The valley and spring
The site of old rituals.
Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Martin Cígler — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Martin Cígler — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0
Twyfelfontein, officially known as ǀUi-ǁAis, is a site of ancient rock engravings in the Kunene Region of north-western Namibia, set around a spring in a valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone mountain. It has one of Africa's largest concentrations of petroglyphs. In 2007 it became Namibia's first World Heritage Site, and it is the leading cultural stop on Damaraland trips. Hunter-gatherers lived in this valley from about 6,000 years ago, followed by Khoikhoi herders. Both used it for worship and rituals, leaving at least 2,500 carvings and a few paintings. The name means «uncertain spring» in Afrikaans, and it was given in 1948 by a farmer who doubted its water would sustain his family and herd. You walk with a guide among big red rocks carved with animals and tracks. The landscape alone is worth the trip, with boulders shaped like open jaws, dry valleys and grey plants moving in the wind. It is about 67 km in a straight line from Khorixas and 64 km from Brandberg Mountain. A guide is compulsory and included in the fee, and one source gives daily hours of 8:00 to 17:00. Carry cash, as there is no nearby ATM, along with water, a hat and sturdy shoes, as the sun is strong. Do not touch the carvings, and start early before the heat. Roads are gravel, so drive at a suitable speed.
The site of old rituals.
Figures and tracks on rock.
Boulders like open jaws.
Kunene Region, north-western Namibia
No. A guide is compulsory and included in the entry fee.
In cash, according to two sources, as the nearest ATM is far away, so carry Namibian dollars.