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Home » Destinations » Africa » South Africa

San Rock Art In The Southern Drakensberg Mountains

Modified: Mar 12, 2025 · Published: Dec 7, 2008 by Dave Lee |

I departed Durban for the Sani Pass Lodge, a great starting point for tours into Lesotho and hikes in the southern Drakensberg Mountains. The elevation is about 1,500 meters. I decided to spend my first day on a five-hour return hike to see some San rock art in its natural environment.

Dave hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa.
Drakensberg Mountains

When we left the lodge in the morning, the weather was great: blue skies, puffy white clouds, and green grass running up the slopes of the lower mountains we would be hiking around. Our guide was enthusiastic about the rock art, which made for a fascinating tour.

He explained that the paintings we viewed at three different sites were thought to be between 200 and 2,000 years old. Although thousands of these paintings are in the region, only a few can actually be carbon-dated.

Our guide discusses the San rock art.
Our tour guide
Cave paintings of the spirit realm.
San rock art

The oldest in South Africa is thought to be about 10,000 years old, while the oldest in southern Africa are found in Namibia at 20,000 years old. Though it was the same San people who made them all.

The most common depictions were scenes from the spirit realms where elands, the largest antelope species in the region, were of special significance. After a picnic lunch, clouds started to roll closer to us, and the winds picked up so we made a hasty retreat back to the lodge.

Depiction of an eland.
An eland

The next tour would prove to be more exciting - a 4x4 drive up the steep and rocky Sani Pass (2,800 meters) into the kingdom of Lesotho, followed by a 4-hour return hike to Hodgson's Peak (3,250 meters), and a drink at the highest pub in Africa!

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About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

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