Experience the thrill of seeing original San paintings on the rock walls of caves and rock overhangs, take a glimpse into the history of the Cape 5 million years ago and visit some of the historical mission stations

Where to experience Rock Art

There are many stunning locations to explore rock Art in the Western Cape. Enjoy a scenic drive or a guided tour to vist these ancient sites.

Site 1. LANGBERG, Piketberg

A self-catering cottage on top of the Piketberg Mountain about half an hours drive from the town of Piketberg on the N7.provides access to this site. The rock paintings can be visited only by prior appointment or if you overnight at the cottage. Three rock painting sites can be seen about 20 minutes from the cottage on the Cave Walk hiking trail. The paintings are not very well preserved, but include some interesting images such as a swarm of red finger dots, a human figure with an unusually large head, two processions, and a large animal with human back legs. There are spectacular views from the top of the nearby hill and on a good day you can see Table Mountain on the horizon to the south, about 150 kilometres away.

For details telephone (022) 914 5653, fax (022) 914 5708 or e-mail: langberg@intekom.co.za

Site 2. THE BATHS, Citrusdal

The Baths, a hot-springs resort about 20 kilometres south of Citrusdal off the N7 and about two hours drive from Cape Town provides access to these paintings. There are self-catering flats, cottages and camping sites. There are two rock art sites open to the public and both can be reached on foot within 5-10 minutes. The one has paintings of elephant and human figures in trance postures. The other has mostly human figures, including a shaman with a ghost-like head.

For details telephone (022) 921 8026/7 or e-mail reservations@thebaths.co.za

Site 3. CLANWILLIAM LIVING LANDSCAPE PROJECT, Clanwilliam

This unique project focuses on the history of the San in the area at the Living Landscape Centre that offers rock art tours. The Centre's workshop at 18 Park St, Clanwilliam, sells crafts designed with a San theme, traditional methods of production, use of authentic materials and natural objects. Rock art tours can be arranged at the Centre with community guides trained by professional research archaeologists from the University of Cape Town with decades of experience of local rock paintings and Stone Age archaeology.

For details telephone or fax (027 482 1911 or e-mail chap@lando.co.za Further information is available on the Clanwilliam Living Landscape Project website at www.cllp.uct.ac.za

Site 4. BUSHMANS KLOOF, Pakhuis Pass, Clanwilliam

Set against a backdrop of spectacular scenery and exquisite indigenous gardens, Bushmans Kloof offers a unique wilderness experience about 270 kilometres from Cape Town. Located on the edge of the Cederberg Wilderness Area, Bushmans Kloof is situated between the eastern foothills of the Cederberg mountains and the plains of the Great Karoo. It is a privately owned reserve with more than 140 species of birds, 755 plant species and more than 34 species of mammals. Visitors can arrange to travel from Cape Town International Airport on fly-in safaris and scheduled flights alternatively the area is accessible via Clanwilliam and the spectacular Pakhuis Mountain Pass. The extensive rock paintings are very well preserved and include shamanic figures bleeding from the nose, elephant, eland and processions of dancing figures.

For details telephone (021) 685 2598, fax (021) 685 5210 or e-mail: info@bushmanskloof.co.za

Site 5. SEVILLA TRAIL, Pakhuis Pass, Clanwilliam

Access to this site is from the farm Travellers - Rest. Ten rock painting sites can be seen along an easy walking trail in the valley of the Brandewyn River. Day visitors are welcome to walk the 4 kilometre Sevilla Rock Art Trail but must obtain permission and pay a small fee at the Travellers - Rest farmhouse. A guide is available on request for a small fee. The first site is about 10 minutes walk from the road and it takes between two and three hours to complete the trail, depending on how long you spend at each place. The paintings include some charming processions of dancing women and men, several elephant, zebra, handprints and trance animals, including one image that looks like a dinosaur. Look out for paintings of eland in which the white paint of the neck, head and lower legs has faded, leaving only the red body. Travellers Rest is 240 kilometres from Cape Town and 36 kilometres from Clanwilliam.

For details telephone and fax (027) 482 1824 or e-mail travrest@clanwilliam.co.za

Site 6. WUPPERTHAL, Cederberg

There are several rock painting sites in the vicinity of Wupperthal and the information centre in the village will assign a guide for visitors on request. Turn off at Clanwilliam on the N7 and drive over the Pakhuis Pass. About 40 kilometres from Clanwilliam and beyond Travellers - Rest on the eastern side of the pass, turn right to Wupperthal and follow the winding road for another 40 minutes. You will need a 4x4 vehicle to drive within reach of some of the sites, but it is also possible to visit others with an ordinary car. There are paintings of elephant, human figures in trance postures and a unique zebra-headed therianthrope - a human body with a zebra head. Apart from the charming and historic village, the vast Karoo landscape around Wupperthal is spectacular. There is a fully equipped self-catering guest house available in the village.

For more information telephone (027) 482 3410.

Site 7. OUDRIF, Clanwilliam

his site is accessed from Oudrif in the Nardouwsberg north of Clanwilliam. The journey takes about 3 ½ hours from Cape Town. In winter white-water rafting in the Doring River is very popular and in summer you can swim in the river and in spring there are spectacular wild flowers in the area. Rock paintings in the vicinity of the cottages include scores of handprints, delicate antelope and human figures apparently falling down a cliff face, and shamanic figures. If you wish, several more sites with excellent rock paintings can be visited on neighbouring farms with a guide. Brakfontein Kloof provides a wonderful walk that includes several painted sites with a wide variety of styles and subject matter. The walk ends in a magnificent overhanging cave that contains numerous well-preserved rock paintings and unusual wind eroded rocks. At some places you will need to walk only a few minutes from your vehicle.

