Lesotho Trip - July 2006

For those of you who may be interested in travelling to Lesotho, here is a list of information as well as some photographs of the very first long trip we did with the Prado - 7 days from start to finish. 

This is just going to be about the route we took from Johannesburg and the places we stayed together with relevant contact details. I trust you will find it helpful. I have added some brief details for interest sake. 

Johannesburg to Nottingham Road Hotel - 0027 33-266 6151

The photographs below depict the scenery from when we left Notties.  We stopped off in Himeville for toasted sarmies at the Rose and Quail (they make the best Crunchies too) and then started our scenic ascent of Sani Pass.  We went through the border and headed to the Highest Pub in Africa from where the view is awesome.

Frozen waterfalls at almost every bend.  The road dangerously slippery.

Coffin bearer in Mohotlong

In Thaba Tseka we stayed at Mountain Star Lodge 00266 22 900415.  Very basic, but clean and ideal for an overnight stay.  Dinner was buffet style - Pap, Rice, Shebo, Chicken Stew, Beef Stew, Fruit Salad and you could eat as much as you liked. 

N.B: If we didn't keep an eye on the girls they would have been married off to some locals and vapourised into the hills by morning! 

The next day we made our way to Katse where we hoped to do a tour of the dam 00266 22 910377,  however we left it.  It was too windy and bitterly cold to be walking about outside.  A Guest Lodge is available if you decide to stay - 00266 22 910202.

We gave Mohale a miss too, but there is a B&B in the area - 00266 22 936432 or 936217 and made our way to Maseru where we stayed overnight at the Maseru Sun instead.  We all piled into the shower to warm up and jumped into fresh clothes, ate a satisfying supper and slept like logs.

After breakfast we made our way to Semonkong, driving and driving up and down what seemed like thousands of hills and mountains.  Gravel and tarred roads.  Narrow and windy.  You just keep praying that no vehicle will be coming from the opposite direction because passing each other would be a very tight squeeze!

We stopped off at Fatima for about an hour or so.  A quaint church in the middle of nowhere, but peaceful

We arrived in Semonkong just before 13:30 and could not believe all the horses we saw.

 Every man has one and these animals are in pristine condition.  Well looked after and cared for.The means of transporting kindling and sacks of flour, rice or grain is left to the donkeys....who move along with a mission, knowing exactly where they are going.

When we arrived at Semonkong Lodge - 00266 27006037,  it was only -10 degrees celcius.  The river that passes by was frozen solid as was everything and everyone!  It is a good idea to contact Verney or Elspeth Halse - 0027 51 933 3106 for information on the roads to and from Semonkong.  They are really helpful people.

Semonkong means ‘Place of Smoke’. This could be due to the occasional descending mist or perhaps as a result of the spray from the highest waterfall in Southern Africa.

Semonkong Lodge in fine weather... 

and the rooms are very comfortable indeed.

If you are brave enough you can attempt to abseil alongside the waterfall ...The Maletsunyane Falls are 192 metres (624 feet) high and are at their most spectacular in the summer when regular afternoon rains top up the rivers. The falls are an hour and a half walk from Semonkong and are best viewed from the bottom of the gorge.

 Satisfaction GUARANTEED!!

Hot showers, hot drinks and hot meals were the order of the day. 

Pony rides from the Lodge to the waterfall on trusty animals at reasonable prices are available.

After Semonkong we headed to Malealea where we stayed in rondavels at the Malealea Lodge - 0027 51 436 6766 to make accommodation arrangements.

And despite the bitter Winter weather, this was a trip I look forward to doing again one day...

Enjoy and drive carefully, being mindful of the barrierless, winding roads through the Mountain Kingdom...

Please - DO NO TRUST YOUR GPS TO HELP YOU.  USE A PROPER PAPER ROADMAP AS THERE ARE NO DIRECT ROADS FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER (see below) - AND THE GPS WILL LEAD YOU ASTRAY!

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE