Overview:

is a cultural and educational initiative to uplift and empower the culture, history, and educational opportunities for the communities in and around Matsieng, Botswana. The initiative works with local leaders, schools, and other organizations to provide resources and support to the village of Matsieng, and to foster a better understanding of the rich culture and history of the people of Botswana. Through educational materials, programs, and workshops, Matsieng Footprints In Botswana is helping to create a richer and more meaningful history and cultural experience for the people of Botswana. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Botswana
Prominent Features:

1. Unique Musical Style: Matsieng is an 11-piece traditional music group from Botswana, based in Gaborone. They are well-known for their unique style of music, featuring traditional instruments such as the Mokiti or Telana, traditional vocals, and modern instrumentation. 2. Cultural Preservation: The main drive of this musical group is to preserve traditional Botswana music and culture, and to spread it throughout the world. With their performances, they hope to give people in Botswana and beyond the opportunity to appreciate and learn about Botswana traditional values and culture. 3. Cultural Inspiration: Matsieng Footprints have inspired many creative projects and offerings in Botswana, such as films and documentaries, fashion lines, book launches, and more. Their inspiring stories, culture, and sound have been highlighted around the world, from the US to the UK. 4. International Acclaim: The group has been highly praised throughout their career, receiving numerous awards and accolades from music critics and magazines. In 2013, they were given the Best Band and Artist Award by The Washington Post, and have since performed in numerous places, most recently at the Tamarisk Festival in Namibia. This national monument of Botswana portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Matsieng Footprints is a significant site in Botswana, said to have been the home of a clan of hunter-gatherers known as the Hei//om San. It is located in the Okavango Delta, near the town of Maun. The site sprawls over many hectares and includes an ancient network of trails that cross the Kalahari Desert, stretching in a north/south direction and providing archaeological evidence of the earliest human settlement in the area. The site was first discovered in 1987 by Dr. Christine Steiner, an archaeologist from Zurich University. In the early 2000s, the Botswana government declared the area to be a national heritage site and a protected natural monument, in order to preserve the evidence of early human settlement. The ancient Hunter Gatherer trails at Matsieng footprint can be traced as far back as 800-900 A.D., when it was believed to have been a centre of trade and communication for the Hei//om San, who lived in the region around the same time. The site is also known for the abundance of fossilized footprints left behind by hunters, providing us with a window into the past. According to archaeologists, the footprints of the individuals who lived here date back as far as 5000 years ago. At Matsieng Footprints, some of the features include ancient painted rock shelters, ancient fireplaces, grinding stones and even fossilized footprints from a number of different individuals. This is a significant archaeological site as it provides evidence of the way of life of these ancient people. The site is of great archaeological importance to the Botswana people and the importance of the preservation of the site and its history is paramount. In 2012, the site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognizing its outstanding universal value. Matsieng Footprints is an important reminder of the rich and diverse history of Botswana and of the importance of preserving the archaeological, environmental and cultural heritage of this unique site. You must visit one of these historical places in Botswana on your Botswana tour

Interesting facts:

1. Matsieng Footprints is the name given to one of the oldest documented sites of human habitation in Botswana. 2. It is believed the footprints were left in the soft mud sometime between around 8,000 and 3,000 BCE by members of the San people. 3. The footprints, preserved by nature, are in the form of a single trail, and measure three-quarters of a mile in length. 4. The footprints at Matsieng Footprints were used to estimate the size of the population of early humans in the region. 5. The prints reveal a variety of tracks ranging from bare feet to those of several people running in concert. 6. The site is now used as a research and teaching site to educate people on the anthropology, archaeology, and history of the San people. 7. It has been added to the tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Botswana. 8. The Matsieng Footprints also provide an important study in interpreting the evidence from peopling the region as far back as 50,000 years ago. 9. It is believed that the prints may have been made when the San people often traveled great distances and were constantly on the move consisting of the same family or group. Visit one of the famous monuments of Botswana with your friends and family.