Phillips Cave Travel Guide: Top Sights in Namibia, Tours & Travel

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Phillips Cave- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Natural Scenery; Namibia; 5 Reviews

Suggested Duration: 2 hours

Phillips Cave, nestled within Namibia's Erongo Mountains on the Ameib Farm, offers a captivating glimpse into the region's rich cultural and natural heritage. This archaeological site, declared a national monument in 1951, features an array of ancient rock paintings attributed to the San people. Among the most notable is the depiction of a white elephant, a unique artistic representation in Southern African rock art. Other illustrations include giraffes, rhinoceroses, ostriches, springboks, kudus, and human handprints, providing insight into the fauna and daily life of the time. The cave itself measures approximately 15 meters deep, 35 meters wide, and 7 meters high, offering a spacious shelter that has preserved these artworks for millennia. Archaeological findings, such as stone tools dated to around 3500 BC, suggest that the cave served as a dwelling for the San people during the dry winter months. Accessing Phillips Cave involves a scenic 45-minute walk from the farm, allowing visitors to experience the surrounding landscape before reaching the site. Nearby, the Bull’s Party rock formation, characterized by large, rounded granite boulders, adds to the area's geological intrigue.

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Reviews of Phillips Cave

Ronald Jahn

5
Reviewed: 2024-09-20

Recommended hike or climbing to the “cave” (more of an overhang) Very warm at midday, so take enough water with you. Be sure to watch “Bull’s Party” too. You can drive there directly by car.
Karin

5
Reviewed: 2024-06-04

Large cave with beautiful views. Reachable from Ameib Farm, pay entrance fee at reception. Start straight from reception, about 2.5 km one way, just under 200m in total. Nice, entertaining hike. Or start hiking at the parking lot on the path towards Bulls Party, signposted, then 1.5 km.
Johann Welle

5
Reviewed: 2024-02-24

It is best to walk from the parking lot in the morning. Camped at the nearby campsite. Discover traces of ancient rock carvings.
Andreas Kelka

4
Reviewed: 2024-02-24

A beautiful, mystical place! But be careful! You'll be given a map with hiking trails and climbing routes marked on it. Climbing routes here actually mean climbing, meaning using ropes, etc. ...the path to Phillip's Cave is definitely climbing for "normal" people! I was running wild! Often, you don't even know which rock to climb or where to hold on. It's definitely only for people who are fit enough to walk. Don't underestimate it—and definitely don't be as stupid as me and go off alone! I didn't meet a single person! And 45 minutes from the parking lot is a very conservative estimate! Dots and arrows on the rocks, however, clearly mark the path. The cave itself is very impressive (if you're not a philistine and appreciate paintings thousands of years old). The view, peace, and isolation there are also very impressive!
Davide Casari

5
Reviewed: 2019-12-12

It's a real marvel. Beautiful stone paintings. Just 1,2km from the car parking