Tsodilo

Tsodilo is a town in Botswana's northwestern region. The hills, at 1,395 meters, are Botswana's highest peak and one of the most famous historical sites in Botswana that have enticed people to trade, visit, and reside there for thousands of years. There are around 4,500 paintings at 400 locations, the most of which date from 850 to 1100 C.E. Apart from that, Tsodilo is a treasure trove of archaeological artifacts. Three rock shelters have been excavated: White Painting Shelter, Depression Shelter, and Rhino Cave.

Tsodilo has been dubbed the "Louvre of the Desert" because it possesses one of the world's largest concentrations of rock art. In a 10 km2 stretch of the Kalahari Desert, almost 4,500 paintings have been preserved. The area's archaeological record spans at least 100,000 years, providing a historical picture of human activity and environmental changes. Tsodilo is revered by local people in this difficult environment as a site of devotion frequented by ancestral spirits.

For thousands of years, people have used the Tsodilo Hills for painting and ceremony. According to UNESCO, the hills feature 500 distinct sites that span thousands of years of human occupation. The rock art in the highlands has been attributed to indigenous hunter-gatherers. Some of the murals at Tsodilo are said to have been produced by San ancestors, who also lived in the caves and rock shelters. Some of the artwork have been estimated to be as old as 24,000 years ago.