Nyero Rock Paintings, Archaeological site in Kumi, Uganda.
Nyero Rock Paintings consists of six granite rock shelters decorated with red and black geometric patterns, circles, and abstract designs painted directly on vertical rock walls. The artwork covers different sections of the natural rock faces and demonstrates various artistic techniques used by early inhabitants.
These artworks were created between 3,000 and 12,000 years ago and were first documented in 1913, establishing their importance as early artistic expressions of East Africa. This discovery significantly contributed to understanding the prehistoric cultures of the region.
The paintings are linked to the Batwa hunter-gatherers, and the local Iteso people still maintain a spiritual connection to this place. They continue to make traditional offerings here, showing how these ancient artworks remain part of their cultural life today.
A local guide is necessary to properly explore the site and learn about the paintings and their significance. Without public transportation available to reach the location, you will need your own vehicle or organized transport to visit all the rock shelters.
The geometric patterns from these paintings were considered so nationally significant that they appear on Uganda's 1,000 shilling banknote. This honor reflects how important the artworks are to the country's identity and heritage.
Location: Kumi
Address: FRCW+HF8, Nyero, Uganda
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 07:00-18:00
Phone: +256705581595
Website: https://steadysafaris.com/nyero-rock-paintings
GPS coordinates: 1.47170,33.84623
Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:04
Uganda sits at the heart of East Africa, where dense tropical forests meet open savanna and the Nile River begins its long journey north. The landscape rises from the shores of Lake Victoria through rolling green hills to mountain ranges that touch over 5,000 meters, high enough to hold glaciers just kilometers from the equator. National parks protect rare mountain gorillas in the mist-covered highlands of Bwindi and Mgahinga, while chimpanzees move through the canopy of Kibale Forest. The Murchison Falls compress the full force of the Nile into a narrow gorge, and Lake Bunyonyi spreads across dozens of small islands where villages perch on terraced hillsides. Kampala, the capital, climbs across seven hills in the center of the country, where markets, temples, and modern buildings share space in a city of one and a half million people. To the east, Jinja marks the place where the White Nile leaves Lake Victoria, now a base for rafting and boat trips. Entebbe rests on a peninsula jutting into the lake, quieter than the capital, with old botanical gardens and tree-lined streets. Between these cities and the parks, travelers find royal tombs, ancient rock art, and small trading towns that connect the country from the wetlands of the west to the drier plains near Kenya.
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