06 Oct 2016

 Manyana rock paintings, a heritage site located at Manyana is experiencing decline in numbers of visitors in recent years, according to Sinah Marumo, field assistant and tour guide.
Marumo said they used to have both local and international visitors from countries like Belgium, Poland and Canada between the months of April and September in what she referred to as the peak season.
“They came for educational tours, especially students, while some came for photo shoots in the site,”  Marumo explained.
She said it is worrying as this is no longer the case and the numbers have dropped significantly with the heritage site having less than 10 visitor’s altogether over the Independence Day holidays.
Ms Marumo encouraged people to visit the site which houses rock art paintings and Legaga la ga Mma Sechele (Mma Sechele’s cave).
The site also gives the visitors an opportunity to be taught about David Livingstone’s tree and the battle of Dimawe in the Dimawe Hill which are also in close proximity to the rock art paintings and can be guided upon request. Marumo says the rock paintings, which date back to around 2000 years ago have significantly lost their appeal with some fading due to weather conditions.
She therefore urged people, especially locals to visit the paintings before they are no more as the cliff which they are painted on continues to weather.
“The drawings are believed to have been created by the San as part of their religious activities when they were having visions,” Marumo explains.
She explained that it is believed that paintings of snakes signified the venom that they used to paralyse their prey during hunting.
She explained that Mma Sechele’s cave was used by the chief ‘s wife for protection from  the Boer invasion as she was pregnant at the time.
“It is not known for how long Mma Sechele stayed in the cave as the Boers would attack, then cease fighting and attack again nor is it known who of her children Mma Sechele was pregnant with,” Marumo said.
Ms Marumo said people should feel free to visit the site to get free education about the country’s history and sometimes for leisure.
She says it is a shame that foreigners can come all the way from their countries to see heritage sites which locals do not see worthy of their time.
“The site is fenced and protected because we used to get people coming to perform their religious rituals here claiming to have been called by ancestors, some would even burn candles in the rocks and end up tempering with the heritage site,” said Marumo.
Marumo however said that the site needed to be developed in order to attract visitors saying that lack of facilities such as tuck shops could be contributing factors to the drop in the number of visitors. ENDS