Tsodilo

Tsodilo is a group of rock-art-covered hills in northwestern Botswana that form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for an exceptionally dense concentration of prehistoric paintings. The hills contain many rock shelters and painted panels with images made over thousands of years.

The hills are also archaeologically significant for numerous graves and artefacts that document long human use and ritual activity. The site is culturally important to local San peoples and remains a focus for traditional beliefs and practices.

Tsodilo stands as an isolated set of rocky outcrops rising from otherwise flat terrain in the Kalahari region; access is by road from nearby settlements and visits typically include guided walks to major painting sites.

• Rock art concentration: The site contains thousands of rock paintings and engravings concentrated on a few granite hills that are considered sacred by local San and other communities.

• Book a guided tour through the Tsodilo Hills visitor/interpretation centre - access to many rock‑art shelters is regulated and local guides provide the context and routes to the best panels.
• Ask your guide to include some of the less‑visited painting sites rather than just the main shelters; many visitors miss important panels tucked deeper in the hills.
• Visit in the cooler parts of the day (early morning or late afternoon) for better light on the rock art and to avoid midday heat during the hikes between sites.