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Heritage Month at Wildebeest Kuil

04 October 2006 On the outskirts of Kimberley in the Northern Cape, South Africa, is a community-based public rock art project, the Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre.

"You can connect here with the past in a new and deeply spiritual way" – SA Tourism head Cheryl Carolus. For South African San Institute CEO, Meryl-Joy Wildschut (the organisation is a key partner in the management of the project), a visit here had been "a moment of extreme pride."

"Besondere ervaring: beste ding om te doen op Erfenisdag"
["Exceptional experience – best thing to have done on Heritage Day"]
– Fanie & Ronel, Bedfordview, 24 Sep 2006.
"Baie mooi – dankie vir julle gasvryheid"
[“Very nice – thank you for your hospitality”]
- Billies Pamo, Chairperson of !Xun & Khwe Communal Property Association, Sep 2006.

In September 2006, Heritage Month, 768 visitors came to Wildebeest Kuil. The majority were learners from schools, coming from as far afield as the Free State and even Cape Town.

Amongst several special guests were: Mary Tlhoaele, new CEO of NCEDA; Fr Stafford Jacobs, Administrator of the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman (“Absolutely educative experience”); Marita de Sterck (linguist, anthropologist, Belgium) with Prof Hans du Plessis (specialist on origins of Afrikaans and on rural oral literature) (“Aangrypend!”); Mr Dirk Elzinga (CEO of the Cape Town International Convention Centre) who visited with Audrey Matthew (PRO of CTICC) and Niseth van der Meulen (Netherlands Consulate) to pay homage to the !Xun and Khwe artists – the Convention Centre having mounted a vast wall sculpture based on a design by the late /Tuoi Stefaans Samcuia, whose family they met on the recent trip. Mr Elzinga has remarked: "For me it definitely has been one of the best days to remember since I relocated [from Holland] to this beautiful country."

If you don’t know the background to Wildebeest Kuil – here’s a summary:

On the outskirts of Kimberley in the Northern Cape, South Africa, is a community-based public rock art project, the Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre. The !Xun and Khwe, and other Khoe-San people, researchers and other stakeholders joined together to conserve the engravings here – more than 400 are spread over a small sacred hill. A visit here can be a deeply moving experience, and an informative one for school groups. The site, surrounded by land owned by the !Xun and Khwe San people, is on a servitude set aside for rock art conservation and public access. Our custodians/tour guides will help make your visit special. The experience begins at a visitor centre, where there are displays, and an auditorium with a twenty minute introductory film. The 800 m walk-way weaves up and over the hill via a number of information boards, while visitors can listen to an MP3 audio commentary as they walk. Back at the centre again, there is a shop, premier outlet for !Xun and Khwe craftwork, other community-made souvenirs, and refreshments.

Changes at Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre

There have been several months of change, and a turn-over of staff, at Wildebeest Kuil. The future, subject to close negotiation with the !Xun and Khwe CPA, presently looks decidedly promising. Provincial government has voted funding for a detailed feasibility study for enlarging the centre to provide activity areas for craft-workers and other possible projects. Already the South African San Institute has re-established a vibrant shop at the Centre, called N//aoh Djao.

Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre Tariffs:

Our tariffs are: R10 for adults (plus R5 for MP3 audiotour); R5 for children. For large school groups, tariffs are negotiable.
N//aoh Djao Shop: San craftwork for sale and purchased to the direct
benefit of !Xun and Khwe crafters and artists. Books, CDs, Posters, Colddrinks, chips, chocolates.

Contact details, opening times seven days a week:

Telephone at the site: 053-8337069; or enquiries at 082 2224777.
N//aoh Djao Shop: 053-8337079. Co-ordinator: Ms Riette Mierke (SASI)
Postal address: Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre, P.O. Box 316, Kimberley, 8300, South Africa. Email: dmorris@inext.co.za Web http://www.wildebeestkuil.itgo.com

Core opening hours are 09:00 – 16:00 on weekdays Monday to Friday and at 11:00 – 16:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. We can open at other hours by prior arrangement (tel 082 2224777).

Special school and tour visits may be scheduled outside normal opening hours, by prior arrangement.

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