Lesotho - Driving the Roof of Africa

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.

To be paid directly: R90 (2024 rate) per vehicle Lesotho border control toll fee.
To be paid directly: R100 per person (2024 rate) Lesotho NEW Tourism Levy charge.

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. Lunch can be ordered at the Pub for each client’s own account.

To be paid directly: Highest Pub in Africa: R100 per person payable at the boom to be redeemed at the pub.

After a brief stop at the pub and lunch our journey proceed as a number of 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 (3-star) (breakfast and dinner)

*Resthaven Guesthouse to Oxbow Lodge – 318 km

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, (R 50.00 per person fee – for clients own account). 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 are a Shoprite.

O/N Naledi Guesthouse (3-star), Leribe (breakfast and dinner)

*Oxbow Lodge to Naledi Guest House – 92 km

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 Clain Guesthouse (3-star), Thaba Tseka (breakfast and dinner)

*Naledi Guesthouse to The Clain Guesthouse – 185 km

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 (3-star), (breakfast and dinner)

*The Clain Guesthouse to Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village – 226 km

DAY 6: THABA BOSIU CULTURAL VILLAGE - MALEALEA

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Departure.

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, (rustic) (breakfast and dinner)

*Taba Bosiu Cultural Village to Malealea – 106 km

DAY 7: MALEALEA - SEMONKONG LODGE

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Departure.

We depart to Roma for our last fuel stop in Lesotho. 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 you can enjoy lunch (for 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 very 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.

Arrive at Semonkong Lodge our destination for the day.

O/N Semonkong Lodge, (2-star) (breakfast and dinner)

*Malealea to Semonkong Lodge – 186 km

DAY 8: 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.

O/N New Central hotel, (3-star) (breakfast and dinner)

*Semonkong Lodge to New Central hotel Qachas – 185 km

DAY 9: NEW CENTRAL HOTEL - SEHLABATHEBE - RESTHAVEN

07:00 Breakfast and check-out.

08:00 Departure.

Drive to Sehlabathebe National Park.

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.

O/N Resthaven Guesthouse (breakfast and dinner)

*Sehlabathebe National Park to Resthaven Guesthouse – 220 km

DAY 10: DEPARTURE

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

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