The Tsodilo Hills
A taste of culture at Tsodilo in Botswana
For the more experienced traveller to Africa, Botswana offers the Tsodilo Hills to the northwest of the Okavango Delta. These hills are surrounded in mystery. Allow the 3,500 rock paintings - some of which are reported to be 20,000 years old - of the San Bushmen to take you on a spiritual journey through time.
The four rocks at Tsodilo
The word 'Tsodilo' derives from the Hambukushu word 'sorile', meaning steep, and anyone that visits Tsodilo will soon understand why when they see the hills rising steeply and abruptly up into the dry, dessert-like environment. This region has been the sanctuary of the San Bushmen for the past 30,000 years and it is here that they believe Creation to have begun.
According to the San, the largest of the rocks is the 'man', the second largest the 'woman', and the smallest the 'child'. The forth rock is said to be the man's first wife, who was left by the man for a younger woman and who is now lying in wait. The Tsodilo Hills are a truly scared place for the San because they believe that this is the final resting place for the dead and that their gods rule the world from within caves found in the 'female rocks'. The holiest place, however, is at the top of the 'male rock', where the Holy Ghost is believed to have prayed after creating the world - which according to the San is evident from the impression that his knees left on the rocks.
The rock paintings at Tsodilo Hills
The Tsodilo Hills are one of the most important historical sites for San rock paintings in the world. Some of these paintings are said to be no less that 20,000 years old. Many different routes lead visitors to a total of 350 different rock paintings, which are all worth taking the time out to visit and study. Paintings such as those depicting penguins and whales point to the fact that the San had contact with other tribes and other notable paintings depict crowds of sexually aroused men.
This is also one of the regions where you can join the Bushmen and participate in a traditional hunt.
