Walk in the Footsteps of the First Artists on a Drakensberg San Rock Art Excursion with James Seymour and Drakensberg Walking Excursions.
Step into the sacred rock shelters of the Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site, home to the most extensive and spiritually significant collection of San rock art in sub-Saharan Africa. Guided by heritage specialist James Seymour of Drakensberg Walking Excursions, these interpretive journeys offer insight into the beliefs, environment, and cultural heritage of the Drakensberg’s earliest known inhabitants.
These carefully curated walks do more than visit ancient sites – they offer a deep and respectful understanding of a worldview expressed through paint, place, and ritual.
Why Walk with Us?
Drakensberg Walking Excursions specialises in guided experiences that integrate heritage interpretation with the beauty of the mountain landscape. Under the guidance of James Seymour, a veteran in heritage, nature and adventure-based tourism, participants gain context, clarity, and cultural understanding of the remarkable San paintings found across the escarpment.
What to expect
Explore World Heritage Sites: Visit key San rock art locations such as Game Pass Shelter, Giant’s Castle Main Caves and Battle Cave.
Tailored Walks: Choose half-day, full-day, or multi-day excursions, adapted to your fitness and interest level.
Meaningful Interpretation: Discover the significance of trance scenes, eland symbolism, and San spiritual traditions through informed and respectful guidance.
Led by James Seymour: Walk with a professional who has decades of experience in heritage tourism, ensuring depth, accuracy, and authenticity.
Immersive Landscape: Experience the natural grandeur of the Drakensberg – from sandstone cliffs and forested valleys to clear mountain streams.
Key sites visited
Our excursions focus on the central and northern Drakensberg, with access to some of the region’s most renowned rock art locations:
Kamberg Nature Reserve – Featuring Game Pass Shelter, often referred to as “the Rosetta Stone of San rock art.”
Giant’s Castle – Home to the well-preserved and easily accessible Main Caves.
Injisuthi Wilderness Area – Battle Cave.
Monk’s Cowl Area – Offers walks to remote shelters in spectacular natural settings.
Cathedral Peak Area – Procession Shelter and Lower Mushroom Shelter
Please note: The Didima Rock Art Centre is currently closed to the public, but tours in the surrounding area can still be arranged.
Why San Rock Art Is Important
The rock art found in the Drakensberg is not simply decorative. It reflects a spiritual and symbolic system developed over thousands of years by San hunter-gatherers who once lived in these valleys and ridges. Their paintings, often created during trance states, depict spiritual journeys, ritual dances, and connections with the supernatural world.
Many of these insights have been brought to light through decades of research by South African archaeologists, helping to decode the layered meanings behind these extraordinary works of art.
Tour options
Half-Day Walks – Ideal for those with limited time or casual interest.
Full-Day Excursions – For deeper immersion and visits to multiple sites.
Multi-Day Packages – Combine cultural heritage with mountain hiking, including overnight stays and wilderness trails.
Each tour is customised to meet the needs of individuals or groups. Transfers from local lodges and accommodation can be arranged on request.
Booking is essential
Phone / WhatsApp: +27 82 925 5508
Email: james@cathkinmanagement.com
Website: www.drakensbergwalkingexcursions.com
Drakensberg Walking Excursions 