Click on image for list of participants 		Rock Art of Namibia
12th - 30thJune, 2026



Site references based on numbering system of
Harald Pager (Upper Brandberg) and Ernst-Rudolf Scherz

False colour images processed with dStretch,
a freely available software developed by Jon Harman

This year we made another tour of the principal Namibian rock art sites, staying at campsites and guest farms along the way, mostly following the itineraries of our June 2018 and June 2021 expeditions. After the tour I made the climb to the Zisabspitze at the Brandberg to visit the isolated cluster of sites recorded by Harald Pager (the last remaining blank spot on the mounain).

View Slide-show

Day 0. - Windhoek

This year arrival logistics was a bit more challenging than usual, with George and Cec arriving a day early to recover somewhat from jetlag, Colleen and Dan already there spending a week driving about Namibia before our trip, Eli & Harry driving up from Cape Town, and Helen taking a flight on the morning of our departure. Those of us already in Windhoek the day before spent the night at the Mercure Hotel (former Safari Court) with a nice dinner at Joe's.

Day 1. - Windhoek - Ameib

Helen arrived as planned early morning, by mid-morning we were ready to roll with our two camper pickups. We agreed to meet Eli & Harry at the Okahandja Country Hotel, with the dual carriage motorway now complete till Okahandja it was a quick drive, getting to know eack other around the lunch table. In the afternoon we continued to Ameib, with the necessary stop to fuel and some supplies it was late afternoon by the time we settled into the rooms and campsite.

Day 2. - Ameib

After breakfast we made a quick start, visiting the "Geisterkampf" (ghost-fight) site of Scherz figures before it comes out to the sun for the rest of the day. The curious archer figures are very faint, they can be hardly made out with the naked eye, once the sun shines on them they become completely invisible.

Later in the morning we set out to the principal Ameib site, Philipp cave (so named after the owner of the property at the time when the Abbé Breuil visited and made the copues). We spent a long time at the cave, taking photos and just marveling at the panels. It turned out the cave now has a resident guardian, a big Giant Plated Lizard that is living under a rock right at the cave entrance.


We returned to the guesthouse for lunch and a little rest, then started out again to the other Ameib highlight, Jatow Grotte, located at the north-eastern corner of the property. Again we spent a long time lokking at and phoographing the panels, taking in the innumerable details.


By the time we returned to the cars sunset was approaching, we finished the day at the spectacular group of granite boulders refererd to as "Bull's Party" near the Klein Ameib spring.

Day 3. - Spitzkoppe

To be continued...

 

 

For June 2028 we are planning a similar 12 day circuit to see a wide selection of the Rock Art sites of Namibia plus some of the natural wonders of the country, staying at lodges and guest farms along the way. Please visit the News page for any updates (or "follow" the FJ Expeditions FaceBook page).