For more information telephone (027) 482 2397 or e-mail moondance@49er.co.za

Site 8. GIFBERG, Van Rhynsdorp

Accommodation to access this site is located on top of the Gifberg (Poison Mountain) which gets its name from the gifboom (poison tree) endemic to the area. There are several hiking trails in the area. Two sites with exceptionally well preserved rock paintings can be seen on the trail that follows the river downstream from the farm house. It takes about 45 minutes to walk to the first rock shelter, and the second one is only a few minutes further on. Be prepared to wade or hop across the river if it is flowing strongly. The paintings include an unusual healing scene with a group of seated people covered in yellow and red cloaks. Close inspection will show that some are bleeding from the nose and others are laying hands on their companions to draw out the arrows of sickness. There is a row of medicine bags above them. If you wish to walk a further hour or more, the trail leads eventually down to the confluence with the Doring River. Some less well-preserved paintings can be seen close to the farmhouse.

For more information telephone or fax (027) 219 1555 or e-mail rusoord@gifberg.co.za

Site 9. KAGGA KAMMA, Koue Bokkeveld

Situated in an untouched wilderness area in the Swartruggens between the Koue Bokkeveld and the Ceres-Karoo, Kagga Kamma is a 3 to 4 hour drive from Cape Town via Ceres through spectacular countryside. In additions visitors can arrange chartered flights into Kagga Kamma.

During the 1990s it became well known as the "Place of the Bushmen" when members of the Kruiper family from the Northern Cape #Khomani San lived in the area. They have since moved back to the Kalahari. There are numerous rock paintings at Kagga Kamma. Visitors can appreciate the ancient San living sites at first hand and get an in-depth interpretation of the rock paintings from the expert guides. A self-guided rock art trail will take about 2 hours and is a fairly easy walk down a shallow river valley with about 6 sites along the way. On guided open 4x4 excursions guests can also learn more about the various species of plants and animals that inhabit this arid yet spectacular area, experience the Southern night skies by powerful telescope and enjoy a sundowner with spectacular views from the escarpment into the Ceres-Karoo 700 metres below.

For more information telephone (021) 872 4343 or fax (021) 872 4524 or e-mail info@kaggakamma.co.za

Site 10. MOUNT CEDER, Cederberg Conservancy

Along the road from Op die Berg to the Cederberg Wilderness Area Mount Ceder provides access to a variety of San rock art sites. The rock art site that is most often visited is an easy 10-minute walk along a fairly flat sandy path. You can also ride there on horseback from Mount Cedar. The most unusual painting is a rhino in black and there are numerous antelope and small delicately painted human figures, some of which are associated with "arrows of sickness". The site is a good example of "over-painting" by successive cultures because in addition to the fine line San paintings there are also finger paintings in red and black and early 20th century graffiti. There are more rock art sites in the vicinity that are worth exploring if you have time for hiking.

For more information telephone (023) 317 0848, fax (023) 317 0543 or e-mail mountceder@lando.co.za

Site 11. KROMRIVIER, Cederberg

Kromrivier lies south of the Cederberg Wilderness Area. There are several interesting rock art sites in the vicinity. The most accessible is near to the Stadsaal (Town Hall) where the wind has eroded the soft sandstone into huge halls. The paintings feature well preserved elephants and a short procession of people.
For more information telephone (027) 482 2807

Site 12. CEDERBERG WILDERNESS AREA, Clanwilliam

The Cederberg Wilderness Area, managed by Cape Nature, is one of the sites that forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage Site. It includes over 100 rock painting sites. As wilderness areas have no signposts or information boards and paths are kept to a minimum, visitors who wish to see the paintings should make arrangements in advance for a guide. Hiking groups may not exceed 12 people. Elephant, eland and other antelope are common themes in the paintings, together with human figures in trance postures.

For more information telephone the Cape Nature office at Algeria (027) 482 2812 or e-mail cederberg@cnr.org.za

Site 13. THE OCHRE TRAIL, Worcester - De Doorns

The Ochre Trail is the closest guided rock art experience to Cape Town, 75 minutes drive to the Hex River Valley on the N1 beyond Worcester. A registered tour guide, will take you to San Rock Art sites in the area. The paintings include eland and other antelope, quagga, a snake, handprints and numerous people in dancing and trance postures. Visitors can choose between a 4x4 drive and walking routes of different length.

For more information telephone (023) 357 9795 or mobile (083) 628 7889 or e-mail ochre@kingdom.co.za

Site 14. GAMKABERG NATURE RESERVE, Calitzdorp

This Cape Nature reserve recently opened a bush camp and provides guides to a nearby rock art site in Merrie se Kloof where there are paintings of elephant and eland, dots and finger paintings. A 4x4 vehicle is required to get close to the vicinity of the site.

For more information telephone (044) 213 3367or e-mail gamkanr@mweb.co.za

Site 15. SANBONA WILDLIFE RESERVE, Montagu

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is situated off the R62 between Montagu and Barrydale. Game drives and a guided walk to rock art sites can be arranged.

For more information telephone (028) 52 1365, fax (028) 572 1361 or e-mail gerhardt.engelbrecht@sanbona.com