Twyfelfontein area
Behind the almost unpronounceable name of Twyfelfontein lies one of the greatest archaeological treasures in Namibia, if not in the whole of Africa. We are referring to a huge concentration of petroglyphs dating from around 2,000 to 6,000 years ago. Although Namibia is primarily known for its wildlife and nature, it can also offer a more cultural visit. Such is its importance that Twyfelfontein was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007. It is a valley inhabited for around 6,000 years by groups of Stone Age hunter-gatherers. It was these early inhabitants who are believed to have made most of the rock carvings and paintings on the site.
Programs at Twyfelfontein area
What to see in Twyfelfontein area?
Twyfelfontein rock carvings
One of the largest concentrations of petroglyphs on the entire African continent can be found here. Most of them are in a good state of preservation and depict rhinoceroses, elephants, ostriches and giraffes, as well as footprints of men and animals. The site also has six rock shelters decorated with red ochre paintings depicting human figures. The remains found in the two areas of the site date back to the end of the Stone Age. The site forms a coherent ensemble of great size and quality, attesting to the ritual practices of hunter-gatherer populations in this region of Southern Africa for at least twenty centuries. These engravings mainly depict animals, such as ostriches, rhinoceroses, giraffes and elephants; there are also animal footprints and a few human figures.
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