Arnoud Quanjer Wildlife Photography

The earliest work of art in South Africa are the rock paintings and engravings of the Bushmen (San). The origins of this old-established people of hunters and gatherers are unknown, as are the origins of their art. Some of their drawings may be as much as 30,000 years old, ranking them among the oldest in the world.The drawings are found at thousands of sites, often in caves, over a wide area extending from the Limpopo to the Cape. Drawings on sandstone or granite are mostly to be found in hilly regions and river valleys, engravings or incised drawings in open country. Usually they are in remote areas and difficult to access, and subject to damage by weathering, vandalism and ignorance. All Bushman drawings are protected national monuments. They are particularly numerous in the eastern and north-eastern Cape and the southern Giant's Castle Game Reserve alone there are over 700 rock drawings of animals. Later the Bushmen, confronted by European settlers advancing from the south and the Bantu peoples moving in from the north-west, withdrew into the inhospitable Kalahari. Copies of their art can be seen in various museums. The rock drawings are difficult to date, since for religious reasons the Bushmen stuck to particular themes and to their particular artistic canon. They may date from prehistoric times or may be only a few centuries old. The more recent drawings can be dated more accurately, since they depict Europeans and the animals they brought in.

Viewing bushman paintings 

All over the the Ceres mountains area there are bushman paintings to be found. Some of the paintings are hard to reach as they are located far from roads, but some are easilly accesible. One of these sites is a privately owned farm not far from Wuppertal. After politely asking for permission to see the rock-art we set of on a self-guided tour of the area. We saw an amazing collection of bushman paintings, and we saw them in a 'natural' environment. No fences or whatever has been set up to protect the paintings. If you wanted to you could touch them. It's refreshing to see that, at least in some places on this earth, vandalism isn't an issue yet. Let's hope it stays that way so many people can view these paintings in years to come. 

Wethu Experience
Based at Op-die-Berg 45 km from Ceres.
Experience some of the best paintings in South Africa on a guided tour with a local guides. Optional lunch.  
Tel (023) 3170625

Kagga Kamma Private Game Reserve
100 km North of Ceres.
Visitors can see paintings on a day visit or overnight stay.
Tel. (021) 8724343

Kunje Farm
90 km from Ceres.
Rock paintings visible on day hike. 
Tel. (022) 9213536

Houdenbek Farm
57 km from Ceres in the Koue Bokkeveld.
A variety of paintings on hiking trail. Must stay overnight to see rock paintings.
Tel (023) 3170759