Cederberg rock art excursion: 11 -13 September

Cederberg rock art excursion: 11 -13 September

Dates: 11 to 13 September

Course fee: R4 500 per person for shared cottages; R4 700 per person not sharing

Maximum: Places are limited to 20 participants

Click here to book your spot.

The Centre for Extra-Mural Studies has designed a unique weekend excursion to the Cederberg, led by Emeritus Professor John Parkington. The excursion is an immersive exploration of San rock art in its original setting, tracing the footsteps of the San and examining their paintings and artefacts within the landscape, and participants will gain a deeper understanding of their lives, beliefs and relationship with place.

The excursion includes visits to the Vleiplaas and De Pakhuys rock art sites in the upper Brandewyn River, east of the Pakhuis Pass. Less well known than the Sevilla Trail sites, these remarkable paintings provide fascinating insights into San symbolism and storytelling, while revealing the connection between art, memory and landscape. Through these works, participants will explore how painted places became expressions of identity, belonging and cultural history.

The excursion fee includes accommodation and dinner. Breakfast, lunch and drinks are excluded, and all cottages are self-catering. The nearby Khoisan Kitchen restaurant will be available for those wishing to purchase breakfast and lunch.

The programme begins at 12:00 (noon) on Friday 11 September 2026, at the Khoisan Kitchen, at Travellers Rest in the Cederberg, followed by lunch and an afternoon visit to the first rock art sites. Saturday and Sunday mornings are dedicated to exploring additional sites, while evening dinners provide an opportunity to hear Prof. Parkington share his insights into San cosmology and the significance of their rock art. The excursion concludes after lunch on Sunday.

For additional information, contact Brownwyn Geldenhuys at bronwyn.geldenhuis@uct.ac.za