Faces of Lesotho

DAY 1: ARRIVE MATATIELE

Group members make their own way to Matatiele in the northern part of the Eastern Cape Province. Manage your programme to arrive latest 16:00 at the guesthouse.

Check-in at the accommodation from 14h00.

Meet your fellow tour members and attend a tour briefing at 18:00, which will be followed by dinner at 19:00.

Our tour guide is Philip Rawlins, the owner of Resthaven Guesthouse and someone with a passion for Lesotho who knows all the hidden gems of the country.

O/N Resthaven Guesthouse (3-star), Matatiele (dinner)

DAY 2: MATATIELE - OXBOW LODGE

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Depart for the Lesotho border.

We will drive through picturesque southern Drakensberg scenery to Himeville and then towards Sani Pass. Arrive at the border post for immigration formalities.

Cross Border fees - To be paid directly: +/- R300 per person.
This includes the Lesotho vehicle border control toll fee and your per person Lesotho NEW Tourism Levy. Note that 2025 rates might increase, and border fees can change - this is an indication only. To speed up the process at the border post, Philip will collect the money for this from each vehicle ahead of time and then pay for the whole group at the border post.

The actual border between South Africa and Lesotho is right at the summit where the Lesotho border post is located. This means the whole of Sani Pass is actually on South African soil. This pass is probably the most iconic gravel pass in South Africa with a summit altitude of 2876 meter above sea level. Right near the summit there are 11 switchbacks that will require concentration and to be celebrated with a beer in hand at the “Highest Pub in Africa” upon reaching the summit. We will arrive at the Highest pub at lunch time to enjoy the fantastic views and this special place. Lunch can be ordered at the Pub for each client’s own account.

After a brief stop at the pub and lunch our journey proceed as several passes awaits before arriving at our overnight stop. We will drive Khotisephola (Black Mountain) (3245 m), Menoaneng (3080 m), Lithunyia (3246 m) and the last pass for the day is Tlaeng (3251 m) the highest point that we will drive on this tour.

Our destination for the day is Oxbow Lodge on the banks of the Mailbamatsoe River. Space and peace are what you will find as your stay will be an African Mountain experience.

O/N Oxbow Lodge (Meals included: breakfast and dinner)

DAY 3: OXBOW LODGE - HLOTSE/LERIBE

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Departure.

Today we start with the Mahlasela Pass (3222 m) followed by the Moteng Pass (2901 m) and a stop at the Liphofung cave – Place of the Eland.

The Liphofung historical site includes a cave which occupies an important place in Lesotho history. The cave is a large overhang in the Clarens sandstone, which is a typical feature of the Lesotho lowlands region. Originally used by the San people and other Neolithic people, the walls contain important rock art and a rich archaeological deposit of Stone Age implements lies beneath the floor. Later, King Moshoeshoe the Great used the cave as a stopover when visiting this part of his kingdom.

After the cave visit, we drive to Muela Hydro Power Plant where we will be given the opportunity to visit the turbines. The visit to this Hydro Power plant is a special occasion and it will give you the understanding of the huge magnitude of the Katsedam water system. After lunch we drive to Leribe for a tour of the “Craft Centre” with an opportunity to buy some local crafts. Have cash at hand if you would like to buy a unique souvenir. All the ladies working there are challenged.

Our overnight stop is in Hlotse/Leribe.

Here is an opportunity to refuel and stock up on supplies as there is a Shoprite.

O/N Naleli Guesthouse, Leribe (Meals included: breakfast and dinner)

DAY 4: LERIBE - THABA TSEKA

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Departure.

An interesting day awaits as we ascend the Mafika Lisiu Pass (3090 m) and drop down the other side to Ha Lejone. We then continue via the Laitsoka Pass (2644 m) before reaching the Katse Dam.

Enjoy a tour of the dam wall. Katse, the highest dam in Africa, is also one of the world’s ten largest concrete arch dams in terms of volume, with a capacity of nearly 2 billion cubic metres and a surface area of 38.5 square kilometres. The wall is 185 metres high, 60 metres wide at the base, 9 metres wide at the top and curves from side to side as well as from top to bottom, making it one of only 30 double-curved concrete arch dam walls in the world.

The Katse Dam forms part of the great Lesotho Highlands Water Project. This is an ongoing water supply project with a hydropower component, developed in partnership between the governments of Lesotho and South Africa. It comprises a system of several large dams and tunnels throughout Lesotho and delivers water to the Vaal River System in South Africa. It is Africa's largest water transfer scheme. The purpose of the project is to provide Lesotho with a source of revenue in exchange for the provision of water to South Africa, as well as generate hydroelectricity for Lesotho.

After our dam visit, we proceed on a gravel road to Thaba Tseka the capital town of the region with the same name. The town was established in 1980 which makes it a very young town.

There will be another opportunity in Thaba Tseka to top up on fuel.

O/N The Clan Guesthouse, Thaba Tseka (Meals included: breakfast and dinner)

DAY 6: THABA BOSIU CULTURAL VILLAGE - MALEALEA

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Departure.

After breakfast we have a guided cultural village tour (should last 60 min.)
After the cultural tour, we drive via Roma, refuel and then tackle the Ngakane Pass (2035 m).

We will drive back roads to Malealea and visit the Botsoela Falls. The area around the waterfall is scenic with farmland and grassland dotted with spring flowers. From the view point you will overlook the Gates to Paradise Valley from east to west. Those who are fit can do a 1.5 hour walk down to the base of the waterfall. It will take the same amount of time for the return hike.

O/N Malealea Lodge, (Meals included: breakfast and dinner)

DAY 5: THABA TSEKA - THABA BOSIU

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Departure.

We drive more passes today: Mokhoabong Pass (2900 m), Pass of Jackals (2692 m), Cheche Pass (2553 m), Likalaneng Pass (2638 m), Blue Mountain Pass (2633 m), God Help Me Pass (2318 m) and Bushmens Pass (2265 m) before we visit Koma Cave Dwellings.

A handful of families still inhabit the Kome Caves, nestled within a rocky mountain. The caves are now a heritage site, first occupied about 200 years ago by local tribes seeking shelter. The name comes from the Kome family, the first inhabitants of the cave.

Our journey proceeds to Thaba Bosiu. Thaba Bosiu is a sandstone plateau, at the historic and spiritual heart of the Sotho Kingdom, in Lesotho. Rising to an altitude of 1,800 m this near-impregnable sandstone plateau served as the residence and military stronghold of Moshoeshoe I, the kingdom’s founding father, throughout most of his mid-19th century reign.

O/N Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village, (Meals included: breakfast and dinner)

DAY 8: MALEALEA - SEMONKONG LODGE

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Departure.

We depart to Roma for a fuel stop and a chance to buy snacks and drinks. The Roma valley is broad and fertile and is surrounded by sandstone cliffs topped to the east by basalt mountains which provide magnificent scenery.

After refuelling we drive the Nkesi Pass (2020 m) en route to the mighty Maletsunyana Waterfall.

There is a restaurant at the falls where we can order lunch (for each client’s own account). The blanket talk is done at the restaurant.

The 192-metre-high waterfall is on the river with the same name and falls from a ledge of Triassic-Jurassic basalt. The waterfall is recorded in the Guinness World Record for the “world’s longest commercially operated abseil”, with a hight of 204 meter.

You will also have a remarkably interesting talk on the Lesotho blanket. The blanket has become a symbol of Lesotho and is often used as a gift or for ceremonial purposes.

After lunch we drive to Semonkong Lodge our overnight stop.

O/N Semonkong Lodge (Meals included: breakfast and dinner)

DAY 7: MALEALEA

07:00 Breakfast

Today is at leisure to relax. Guests can do a village tour with a guide, or guests can hire a pony for a pony ride. Bicycles are also on hire.

Various hiking trails can be explored or visit the local craft shop for homemade crafts.
Or you can just relax and explore the Lodges gardens.

We get together at 16h00 to drive to a viewpoint for a sundowner (23km)

O/N Malealea Lodge (Meals included: breakfast and dinner)

DAY 9: SEMONKONG LODGE - QACHAS

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Departure.

Today we head south and drive over the Senquyane and the Senqu Rivers before we visit the Senqu Horseshoe (a mini–Grand Canyon).

After stretching our legs, we drive east taking the new tar road to Sehlabathebe. Before we reach Sehlabathebe we do a little detour up and down the Tsoelike Pass (suspension bridge pass). After the Tsoelike Pass we take a scenic back road to Qachas nek where we will spend the night at New Central Hotel. In Qachas Nek we have the last opportunity to refuel in Lesotho.

O/N New Central Hotel (Meals included: breakfast and dinner)

DAY 10: NEW CENTRAL HOTEL - SEHLABATHEBE - RESTHAVEN

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Departure.

Drive to Sehlabathebe National Park. (weather depending)

Today is a photographers dream as we explore Sehlabathebe and surrounds.

Shelabathebe National Park is known for its scenery with unique rock formations. The park was first established in 1969 and since then, it is recognised as important in terms of biological diversity and cultural heritage.

We drive to the old Lodge area where we park our vehicles. Then proceed on an easy scenic walk in a photographer’s paradise. After lunch we visit a cave if time allows then proceed to Matatiele via Ramatseliso border gate and the Ramatseliso Pass.

If the weather is not hiking friendly, we take a scenic route (north of the Tsoelike River) to Ramatseliso border gate where we will exit Lesotho and take the pass down to Resthaven Guesthouse Matatiele.

O/N Resthaven Guesthouse (Meals included: breakfast and dinner)

DAY 11: DEPARTURE

After breakfast it is time for sad wells as everybody will start their homeward journey in own time.

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