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Nestled in the wild north-eastern corner of Uganda only a few hours from our most recent uganda build (pics here) is a small dusty town called Karamoja. I will let Elizabeth explain from here:

"Due to conflict and regional animosities, the area (Karamoja) has been largely cut off from the rest of the country for many years. This has resulted in a region with little government services and infrastructure, but an incredibly intact sense of culture and history. Interesting place. Anyway, one of the big landmarks in the town I was in, Kotido, is a place called 'Sliding Rock.' It is a formation of bolders that lie next to a small lake. On one of the rocks, a path has been worn down into a slide that leads down to the lake. You can actually get going pretty fast! Talk about low maintenance play equipment – that slide isn't going anywhere. At the top of the rock, there is also a mancala board that has been carved into the stone. Cool to see natural expressions of play in unexpected places."

It is hard to imagine how long it would have taken for feet to wear such a smooth groove in solid stone but I imagine it has been many, many years. I am not a geologist or a historian but I would humbly like to put Kotido forward as having the world's oldest slide (and perhaps, one of the worlds most interesting).

As it also has a mancala board as a second element, does this also put it in the running as the oldest playground too?

I was so excited when I saw this and began to wonder if others might have pictures or stories of other ancient playspaces as I am sure myself and other would find them facinating.

I think it also points again to the fact that play is not a recently constructed 'need' created by excess leisure time and commercial interests but an ancient and essential tool that all children have for healthy development, wellbeing and happiness.

Here is the original link to the 'Oldest slide' Blog http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/worlds-first-playground-slide-says.html