Tsodilo Hills Cultural Festival

View on map
MusicTsodilo Hills
DatesDates TBACheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsWhat sets this gathering apart is the
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: BWP
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Tsodilo Hills Cultural Festival in Tsodilo Hills

Tsodilo Hills Cultural Festival gathers San dancers, storytellers and craft makers at the base of Botswana's sacred rock-art hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 4,500 painted panels. The event is small and community-led, mixing trance dance and basket weaving with informal talks about the paintings, set against a remote Kalahari landscape reached by a long sandy road from Maun or Shakawe.

Tsodilo Hills rises abruptly from the Kalahari sand in Botswana's far north-west, four quartzite outcrops carrying more than 4,500 rock paintings that UNESCO listed as a World Heritage Site in 2001.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

What sets this gathering apart is the setting itself: dance and craft performed at the foot of rock faces painted over more than a thousand years by both San hunter-gatherers and later Bantu-speaking farmers, a layered record rare anywhere in southern Africa

02

The mystery stays covered

The Ju'hoansi families who host the festival still hold rain-making and origin stories tied to specific hills, so a dance or a story told here carries weight beyond entertainment

03

The city starts moving

Because attendance stays small and the site is remote, visitors get close proximity to performers and artisans, with time to ask about individual paintings, techniques or family histories that a rushed group tour would skip entirely

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival centers on San trance dance and oral storytelling tied to specific rock art panels

Water and renewal

Living ritual

alongside basket weaving and jewelry making passed down within Ju'hoansi and Hambukushu families living at Xaixai and Sepopa near the base of the hills

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA

Getting around

Plan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.

What to wear

Wear breathable, sun-protective clothing in neutral tones, a wide-brim hat and sturdy closed shoes for rocky, sandy terrain; bring sunglasses and expect strong sun with little shade around...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of Tsodilo Hills you will actually use, or choose a transport base with an easy return after peak hours.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

BWP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map18.78 S, 21.74 EOpen in Google Maps

Tsodilo Hills, North-West District, Botswana

Nearest airportMUB — Maun
TransportPlan routes around set times, late-night exits, and crowded transport after headline acts.
Stay areaStay near the part of Tsodilo Hills you will actually use, or choose a transport base with an easy return after peak hours.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Tsodilo Hills via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Tsodilo Hills, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for festival season.Compare faresFestival gearWear breathable, sun-protective clothing in neutral tones, a wide-brim hat and sturdy closed shoes for rocky, sandy terrain; bring sunglasses and expect strong sun with little shade around the painted panels.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Botswana and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Tsodilo Hills Cultural Festival?

Tsodilo Hills Cultural Festival is listed for Dates to be announced. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Tsodilo Hills Cultural Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Tsodilo Hills, Botswana. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Date announcement pending. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Tsodilo Hills, North-West District, Botswana

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA
Source statusDate announcement pending
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Rock in Rio

4–13 September 2026

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Photo pending

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Past edition: 25 June–4 July 2026

Montreal, Canada
Photo pending

Tomorrowland Brasil

Past edition: 10–12 October 2025

Itu, Brazil
Photo pending

Glastonbury Festival

23–27 June 2027

Pilton, United Kingdom

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →