The trails to the Tsodilo Hills

The area of the Tsodilo Hills in Botwana can be visited on foot, accompanied by a local guide, and there are four different routes, respectively: the Rhino Trail, the Cliff Trail, the Lion Trail and the Male Hill Trail.

Previously there were other paths, but at present they are no longer viable, except for archaeologists who are engaged in scientific research in the area.

Usually, for questions of time, one chooses to visit the Rhino Trail that among the four is the most accessible, easy to walk and allows to see the well-known paintings.

The Rhino Trail to the Tsodilo Hills

The trail starts at a short distance from the museum and the car park, along the path there are numbered places that indicate the point of interest, whether it is a painting or an archaeologically interesting place, such as an old water puddle or a stone on which hunters sharpened their spears.

Unfortunately, numbered points are not so easy to locate, especially at the end of the rainy season, when the vegetation is particularly lush; moreover, the finds to be admired are sometimes a bit "mysterious", fortunately the guides know perfectly the places and point out and explain the characteristics of each point of interest.

The first point of interest is a large granite stone on which deep grooves are engraved, that lets think this was the place where the San sharpened their spears and arrows.

Point no. 3 is the place where the beautiful silhouettes of a rhinos and a gemsbok were painted; while at point 5 you can admire the drawing of a giraffe.

From this point you climb to the top of the Female Hill where you find the 7th point, where the ancient San families found shelter and protection; this is a flat, isolated area and on its walls there are geometric drawings.

Below a boss stands point no. 8, a curious representation of dancing human figures called "dancing penis" due to the representation of the member in erection; a ritual of initiation is supposed to be represented.

From the top of the hill you will see points no. 9 and 10, respectively, the place of a San camp, that served as a protection for the gathering place of the family (point no. 7) and drawings of two beautiful rhinos from which the trail name comes.

Point no. 10 represents the most famous designs of the entire area and were used for the Botswana Society logo.

The path then touches point no. 11, located between the Female Hill and the Male Hill; this depicts a penguin and a whale, demonstrating that the San entered, most likely, in contact with other populations who came from the coast, that is hundreds of miles far from this site.

Point no. 13 is the renamed Van Der Post panel, it takes its name from an explorer and shows the red design of a magnificent eland; the antelope is depicted with the massive body and the fairy head adorned with horns, it was surely realized by a San artist as the eland is an animal considered sacred to this population.

The track is closed by points no. 14, 15 and 16, showing numerous animal figures, such as giraffes, warthogs, rhinos, gembocks and other antelopes.

The Cliff Trail to the Tsodilo Hills

The route starts North of the Female Hill, apparently similar to the Rhino Trail, but it is not really as easy to walk, and some spots are obstructed by trees that have been knocked down by the elephants and therefore do not allow to approach the paintings.

Despite the numerous drawings of lions, elephants, zebras, scorpions and rhinos, the works do not have the same artistic quality as those on the Rhino Trail.

The most interesting part of the trail is a cave, with its rock formation, that reminds a great snake; this was probably a place where ancestral rituals were practiced.

The Lion Trail and the Male Hill Trail to the Tsodilo Hills

The Lion trail does not allow to climb the hills, but it's all at ground level, some points of interest overlap with the Rhino Trail; it is an easy and interesting journey.

The Male Hill Trail, on the other hand, is the most tiring and challenging route of all, foreseeing the uphill on the Male Hill; then it also follows the track of the Lion Trail.

After visiting the Tsodilo hills and crossing one or more of its trails, South of the entrance to the site, you also have the opportunity to visit a Hambukushu village and a San village.