Manyana Rock Paintings Travel Guide: Top Sights in Botswana, Tours &

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Manyana Rock Paintings- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; Botswana; 5 Reviews

Suggested Duration: 2 hours

Nestled along some 750 meters of cliff face at the base of the Kolobeng Hills near Manyana in Botswana's Kweneng District, the Manyana Rock Paintings are a rare and tangible window into the region's past. Crafted between roughly 1100 and 1700 AD by Khoikhoi or San artists, the panels feature mammals—rendered in profile with just two legs—human figures that often face forward, as well as abstract and plant motifs, all composed using pigments from bauxite mixed with animal fluids. The site, now fenced and recognised as a National Monument, stands out not only because rock art is scarce in southeastern Botswana, but also because it is the only such location in the area to have undergone archaeological excavation, yielding Later Stone Age tools and Iron Age pottery that trace human presence from centuries before the artworks to more recent times.

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Reviews of Manyana Rock Paintings

Masanori KAJI

5
Reviewed: 2025-06-25

Manyana is easily accessible from Gabs by bus and is a fantastic place to see ancient paintings.
Tumelo Dee

5
Reviewed: 2025-05-18

The place was beautiful and the guide was amazing. She takes you through the various rock paintings and explains the history of when they assume that they were painted. She even allows you to use your imagination on what the drawings may symbolize. This is a definite must see together with the tree of Livingstone
Motsamai

5
Reviewed: 2024-12-22

Visiting the Manyana rock paintings was a delightful experience. The customer service was excellent, with the staff ensuring a smooth and welcoming experience from start to finish. The guides were particularly impressive, showcasing deep knowledge of the region's history and providing fascinating insights into the significance of the paintings and their connection to the area's heritage. Although the paintings themselves are somewhat faded, the guides’ detailed explanations brought them to life, making the visit highly educational. The site’s tranquil surroundings and cultural significance make it a must-visit for anyone interested in Botswana's rich history. I left with a deeper appreciation for the artistry and the stories these ancient works convey.
Keaoleboga Patella

5
Reviewed: 2024-08-21

Beautiful historical site. The history of the Bakwena tribe is here on this site, and a cave that hid the Queen of the Bakwena during the battle of Dimawe
Mathew Phineas Mangana

4
Reviewed: 2022-08-31

A wonderful place to take a relaxing out of town drive (less than 50km outside Gaborone) and learn some history and folklore about Bahurutshe and Bakwena. While appreciating the abstract and concrete artistic rock-painting skills of the San People. Take a drive out to Manyana for a refreshing breath of country fresh air just a stone throw away is the landmark Manyana Trading Post.