Nsangwini Rock Art Shelter

The Nsangwini shelter looks out over the Komati river valley in northwestern Eswatini and holds paintings made by San people over a very long period, including eland, hunters, and a group of winged human figures that are among the very few of their kind anywhere in southern Africa. A community guide takes visitors down the steep path from the parking area. The oldest work here is thought to be several thousand years old.

What you actually see

• The winged figures - among the very few painted anywhere in southern Africa.
• The eland and hunters - the standard San subjects across the panel.
• The valley view - the Komati river country below the shelter.
• The overlapping work - paintings made across a long span of time.

When to go

April to September is drier and the path is safer. Summer rain makes the descent slippery. Morning light reaches the shelter best.

Honest expectations

The path down is steep and slippery and the climb back is hard. A community guide is required and must be found at the parking area. Some paintings are faint and take pointing out.

Nearby

Maguga Dam is south, and Piggs Peak is northeast.