to have a guide to find the rock painting site and access is only for the fit.

Thaba Sione

Location

Located 60 km south-west of Mmabatho, North-West Province, South Africa. Travel south-west out of Mmabatho, direction Vryburg on the R49 until you intersect with the R375. Turn left and travel for 25 km until you get the ‘Khunhanwa’ sign. Turn right onto the dirt road and travel until you get to Thaba Sione.

Contact

Wait at the site – which is in the middle of town – for someone to help you.

What is there to see?

Over 559 engravings. A major Bushman spiritual site dominated by depictions of rhinoceros – some of which have been rubbed smooth. There is also buffalo, eland, isolated animal horns, shamanic human figures, a rare lizard, wildebeest. Many rocks have been rubbed smooth by rhinoceros. The site is still important today to local Tswana people and is used by the Zionist Christian Church as a rain-making centre.

Additional information

The engravings are best viewed at early morning and late afternoon. This area is flat, dry and dusty with few facilities. Mmabatho has most facilities.

Thomas' Farm – Belmont

Location

Located 90 km south-west of Kimberley and 30 km north-east of Hope Town on the N12, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. The site is well sign-posted.

Contact

Lieb and Ella Liebenberg
PO Box 330
Hopetown
8750

Tel: +27 53 204 0049 or +27 82 749 6685

What is there to see?

Over 70 Bushman and Khoe rock engravings. See the large eland, rhino and the resounding gong rock. There are also many Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) relics, a war cemetery and an entire ghost campground. Thomas’ Farm has a natural spring and the water is bottled on the farm.

Additional information

There is extensive and enigmatic stone walling next to the farmhouse. The Liebenberg’s offer self-catering or catered B& B accommodation.

Wildebeestkuil

Location

Located between Kimberley and Barkly West, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Travel north-west out of Kimberley, direction Barkly West on the R31 for 14 km until you see a low hill and white building (the Interpretative Centre) on the left. Turn into the parking lot and report to the Interpretative Centre.

Contact

The !Xun and Khwe Association & Northern Cape Rock Art Trust
Private Bag X5055
Kimberley
8300

Tel & Fax: +27 53 861 1866
E-mail: xukhwe [at] iafrica [dot] com

What is there to see?

Over 300 Bushman and Khoe rock engravings. See buck spoor, dancing human figures, elephant, geometric motifs, goat-like animals, and incised horse from more recent times, the lion with two tails, rhinoceros and wildebeest.

Additional information

This is the first time in modern South African history that the San legally own and manage a rock engraving site of their ancestors. Wildebeestkuil has been fully developed with walkways, audio tours, guides and Interpretative Centre. An excellent shop has authentic contemporary artworks as well as handicrafts on sale. Drinks and snacks are also available. There is extensive and enigmatic stone walling at Wildebeestkuil. Some of it is recent; some may relate to the engravers. Great view over the flat landscape.

Woodcliffe

Location

Located on the Little Pot River 35 km north-east of Maclear on the Naudesnek Pass road, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Travel north-west out of Maclear for 30 km until you see the 'Woodcliffe Cave trails' sign to the left. Follow this road for 5 km and report in at farmhouse.

Contact

Phyl Sephton
Woodcliffe Cave Trails
PO Box 65
Maclear
5480.

Tel: +27 45 932 1550 or +27 82 925 1030
E-mail: psephton [at] intekom [dot] co [dot] za

What is there to see?

Two sites with over 200 Bushman rock paintings. See the strange feline, the unique circle of seated human figures, the feline, the weird 'pinks', the buck painted on the ceiling, the thin red line and many eland.

Additional information

There is enigmatic stone walling, birdlife in abundance - this is a hatchery area for blue cranes - rugged and beautiful landscape in which to walk.

Nasmus

Etiquette when visiting Rock Art Sites

Bosworth Farm

Location

Contact

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Caledon River Nature Reserve

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Doornhoek, Northern Cape

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Doornhoek, Gauteng Province

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Driekopseiland

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Ganora

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Hoekfontein

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Kalkoenkraal

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Kiara

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Leliekloof

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Machete and Koaxa’s Shelter

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Malealea

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Matsieng

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