Tours

Lesotho Overland Tours offers a wide range of tours to Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal and are constantly trying to update and diversify what we offer hence the reason for this blog. I always try to think of new and exciting trips that we can offer. Sometimes they may only run once or for a given time period but I always put a post on the blog describing them.

At the moment our standard trips are still hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains, various overland tours to Lesotho and the Sani Pass region or the KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields and Game Reserves. In the st we have  customised our tours to give people a complete experience of the Beach, Berg and Bush which is a nice comprehensive package if one is coming to KZN for a few days and not sure what to do or what is on offer. Let us take care of all the planning whilst you enjoy your holiday.

Our two popular Lesotho trips are the Senqu trip and the Sani Pass/Black Mountain trip. The Senqu trip is the most comprehensive tour that we offer. It is ideally a four day trip. Our Sani Pass/Black Mountain tour can be done in two days or more, as extra activities or places can be built into it to make it more comprehensive.

THE CLASSIC SENQU TRIP

The classic Senqu tour is our most recommended option. It has been designed with our guest in mind and is recommended as the most broadly appealing experience. We can arrange to pick up guests from either Durban or leave from Pietermaritzburg directly.

Day 1. Travel through the beautiful KwaZulu-Natal midlands and uMzimkhulu river valley as we wind our way towards the Natal Drakensberg and the formidable Sani Pass. This is where the tour really takes off! Off-road driving and rough mountain roads are common place but so are the majestic valleys, pristine views and clear mountain streams. As we drive into Lesotho a different and intriguing world awaits. Local Basothos riding ponies; herding livestock and working the land serve as the introduction to this rugged country. We lunch at the highest pub in Africa before winding our way over Black Mountain to the beautiful and remote Mulamong lodge. At this old trading post the group will depart on a short pony ride with local Basotho guides to the nearby view point to enjoy a ‘sun-downer’ and watch the sun set over the mountain peaks that make up the Roof of Africa.

Day 2. After an early start and delicious breakfast the tour departs for the most rural leg of the trip. We follow the Senqu River as it winds its way through the mountains. Driving along these steep mountain passes one is surrounded by breath-taking beauty and splendid views as we literally drive along the road less travelled. That afternoon we reach our village where we will camp next to a mountain stream in this beautiful valley. An opportunity is provided to explore the village and see first hand how the local people live. Taste traditional beer, help build a hut, teach some village children in the school, see how the crops are harvested or chat to some local people and learn a bit more about their fascinating language, history and lifestyle. It certainly is an action packed day and there will be many exciting stories to be shared that night around the campfire under the starry African sky.

Day 3. Wake up to a beautiful African morning as the valley comes alive with the sounds of rural Africa. Visit bushman paintings in the surrounding cliffs to see what life was like for those ‘little people’ who used to roam and live in these beautiful mountains. Breathe in the fresh mountain air and feel the warm sun on your back as you get a chance to explore the area. As we leave this beautiful village behind, we climb even higher as we make our way over the Maluti Mountains and back towards KwaZulu-Natal. That evening we arrive back from the trip of a lifetime that will no doubt leave you tired, but happy in the knowledge that you’ve completed the experience of a lifetime, exhilarant in the knowledge that you have captured and experienced an authentic Africa. A tour such as this generally costs R 3 500 all inclusive.

The Black Mountain tour:

If you’d like to tour the Sani Pass area then we offer many options. Tours up to Mulamong lodge have been popular. It is situated about 80km from the top of Sani Pass towards the town of Mokhotlong and was formerly an old trading store. Nestled in the huge mountain valleys that frequent this rural area it gives one the feel of old Africa. It is also well situated to allow for further exploring of the country. This tour can be done over two days but one can extend this quite easily to include some of the marvelous sights and activities that surround the area. This trip allows the traveler to experience some of the real beauty that the Lesotho highlands has on offer. At the lodge I generally take tourists for sundowners on top of a high mountain ridge, it gives you clear, rap around views of Lesotho for as far as the eye can see. There are also Basotho Pony rides if one so wishes to explore a bit more of Lesotho in this traditional manner. A two day trip like this usually costs R 2000. One can also extend/vary this tour to include the Katse dam area and make it into a three day trip to include exploring the area around the lodge and spend a night at Sani Top Chalet. Or one could rather enjoy some fly-fishing in the rivers that surround the lodge. The lodge is self-catering and all food and accommodation is included.

