Paula Cave

Paula Cave is one of six sites of rock paintings found in the Klippdachs (“rock hyrax”) Mountains near Omaruru. It is situated on Okapekaha Farm in the Omaruru district of the Erongo Region, and the cave itself lies approximately 3 km south of the road between Omaruru and Usakos. The cave was proclaimed a National Monument on 1 March 1951, only one year after a recommendation by the German archaeologist Dr E. R. Scherz. This made it one of the earliest rock-art sites in Namibia to receive formal protection.

Unfortunately, many of the paintings have been weathered away over the years, primarily due to fires lit within the cave. The renowned palaeontologist Abbé Henri Breuil was the first to describe in detail some of the more striking images, including “large, red-haired humans with relatively long bodies, several animals—among them elephant and rhinoceros.” He further described a scene in which a group of red-haired figures appears to be under attack by a larger group of black men with arrows. Whether this represents an actual event, a symbolic scene, or ritual storytelling remains debated among researchers.

Other figures in Paula Cave include pregnant women walking and flute players, recurring motifs found at several rock-art sites in the Erongo Mountains. These images are often interpreted as expressions of fertility, initiation rituals, or trance-related performance.

Paula Cave can be accessed by the public by prior arrangement through Erongo Wilderness Lodge. Visitors typically require a guided walk, and access may be dependent on seasonal conditions and landowner availability. It is recommended to enquire well in advance.