Molimo Nthuse

The road from Maseru to Molimo Nthuse takes you over a series of major mountain passes before reaching Thaba-Tseka. Each pass offers superb vistas of mountain peaks, steep gorges, tumbling streams and broad valleys. Bearded Vultures and other unusual montane birds can often be seen from the pass summits. This is one of the most attractive tourist routes in Lesotho.

Matika Lisiu Pass

The top of this particular pass has a spectacular vantage point from the car park facing down a dramatic deep valley towards Pitseng, and fine views in the other direction across the high plateau towards Ha Lejone.

This area is renowned for seeing Bearded Vulture, and several other unusual montane birds are often in evidence, including Orange-breasted Rockjumper, as well as an attractive marmot-like rodent (Otomys sloggetti), locally called an Ice Rat, which is endemic and found only at altitudes above 2000m.

Malibamatso Bridge across the Katse Dam, near Ha Lejone

There is a fine vantage point towards the elegant new bridge that crosses the northern end of Lake Katse and the Intake Tower, and across the lake itself. The lake is full and is very impressive.

The area is also a wonderful place for bird watchers, and is notable for the numbers of small montane birds — thrushes and buntings, principally — which are present.

Ha Seshote

The road to the Katse Dam rises and turns away from the lake for some distance beyond the Malibamatso Bridge before returning to the lake at the Katse Dam near Bokong. The area is important for bird-watching enthusiasts as it maintains a significant number of Bald Ibis, which often follow farmers as they cultivate their fields.