Standard two day trip: R 2000 pp

Three day trip: R 2 350 pp

Katse dam three day trip:

This trip follows the same format as the above but we also include a rural overland extension to overnight at Katse dam. This dam forms part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project that supplies South Africa with vast quantities of water and generates hydro-electricity to Lesotho. This huge dam in the heart of the mountains is the focal point of the project and is an impressive sight see and definitely worth exploring.

Three day trip: R 2 500 pp

The Maluti tour:

A tour I always strongly recommend. It encapsulates the Lesotho Highlands, lowlands, Eastern Free State and midlands of KwaZulu-Natal so is a lovely all round experience. It takes you along some very pristine roads with fantastic views of the Drakensberg and Maluti mountains. This trip enters Lesotho at the Sani Pass border post and heads towards the highest point in Southern Africa (Thabana Ntlenyana). We stop at the ‘highest pub in Africa’ to enjoy the breath-taking views, a lovely lunch and a cup of coffee or a local Basotho beer. Afterward we head off along the rugged mountain passes towards the highest road pass in Southern Africa and on to Oxbow lodge where we spend the night. This lodge is nestled among the high mountains and deep river valleys and can quite often experience snow. On day two we head off towards the Lowlands of Lesotho and the Eastern Free State. We stop off at Liphofung caves to experience some local culture and learn more about Lesotho’s fascinating history. That evening we spend the night in a lovely old sandstone farm house in the Eastern Free State just outside of the picturesque town of Clarence. A truly tranquil setting that includes some lovely hikes and fishing options. On the third day we drive through the Golden Gate National Park as we wind ourselves down the Drakensberg Mountains and back into KwaZulu-Natal. We drive back towards Durban through the quaint farming villages that make up the Natal Midlands. A tour such as this offers a lovely all round experience of this beautiful part of Southern Africa and is very popular.

Three day trip: R 2 590 pp

Maliba Lodge:

This tour follows the same pattern as the one mentioned above except that instead of staying in the Oxbow self-catering Lodge you can opt to stay at the very exclusive 5 star Maliba Lodge nestled in the mountains of Ts’ehlanyane National Park in Lesotho. Here you will experience true luxury in this beautiful African setting. Three course meals and private chalets allow you to relax and unwind in this truly remarkable backdrop of the Maluti Mountains. This is definitely worth considering as it is an exquisite lodge.

Three day trip: R 4100 pp

Pony Trekking tour:

Although one can include pony trekking as part of the Black Mountain tour this particular trip allows you to experience it over two days and it is very rugged. A local Basotho guide will take you up to Thabana Ntlenyana (highest point in Southern Africa) on horse back through the rugged valleys and rural villages. Explore the local way of life first hand and enjoy a unique adventure. This is a two day trek and takes one through the remote and wild landscapes of these high mountains. Accommodation is at local villages and huts and is very basic. It was feature in the GO magazine and although very rugged it is truly a remarkable African experience.

Three day trip: R 1800 pp

Self-Drive

Do you have your own four-wheel drive vehicle and want to embark on a Lesotho expedition? Such trips are becoming popular and work well in the rugged mountains of Lesotho. This option will appeal to people who have already got a four wheel drive vehicle and would like to test its (and indeed their) capabilities but do not want to venture into the wilderness without some additional support. We offer the knowledge, technical support and experience to ensure you have a wonderful and safe journey. We can arrange trips for varying skill levels and time durations and will be happy to sit down with you and plan a trip that caters to your needs. We can also put you through a driver training course if you feel you’d like to improve your skill levels.

Maluti Expeditions.

We have decided to extend Lesotho Adventures to take advantage of the recent demand to do corporate events in the Mountain Kingdom. Lesotho lends itself well to adventure activities and team building that is usually a part of these events. The remoteness and untamed wilderness of the Highlands allows for the perfect setting to host corporates who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is here in the vast wilderness of the Maluti Mountains where one truely learns about themselves and those they work with. Maluti Expeditions is being setup to facilitate this and I expect some exciting developments in the next weeks ahead. Next month I’ll cover a full article on this and the products we’ll offer. So keep posted!

I’ll soon publish some more comprehensive info about what we offer and our various pricings. But in the mean time send me some mail (geoff@lesothoadventures.com) with what you are requiring out of a tour and I’ll email you all the options. I will endevour to get this info up on the website in the next couple of days. Geoff