Farm Kamanjab

The rock engravings at Farm Kamanjab, near the town of Kamanjab, have been described as “one of the richer occurrences in number and quality in Namibia”. There are approximately 1,200 to 1,500 rock engravings, including both animal and abstract designs, located at the top of Peet Alberts Koppie on Farm Kamanjab. Peet Alberts was one of the Dorsland Trekkers and a former owner of the farm, who settled in Namibia. The koppie is named in his honour and has since become one of Namibia’s most accessible open-air rock art galleries.

Those on a self-drive safari in Namibia can access the mountain ridge where the rock engravings are located from the Outjo–Kamanjab road, 10 km south of the town of Kamanjab. There is a small road that leads north for about 1 km, and access to the appropriate hillock is through an entrance gate. A short walk leads to the main panel area, and basic signage explains the significance of several key engravings.

The most prominent engraving at this site is that of a giraffe, which measures 330 cm from hind hoof to ear. It is the most extensive known rock engraving in Namibia. Both this giraffe and a number of other abstract works are among the oldest engravings in the country, likely dating to the early hunter-gatherer period and showing significant patina that indicates great antiquity. Many of them overlap, suggesting repeated use of the site over long periods.

The identifiable animal engravings include:

• Elephant
• Guinea fowl
• Kudu
• Leopard
• Leguan
• Oryx
• Rhinoceros
• Stork
• Scaly anteater
• Warthog

Occasionally, rarer species such as giraffe and aardvark also appear at the site, further illustrating the broader range of wildlife that once roamed the region.

Abstract engravings include circular forms, crossed and dotted circles, a star and a honeycomb. These geometric motifs are typical of central and northern Namibian rock art traditions and may carry symbolic or ritual significance. There are also some depictions of humans and children’s feet. Footprint engravings are especially common in northwestern Namibia and may be linked to tracking, spiritual journeys, or ancestral pathways.