Tree of True Knowledge

Botswana


This odd-looking tree, near a small pool at the start of the Rhino Trail on Female Hill, was described to Laurens van der Post as the Tree of True Knowledge by the San guide who led him there. According to the guide, the greatest spirit knelt beside this fetid pool on the day of Creation.

In the rocks beyond the pool are several ‘hoof prints’, which the Mbukushu believe were made by cattle lowered onto the hill by the god Ngambe.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Botswana attractions

1. Rhino & Giraffe Painting

0.48 MILES

On the southeast corner of Female Hill, around the corner and to the west of the whale and penguin painting, the rhino and giraffe painting portrays a…

2. Divuyu Village Remains

0.51 MILES

An adjunct to the Rhino Trail is a short but hazardously rocky climb along what is sometimes called the Divuyu Trail, leading to the scattered remains of…

3. Rhinos & Buffalo Forgery

0.54 MILES

In the prominent hollow in the southeastern side of Female Hill, along the Rhino Trail, is a rhino painting, which also includes a ‘forgery’ of a buffalo…

4. Museum

0.56 MILES

There is a small, dusty museum at Main (Rhino) Camp with a handful of ethnographic exhibits and wall-sized quotes about the rock art.

5. Dancing Penises

0.64 MILES

Directly across from the hollow on the southeastern side of Female Hill, one of the few Tsodilo paintings containing human figures depicts a dancing crowd…

6. Whale & Penguin Painting

0.79 MILES

On the southeast corner of Female Hill, and accessible along the Rhino Trail, look for the amazing whale and penguin paintings that suggest an intriguing…

7. Laurens van der Post's Panel

0.83 MILES

An adjunct to the Rhino Trail is a short but hazardously rocky climb along what is sometimes called the Divuyu Trail, leading to Laurens van der Post’s…

8. Lion Painting

1.36 MILES

On the northern face of Male Hill is a painting of a solitary male lion, one of the more finely rendered rock-art representations of the species in…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "botswana/tsodilo-hills/attractions/tree-of-true-knowledge/a/poi-sig/1351799/1000827",
      "destination": "Botswana",
      "continent": "Africa",
      "country": "Botswana",
      "position": "superzone"
    }