Ha Baroana Rock Art

Ha Baroana, the place of the Bushmen, is a rock shelter in a valley east of Maseru whose walls carry San paintings of eland, hunters and dancing figures, and it was for a long time the best known rock art site in Lesotho. Vandalism and weathering have taken a heavy toll since it was first recorded, and much less is visible now than in the early photographs, which is part of the story the site tells.

What you actually see

• The San paintings - eland, hunters and dancing figures on the shelter wall.
• The valley setting - the gorge the shelter sits in below the plateau.
• The condition - the damage from vandalism and weather since the site was recorded.
• The early records - the photographs showing what has been lost.

When to go

September to April is the milder season. Low morning or evening light shows what remains best. Winter is cold and the descent is icy.

Honest expectations

A great deal has been lost to vandalism and weathering; do not expect what old photographs show. The descent into the valley is steep and unmarked. A local guide is worth taking.

Nearby

Maseru is west, and Thaba Bosiu is southwest.