Namibia's Twyfelfontein

Useful Information

History

The World Heritage Site was recognized nationally as a monument in 1952, following earlier reports of rock art in the area. Created primarily by hunter-gatherers, the engravings and paintings span millennia. Twyfelfontein lies in the Huab Valley in southern Kunene and was eventually declared Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

Wildlife

The broader Damaraland landscape supports animals adapted to arid conditions. Elephants occur here, along with occasional black rhino. Smaller mammals include bat-eared fox, aardwolf, and meerkat, many of which feed on insects and reptiles.

Vegetation & Terrain

The terrain is arid and rocky, providing countless sandstone canvases for rock art. Twyfelfontein lies between eastern savanna and the Atlantic side’s dune fields, with the Skeleton Coast National Park and the Namib Desert to the west. Grasses and scattered trees persist where water collects, while cliffs and terraces add striking relief.

Activities

A guided rock art tour tops the list. The imagery is often interpreted as a pictorial communication system that predates writing and preserves stories of people and wildlife.

Driving along dry riverbeds is another highlight. Elephants sometimes dig below the sand for subsurface water—one of many adaptations to aridity.