Phillipskop Cave
Rock Art Heritage Site
Phillipskop Mountain Reserve is home to a unique Heritage Site featuring the first recorded rock art on the Cape Whale Coast. It is part of the Southern Cape route of the Cradle of Human Culture. This spacious cave on the reserve and is open to visitors to explore when staying in our accommodation. Day visitors either need to become members of our Friends of Phillipskop scheme first or book a guided walk.
A Significant Discovery
The first for the Cape Whale Coast
- The rock paintings at Phillipskop were discovered in 2016.
- The site was officially recognized by Heritage Western Cape as a Grade IIIA Heritage Site. This indicates that it is a heritage site of high local importance, one level below provincial.
- Its classification is a reflection of the rarity of rock art in the southern Overberg.
- Phillipskop Cave extends the known range of Khoe-San rock art and offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience this cultural treasure on the Cape Whale Coast.
What you'll See
Khoe and San Rock Art
- The rock art includes striking images of human figures, an antelope, and decorated handprints and finger dots.
- The handprints and finger dots are attributed to Khoe pastoralists and may date back 500–2,000 years.
- Fine-line paintings of people and animals, likely created by San hunter-gatherers, could be up to 3,000 years old or older.
- Together, they reflect the rich and layered cultural heritage of the region’s earliest inhabitants.
Visiting the Cave
A short walk through the fynbos
- Phillipskop Cave is accessible via the Candlewood Hiking Trail and can be visited on your own or as part of a guided walk.
- The trail is a short, mostly level route, of about 2 km from the accommodation and reception.
- There is a short but steep climb up to the cave that can be loose underfoot. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for uneven terrain.
- A guided walk can be booked incorporating an introduction to the fynbos along the way with a greater insight to the cave and its rock art.
Please Help Us Protect
This Important Heritage Site
Do…
- Take photographs (flash is fine) & use a torch to see the images more clearly.
- Report any disturbance to the site or evidence of graffiti.
- Respect the rarity and heritage value of this rock art, part of the irreplaceable heritage of the San and Khoe and their descendants.
- Remember that these paintings were made at least a thousand years ago, and if damaged they cannot be repaired.
Don’t…
- Touch the paintings.
- Wet or add any substance to the rock surface, or try to chip paint off.
- Dig into the sediment or remove any archaeological material from the site.
- Light fires or kick up dust in the cave.
