- Location: Namibia, Damara district
- Height above sea level: 550 m
There is in Namibia , in the remote dry mountainous region of Damara, a unique valley called Twifefontein, which in African means "unreliable fountain".
Historical background
Scientists believe that this area was formed about 130 million years ago. The washed sand, connecting with the ground, formed in these places rocky-sandy mountains of the most bizarre shapes and sizes.
In the distant past, this valley was called Wu-Ais or "jumping source". And already in 1947, it was settled by white farmers and gave it the current name.
In 2007, the valley of Twifelfontein was declared World Heritage by UNESCO. Today, tourists can visit these places only when accompanied by a guide.
Rock paintings in the valley of Twifelfontein
Approximately in the III millennium BC, during the Neolithic period, many drawings were created on rock plates. Their age is very difficult to determine. The latest ones were painted about 5000 years ago, and the latest ones - about 500 years.
Experts believe that these rock paintings were created by representatives of Wilton culture. At the time when these images were created, there was no metal, so it is believed that they were painted with the help of quartz, the pieces of which archaeologists find nearby.
The indigenous tribes, long lived in these territories, were Bushmen. It is they who are credited with the authorship of the creation of cave paintings. For many centuries in this valley, the local population held their magical rituals. And since these people were mainly engaged in hunting, these themes are devoted to all the images. On the rocks you can see a hunter with a bow, and various animals: a rhinoceros, a zebra, an elephant, an antelope and even a seal.
How to get to the Twifelfontein Valley?
You can get here on a light passenger plane, for landing of which there is a runway.
But most often come here on off-road cars. There are roads though, but there are often obstacles in the form of small rivers. The valley of Twifefontein is surrounded by the C35 in the southeast and C39 in the north. Conventions from both roads are indicated by signs. On the road C39 to the place about 20 km, and from the C35 - about 70 km. Having reached the parking place, you will need to climb up the hill for about 20 minutes.