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Tags: Bushman Painting

Battle Cave

Battle Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This cave is located in the Injasuthi (translated as valley of the well-fed dog) valley and is a 5-hour hike from the Injasuthi camp. The cave is fenced so cannot be accessed without a guide. Interpretation: The human figures appear to be arranged in a composition that suggests a fight. Some figures have arrows notche ...
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Bee Shelter

Bee Shelter

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The Bushmen danced close to bees and honeycombs when they wanted to enter trance or go into an altered state of consciousness, in which they believed they could better harness spiritual potency. Mark Robertson, Officer in Charge, 036 468 1078 or 083 608 3748, Mark.Robertson@kznwildlife.com This cave is also known as ...
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Cayley Lodge

Cayley Lodge

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

About 4 km north of Cayley Lodge above the Ama Swazi settlement is an extensive rock ledge where 2 small streams enter the valley below. On the South side of this ledge is a small overhand with some reasonably well-preserved paintings comprising of a few Eland some other antelope, human figures and a very faint rianthr ...
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Game Pass Shelter

Game Pass Shelter

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Game Pass Shelter is in the Kamberg area. Most of the paintings in the shelter are complex polychrome images and the first ones you’ll see as you enter are imposing therianthropic figures (mythological creatures that are part human, part animal) clad in long black karosses. The most frequently depicted animal is the e ...
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Grindstone Cave

Grindstone Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This series of caves are a 2 hour walk from the Injisuthi camp. There are 5 caves in a row below the the sandstone cliffs stretching for about 1 kilometre. Only 2 of the caves are painted but other than one excellent painting of an eland the paintings are very worn and indistinct. The first 2 caves are not painted and ...
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Category Caves
Main Caves at Giant's Castle

Main Caves at Giant's Castle

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Main Caves is in the Giants Castle area. This painted shelter is easily accessed and is a short walk from the Giants Castle camp. The site is fenced and guided tours commence at the cave entrance hourly 9.00 am to 3.00 pm. They take a maximum of 13 people at a time, so get there early. This is an extensively painted ...
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Marten's Shelter is in the Monks Cowl area. This small site is situated on the path between Champagne Castle Hotel and The Sphinx path at Monks Cowl . It is on the Champagne Castle Hotel’s property so access is with permission of the hotel management. The site is well marked and is a small set of paintings of Mountain ...
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Category Monks Cowl
San Rock Art Interpretation Centre

San Rock Art Interpretation Centre

, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

One of Kamberg's highlights is the San Rock Art Interpretation Centre which runs spectacular DVD presentations on rock art. Trained guides are available to take visitors to Game pass Shelter (3 hours walk), to see rock art painting which have been described as the Rosetta Stone of ancient Rock Art. Contact: Hospitalit ...
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Sheltered Vale

Sheltered Vale

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

An interesting question that arises from paintings on a ceiling is: “What will the viewpoint of the spectators be?”. When are the paintings upside-down? An upside-down eland is a metaphor for trance or going into an altered state of consciousness. Modern day San refers to the trance dance and entering altered states o ...
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Uthekwane Shelter

Uthekwane Shelter

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Uthekwane Shelter is in the AmaSwazi Traditional Authority Area outside of the Monk's Cowl area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: Rabbit therianthropes (semi-human and semi-rabbit figures) are rare since therianthropes usually depict a mixture of either human and eland or human and rhebuck features. Contact: Mr. Gr ...
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Waterfall Shelter

Waterfall Shelter

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Waterfall Shelter is in the Kamberg area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: Several individuals are painted in bending forward postures and some women are depicted, sitting and clapping. These images link with the trance dance when shamans dance in a circle for days, without eating or sleeping. After enduring days of ...
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Category Kamberg
Wonder Valley Cave

Wonder Valley Cave

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This valley lies between the Champagne Valley and Injasuti, and can be accessed after a long walk from the R 600 just below Champagne Castle Hotel. This is private property so access is only by permission of the owners. It can also be reached from Injasuthi camp. Travelling North from Injasuthi following the path aroun ...
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