Twyfelfontein Namibia Safaris

NAMBIA SAFARIS AND TWYFELFONTEIN

Twyfelfontein is a historic area, complete with figurines dating back to 1000 AD. It is believed that these figurines (rock art carvings) took over 2000 years to create, making it the most impressive rock art collection around. The carvings and drawings generally represent rhinos, elephants, ostriches and giraffes. There are also human and animal footprints scattered all around Twyfelfontein. Even rock shelters containing depictions of humans, painted in red ochre – can be found here, making Twyfelfontein a magnificent and sacred safari destination. 

Twyfelfontein lays in the Kunene region boasting an impressive quantity of rock carvings and paintings.  It has been recorded that there are a little over 2000 figurines in this area. It is believed that the hunters and gatherers of this area in Namibia were the artists who drew and carved these carvings as part of an ancient ritual. It is alleged that the creations were stopped when the pastoral tribes arrived in this Namibian area in 1000 AD.

Many archaeologists have studied Twyfelfontein for many years and through their research have confirmed the authenticity of all the art work found in Twyfelfontein. These figurines still remain scattered around Twyfelfontein - except for one panel of artwork, an engraved panel, which was removed and transported to the National Museum in Windhoek in the early 20th Century. 

This area was approved as a World Heritage Site in 2007 (by UNESCO) and became Namibia’s first World Heritage site. Twyfelfontein is now protected by the National Heritage Act of 2004, making it a very historic and interesting Namibian area to visit. Twyfelfontein has the densest and most important rock art concentration in Africa. Most of the sites are guarded and any safaris to these areas require a tour guide to ensure the protection of the historic rock paintings and carvings.

There is not much information on Twyfelfontein; however, there is a comprehensive survey from 1975 written by Dr. Ernst Rudolph Scherz –the first to record most of the Namibian rock art. Other than that, there are minimal reports of the Twyfelfontein paintings and art work – another reason to visit this sacred area and discover the paintings for yourself! Twyfelfontein is the most popular safari destination in Damaraland and is advertised in almost all safari brochures and travel guides.

Have a look at our Namibia safaris that pass through Twyfelfontein and find out more about other Namibian attractions that you might want to visit on your Namibia Safari.

• Etosha National Park
• Namib-Naukluft
• Mudumo National Park
• Caprivi Strip
• Fish River Canyon
• Kalahari Namibia
• Skeleton Coast
• Susuwe Triangle
• Waterberg Plateau Park
• Ruacana Falls and Epupa Falls
• Sossusvlei
• Swakopmund
• Damaraland
• Spitzkoppe
• Mahango National Park
• Windhoek
• Namibia Wildlife Resorts
• Brandberg
• Namibia Animals