Despite its diminutive size, Lesotho is replete with marvelous attractions where visitors can explore the heritage and history of the Mountain Kingdom and the Basotho people.
Below Are Some Of The Top 10 Places To Visit In Lesotho;
1. Tse’hlanyane National Park
This National Park is similarly underappreciated and underutilized. This is the greatest park in Lesotho, and Ts’ehlanyane is the furthest point from civilization.
Lesotho Northern Park safeguards an exquisite expanse of rugged wilderness spanning 5600 hectares at high altitude.
Within this park is one of the few remaining stands of indigenous forest in the country, which is home to several uncommon vegetation plants that are exclusive to this woodland habitat.
Explore one of Lesotho’s most closely guarded secrets by sojourning at Maliba Lodge, situated within Ts’ehlanyane National Park.
2. Katse Dam and Botanical Gardens
An essential stop on any journey to Lesotho is at Katse Dam. The focal point of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project is this structure, which utilizes an extraordinary network of tunnels and dams to transport water from the Lesotho Highlands through the mountains to the plains of Free State Province, South Africa.
It was hailed as the largest engineering undertaking in the southern hemisphere during its construction in the 1990s, and the deep lake and enormous dam wall (the tallest in Africa) it has carved into the mountains are sights to witness!
A tour of the dam wall, a canoe ride on Katse Dam, an excursion into a village, a stroll through the Katse Botanical Gardens, or a couple of hours of horseback riding are all possible activities at Katse.
3. Sani Pass, the highest in Africa, and a pub
The Sani Pass, which is incredibly well-liked by both locals and visitors, is an exceptional location for driving, hiking, or mountain bicycling with expansive views of the Drakensburg Mountains.
This remarkable four-by-four trail ascends into the impassable rocky mountains of Lesotho’s Roof of Africa circuit, winding and serpentinating its way through the “Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park” en route to the northern Lesotho attractions.
Prior to the 1950s, pack animals used this route to transport supplies to the remote settlement of Mokhotlong in eastern Lesotho. Presently, 4×4 vehicles can easily traverse the pass; however, on occasion, donkeys and horses are still observed treading slowly up the precipitous ascent.
The Lesotho border post and Sani Top Chalets are situated at the summit of Africa. It has become customary to visit these establishments not only for a few well-earned beverages but also to have your picture taken at the highest tavern in the continent.
Below Are Some Of The Top 10 Places To Visit In Lesotho;
4. Maletsunyane / Semonkong Falls
Semonkong, which is also referred to as the Maletsunyane Falls, is a well-liked destination due to its status as the location of the tallest single droplet in southern Africa and its breathtaking, pristine surroundings.
A five-kilometer stroll along the Maletsunyane River from Semonkong provides easy access to this picturesque waterfall, where one may behold the river as it cascades 204 meters into a serene, swimmable pool below.
When the water flow is at its peak in the summer, the pool is truly awe-inspiring. However, during the winter, the water freezes, resulting in the formation of an exquisite ice cage above the boulders.
Semonkong Lodge provides daring individuals with the chance to descend the falls via abseil, thereby enabling them to surpass the world’s highest abseil height of 204 meters (Guinness Book of Records).
Below Are Some Of The Top 10 Places To Visit In Lesotho;
5. Thaba-Bosiu
Thaba-Bosiu, which translates to “mountain of the night” and signifies the origin of the Basotho nation, served as the mountain stronghold of “Moshoeshoe the Great” and is now a national monument.
The site in question holds significant historical value in Lesotho and elicits a profound sense of national pride among the Basotho people.
The nomenclature “Mount of the Night” reflected the indigenous conviction that while the summit may not appear to be much at night, it, in fact, transforms into an insurmountable mountain fortress at that hour.
This may be a more credible explanation than it initially appears. Throughout Moshoeshoe’s tenure, Thaba Bosiu was repeatedly besieged but never subdued.
