On the outskirts of Kimberley is a community-based public rock art project, the Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre.
Khoe-San people, researchers and other stakeholders joined together to conserve the rock engravings here – more than 400 are spread over a small sacred hill. A visit here can be a deeply moving experience, and an informative one for school groups.
The site, surrounded by land owned by the !Xun and Khwe San people, is on a servitude set aside for rock art conservation and public access. Community custodians / tour guides will help make your visit special. The experience begins at a Visitors’ Centre, where there are displays, and an auditorium with a twenty minute introductory film.
The 800 m walk-way weaves up and over the hill via a number of information boards, while visitors can listen to an MP3 audio commentary as they walk.
There is also the N//aoh Djao shop, the main outlet for !Xun and Khwe craftwork, other community-made souvenirs, and refreshments.
Wildebeest Kuil - Extract
South Africa’s rich heritage of rock art occurs in the form of engravings on the interior plains, and paintings in the more mountainous areas, their distributions overlapping in places.
Wildebeest Kuil - Extracts from the Audio Tour
The /Xam spoke of how the wind blows dust to take away their footprints, at death – in a sense defining the passage of time, the passing of each generation.
Northern Cape Rock Art Trust
Rock art in the Northern Cape, South Africa, includes both engravings (petroglyphs) and paintings. They form part of the national estate of South Africa and represent an aspect of the cultural inheritance of the Khoe-San people of this country.
Comments from Visitors
“Very special”
– Ronald Kemsley
“Amazing. Will come again”
– Graham Oram, Cambridge, UK
“Absolutely awe-inspiring”
– Barkhuizen family, Kimberley
“Winged words!”
– Michael Welsh, Canada
“Really interesting and well set out. Felt good energy on top at the engravings”
– Jim Feely
“Found tour and guide’s information excellent”
– J.H. van der Straat
“Absolutely wonderful!”
– Steve & Tanya Haggerty, USA
“Wonderful – keep going”
– Liz Crossley, Berlin
“Worthwhile a visit and more”
– Jens-Peter Steffen, Berlin
“Fascinating! Well done! Very interesting”
– Brian Roodt, De Beers
“Unbelievably real”
– Mildred Gradwell, Cape Town
“Eye-opening! Historic!”
– B. Jewell, East London
Educational – keep up the good work.
M.M. Lenyabo, Galeshewe
Great work!
Clive vd Berg
Excellent.
Past H. Africa, Barendse Griekwa Huis
Good.
Dr Langeveldt, Barendse Griekwa Huis
Good to see the “arts” being protected.
Steve Newboald, Cape Town
Xquisite!!!
Marcia Kalebe, Kimberley
Baie goed, interresant, het baie geniet.
Billies Difanno Pamo, !Xun and Khwe CPA
Nice, interesting and touching.
Boichoko Moremi, Warrenton
Bravo! U R doing a swell job.
Lolo Seleka, Galeshewe
Excellent.
Past H. Africa, Barendse Griekwa Huis
Good.
Dr Langeveldt, Barendse Griekwa Huis
Excellent place.
Rumi Chetty, Kimberley
Nice, interesting and touching.
Boichoko Moremi, Warrenton
A most wonderful site. Full of energy!
Gurte & Maria Walton
Very interesting and tastefully done. Thought provoking!
Nadine & Jeff Bergamyer, USA
Excellent. Very impressed.
Philip Kiberd, UK
Baie mooi! Gaan so voort!
Albert Vorster
Excellent.
Prof Themba Sono
The shop looks great!
Adèle Wildschut
Video very informative and the place is exquisite.
H. Mofokeng
It’s a remarkable historical site and educative for our future.
Kankiri Ho Darius, Kigali, Rwanda
Dit was ‘n belewenis!
Jesse Strauss
Keep it up. Let the people tell their own history.
Sibongile Nkomo
Magnificent.
Michael Morris, Cape Argus
Beautiful, important, restful, proud; challenging for South Africans to know and respect our heritage.
Nick Henwood, Cape Town
Very good contrast programme to Kimberley, and important insights. Keep on with your efforts.
B. Bunk, Germany
Just unbelievable. Keep up the good work. Viva!
Victor Mojanaga
Excellent project.
Sipho Mampe
Excellent representation of what once was, I believe!
Johan van Niekerk, Upington
A great learning experience.
Thikwane family, Ulco
Very well done. Congratulations.
Val Ward
A moment of extreme pride.
Meryl-Joy Wildschut
Enjoyed! Keep up this good work!
Christopher Chippindale
A very spiritual experience.
Camilla Mary SPB & Fr Anthony Gann
Great – very interesting.
Richard Liversidge & Vivienne Liversidge
A gift from our past for our future.
Jarodien family, Kimberley
We never expected so many engravings
W. & C. Steineke, Germany
Beautiful!
Josiah Katz
Have to come again!
Liisa Lind, Helsinki
Excellent!
Dr Donald Watson, UK
A remarkable experience of a remarkable people.
Les & Elma Phillips, Johannesburg
Quiet and nice place, kind reception.
Tomoya Nakauz, Japan
A wonderful experience.
Aron Mazel
Very good display
Wilfred Delporte, Kimberley
A very good selection of art works.
M.M. Patel, Kimberley
Congratulations on a very stout effort. It’s great when dreams and ambitions can eventuate, and even greater when they WORK.
Patricia Vinnicombe, Australia
“An ‘other-world’ experience with music and traditions”
– Liz Valentine
