Shakawe :: overview

Shakawe is a village located in the northwest corner of Botswana. It is located at the beginning of the Okavango Delta, close to Namibia and Angola. It also provides access to the Caprivi Strip.

 

In the flat barren landscape of the western Kalahari, some 70km west of the village of Shakawe on the banks of Panhandle, the sheer quartzite cliff-faces of the four Tsodilo Hills rise majestically above the surrounding savannah. The four hills form a line and are referred to by the San people as "The Male" - the largest hill which reaches a height of 410 metres above the surrounding plain; "The Female" - a smaller hill, about 300m, but has an overall area of almost three times that of The Male; and the next in size of 40m is referred to as "The Child" and lies about 2km away from The Female. Beyond these three is a much smaller unnamed knoll, located 2.2km northwest of The Child, which legend has it was The Male Hill's first wife who was discarded when he met and married the taller Female Hill.
 

Archaeological studies have revealed that this area has been occupied by humans for at least 100,000 years. There are paintings on all the hills that cover 9 km2 of rock in a 22 km2 area. The best sites are at the north end of the Female hill.

 

The fact that Tsodilo is totally removed from all other rock art sites in southern Africa adds to its aura of mystery and magic. The paintings at Tsodilo are generally unlike others in the southern African region in both style and the incidence of certain images. Many are isolated figures and over half depict wild and domestic animals, particularly the eland.

 

Scientists have identified the shorelines of a small lake. Among the rare artefacts found there are some animal bone fish hooks dating back more than 20,000 years. Other archaeological discoveries include the location of mines among the hills. There is evidence that between AD 800 and 1,100 the people at Tsodilo were engaged in mining black hematite, and possibly mica, and trading it through the extensive trade networks of Africa.

 

The Tsodilo Hills is one of the most historically significant rock art sites in the world with 500 individual sites charting thousands of years of human habitation. There is a small San encampment nearby as well as a village near the Male Hill inhabited by the Hambukushu people. Guides are available at these settlements.

 

The track to Tsodilo Hills is extremely rough and suitable only for four-wheel-drive vehicles. There are no designated campsites in the area and camping is permitted anywhere, but again, be sure to treat Tsodilo with respect.