In addition to the Qiloane pinnacle, which served as the inspiration for the Basotho hat “Mokorotlo”), the surrounding countryside offers panoramic views of fortification remnants, Moshoeshoe’s burial, and portions of the original settlement.
Below Are Some Of The Top 10 Places To Visit In Lesotho;
6. Kome Cave Dwellings
Hidden from view, including that of feuding tribes and the primitive cannibals who invaded Lesotho in the early 19th century out of starvation, is an extraordinary settlement comprised of cave dwellings carved and constructed beneath towering sandstone formations.
Almost two centuries later, descendants of the original inhabitants (the Bataung and Basia clans) continue to reside in these caverns.
Additionally, faded San paintings are discovered within the grotto, suggesting that the San also inhabited this location.
The locality was formerly referred to as “Liboping” (the place of ovens) due to the resemblance of the huts to traditional Sotho kilns, which were constructed of rock and plastered with a combination of cow manure and mud soil.
At this National Heritage Site, visitors can gain knowledge about the people’s illustrious history and culture.
7. Dinosaur Footprints
Traverse through time by following the traces of dinosaurs in Lesotho. The fact that Lesotho contains the largest known dinosaur footprint sites in the world makes it a popular destination for palaeontologists and archaeologists alike.
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Numerous prehistoric bones, trees, plants, and shellfish were unearthed as a result of the missionaries’ explorations of the region; these constituted some of the earliest known dinosaur fossil discoveries.
A dinosaur named “Leosthosaurus” lived in the nation. It was a herbivorous lizard measuring 1 meter in length. Estranging from the late Triassic to early Jurassic periods, it existed between 200 and 208 million years ago.
Numerous dinosaur footprint locations have been identified, including Moyeni, Matsient, Mohale’s Hoek, Morija, Subeng Stream (between Leribe and Butha-Buthe), and Tsikoane near Leribe, as well as Quthing District at Masitise/Ellenberger’s Cave House.
8. Rock Art
There are countless exquisite specimens of Bushman Rock Art in Lesotho. The San people adorned the boulders in the region until the latter part of the 19th century; they have since become extinct in the area.
Lesotho’s vast granite mountains and numerous natural cliff overhangs provided ideal hiding places for early man, and it is on these walls that artifacts continue to be discovered.
Numerous of the images bear significant historical data, including depictions of hunting techniques, customs, and more.
“The home of the Bushmen” is Ha Baroana, which is located east of Maseru. An impressive assemblage of animal paintings, including depictions of the blue crane and guinea fowl, leopard, lion, and eland, was bequeathed to us by the San at this location.
The Liphofung Cultural Centre is situated in the Butha Buthe region (North West). From here, visitors can be led through an educational center situated at one of the most renowned rock art sites in the area.
Below Are Some Of The Top 10 Places To Visit In Lesotho;
9. Major Bell Tower and fort
The location of the Major Bells Tower is within the Leribe district, in the municipality of Hlotse. This fort was in operation throughout the Gun Wars of 1880 and 1881. The British constructed the fortifications of Major Bell’s Tower towards the conclusion of the 1870s.
Although besieged throughout the Gun War of 1880–81, the structure remained unscathed. The Tower remains substantially unaltered. A curious primordial statue of a European stands in front of a local administration office that is easily accessible to visitors.
Tourists with an interest in the history of Southern Africa and its numerous conflicts must visit this location.
10. Sehlabathebe National Park
Located in the southeastern part of Lesotho, Sehlabathebe National Park is relatively inaccessible (four-wheel drive is required), but the effort is well worth it. This was Lesotho’s inaugural national park designation.
This concealed treasure abounds with magnificent, region-specific rock formations, enormous rock overhangs, small lakes, rock art, rock arches, and an exquisite and singular ecosystem of flora, fauna, and vegetation.
Chief Leabua Jonathan, the prime minister of Lesotho at the time, had a passion for trout fishing; this may explain the park’s existence, given that the dams and rivers are a fisherman’s paradise.
Both Bokong Nature Reserves and Ts’ehlanyane National Park are considerably more accessible and merit a visit independently.