The quaint and historic Eastern cape town of Rhodes is situated in one of south Africa's most remote regions. The area which surrounds the town is home to a number of rock art sites, some of which are open to the public. The paintings in the region were made thousands of years ago by the nomadic hunter-gatherers, the San people, also commonly referred to as Bushmen. The rock art sites are situated just a short drive from Rhodes, allowing them to all be easily viewed within a day.

A lot of the rock art displayed in the area lies on private properties, so it is advised that visitors first seek permission from the farmers, who will also charge a nominal fee. Two of the more popular sites in the area are located on the farms Martindell, owned by Russie and Loekie Smit, and Buttermead belonging to Gawie and Susanne Naudè.

Buttermead farm lies only 5km out of Rhode, and serves as an ideal public rock art site which visitors can appreciate without having to make too much of a long distance trek out of town. The fairly short walk to the paintings is not too demanding, and is considered suitable for hikers of all ages. The Buttermead site features a painted rock shelter, and displays polychrome artwork depicting eland, some of which have been superimposed over earlier paintings. There are many interesting images at Buttermead, and these include various birds in close association with dying eland and dogs. A fee will be charged per head once at the farm. For more information contact Buttermead Farms owner, Mr. Gawie Naude at 082 897 9555

Martindell is located roughly 15 minutes from Rhodes by car, and lies within the picturesque Martinshoek valley. This site is situated high up on a rock overhang and takes a bit of climbing to reach, however proves to be well worth the extra effort as the view of the valley is magnificent and the paintings even more so. The images at Martindell Farm are highly regarded as some of the best preserved in Southern Africa. Some of the images are so vivid, that those who view them often assume they were only painted a few decades ago. At Martindell Farm too, visitors need to obtain permission from the farmer to view the paintings, and a small fee will be charged per person. For a memorable experience, it is advised that visitors take a picnic basket along, and enjoy the awe- inspiring scenery of the beautiful Martinshoek Valley alongside one of its tranquil streams.

Other rock art paintings in the area include the site at Dinorben, located at the Barkly Pass. Dinorben is easily accessible from the road which runs between Barkly East and Elliot.
Another site, Chamisso, near Maclear is remotely situated, and lies close to the Pot River Pass on Mondi North-East Cape Forest lands. Visitors intending to view this site will need a 4x4 to get to these paintings. The Prentjiesberg Hiking Trail, near Ugie serves as an ideal destination for hikers, and also has a number of interesting rock paintings. This route will challenge hikers as they meander through protea woodland, indigenous forest, and the caves which house the San paintings. The peaks of this region are pristine, and also provide visitors to the area with magnificent panoramic views. The San paintings along the Prentjiesberg hiking trails are only open to visitors during the summer months when there is no risk of fire hazard.