lesotho hat.jpg (13677 bytes)  NORTH WEST LESOTHO
  

Gateway to the Maluti

 

BOY IN SNOW.jpg (17479 bytes)

 

 

This is one of the most popular areas of Lesotho, easily reached from South Africa and a short drive from Maseru, and a great base from which to explore the Maluti Mountains. The best border posts for direct access are Maseru Bridge, Peka Bridge, Maputsoe (Ficksburg Bridge) or Caledonspoort near Butha-Buthe.

Thaba-Bosiu

Lesotho’s great national monument: a flat-topped hill which was used by Moshoeshoe I as his citadel when establishing the nation is within easy reach of Maseru. On top of the hill are the substantial remains of the King’s dwellings and villages, together with the royal cemetery of Lesotho. It is accessed by a good tarred road to a small information centre from where visitors have an easy climb up Rafutho’s Pass (where the Free State Boer commander Louw Wepener was killed in an attack on Moshoeshoe I in 1865) to the summit plateau. Here lie the remains of Moshoeshoe's village and the views are lovely.

Buses and taxis run to the tourist office at the base of the mountain from the southern bus rank in Maseru. Guides are available at the tourist office

Nearby accommodation
Mmelesi Lodge at Thaba Bosiu
Hotels in Maseru

 

The Craft Centres of Teya-Teyaneng

The pretty town of Teya-Teyaneng is an important centre for local weavers and craftsmen. A short drive from Maseru, this town is an important stop on the way north, or a pleasant excursion from Hlotse and Ficksburg. Close to the town are some San (Bushmen) rock shelters with rock paintings. The principal craft centres — who all welcome visitors to see many of the articles being made as well as buying wonderful souvenirs — include:

Hatooa-Mose-Mosali; Helang Basali Crafts of Lesotho; Letlotlo Handicrafts; Elleloang Weavers; Seeta’s Design Jewellery, all in Teya-Teyaneng, as well as Setsoto Design in Tebetebeng close by.

Nearby accommodation
Blue Mountain Inn
Palace Hotel
Hotels in Maseru

Hlotse — Major Bell’s Tower and Fort

Hlotse is close to the Maputsoe (Ficksburg Bridge) border post, and on the main road through to Caledonspoort. In springtime, this is a wonderful route to see the blossom in the fields against a backdrop of spectacular views of the Maluti Mountains.

The fortifications of Major Bell’s Tower were built by the British at the end of the 1870s and were besieged, but not captured, during the Gun War of 1880 — 81. The Tower is still largely intact. Visitors can see an interesting primitive statue of a European in front of a nearby local administration office. This is a must-see attraction for tourists interested in the history of Southern Africa and the various wars.

King Moshoeshoe I was born nearby in the village of Menkhoaneng in the foothills of the Leribe district. At the entrance to Hlotse is a good craft shop, the Leribe Craft Centre.

From Hlotse - a new tar road heads east into the mountains to Katse Dam which is just over an hour's drive.

Nearby accommodation
Leribe Hotel in Hlotse
Sekekete Hotel

 Adventures in Africa, adventure holidays, adrenaline rushes, expeditions, safaris

Backpackers info

Ha Thabo Ramakatane (Mr Ramakatane's Home Hostel): This is an IYHF youth hostel located in the small village of Ha Sechele, right up against sandstone cliffs about 3,5 km from Butha Buthe centre. About l00m up the Maseru road from the Mokhotlong /Caledonspoort / Maseru T Junction, a small lane heads to the left, just past the "Guys and Girls Fashion Store." Follow this dirt road through the town, past fields and villages to Ha Sechele village. If in doubt, ask along the way - the locals all seem to know the place. The hostel is recognisable by its thatch root with bright green trimmings. Mr Ramakatane has set part of his house aside as a youth hostel. The place has no electricity, cooking and lighting is by gas, and water comes from a hand pump close by. The accommodation is basic, but quite adequate. No supplies are available. Staying here gives one a good insight into village life in the Lowlands. There are sortie great walks up into the mountains behind the hostel, and some excellent, peaceful sunset spots. Accommodation costs M20/night. Note: The road to the hostel is not fit for sedan vehicles
Hlotse Farmer Training Centre: Here they offer accommodation at M25/ night. It is located at the Agricultural College on the back road out of town towards Butha Buthe.

Rustlers Valley: This is a more upmarket mountain lodge in South Africa, just across the border from Hlotse. but is the ideal backpackers oasis, and offers very reasonable dormitory accommodation and camping .  It is set in a sandstone valley and great rock formations abound. There are excellent walks into some of the deeper recesses of the Rustlers Valley itself. Every Easter, this is the home of the famous Rustlers Music Festival - four day's of bliss. Click on the Rustlers link for more details.. The place is located 12km off the Ficksburg - Fouriesburg road and is well-signposted

Transport
From Maseru north, there are plenty of buses and taxis. all going via Maputsoe, to Hlotse and Butha Buthe. Taxis run between Ficksburg and Fouriesburg, and between Butha Buthe and Fouriesburg. Two taxis a day run from Ficksburg right to Rustlers Valley. Ask for "Rustlers Valley" at the taxi rank.
South Africa connections: Taxis run between Johannesburg station and Butha Buthe. They leave from a parking lot 50m down the Caledonspoort road in Butha Buthe, running all through the day. The journey costs M45. Taxis also run between Johannesburg and Ficksburg, and between Bloemfontein and Ficksburg.

 

Subeng Stream Dinosaur Trackway

Lesotho is rich in relics of its prehistoric past, especially of early dinosaurs and of the first primitive mammals to walk the earth. Fascinating for the non-specialist visitor are the many dinosaur trackways — sets of footprints preserved in sandstone. One of our best examples is at Subeng Stream.

About 5 miles north of Hlotse, and easy walking distance from the main Hlotse-Butha-Buthe road, the trackway features the footprints of several different dinosaurs, from the period at the end of the Triassic era, some 180-200 million years ago. These were early ancestors of the creatures that feature in the film Jurassic Park.

Nearby accommodation
Leribe Hotel
Sekekete Hotel

 

Thaba-Phatsoa Outward Bound Centre

leosotho - pic 1 off page 8.jpg (16286 bytes)The centre is situated in a highly attractive scenery in the foothills of the Maluti Range, under Thaba-Phatsoa mountain and just above the Collet Dam, which supplies water to Hlotse.

The complex offers about 60 rooms, each up to 12 bunk beds, and is self-catering. The accommodation is simple and attractive, appropriate to an adventurous sort of holiday. The activities and facilities include canoeing on Collet Dam, rock climbing and abseiling on Thaba-Phatsoa and adjacent hills, hiking and using outdoor climbing frames and other physical training equipment. The Centre is well equipped and can cater for groups as well as individuals. The Centre now has offices in Hlotse, as well as in Ficksburg in South Africa.

 

Butha-Buthe Plateau

One of the most significant local sites for Basotho, as it played an important part in our cultural heritage, is the flat-topped sandstone plateau that was the site of Moshoeshoe 1’s original mountain fortress up to 1824, before he moved to Thaba-Bosiu.

There are also mysterious caves used by the San (Bushmen) in the area near Qalo and Sekubu, and some more dinosaur footprints.

The town is about 124 km from Maseru, close to the Caledonspoort border post, and the plateau to the east of the town is a delightful picnic stop on the way to Oxbow.

Nearby accommodation
Cindi Lodge
Crocodile Inn
Moteng Lodge


snow(141084 bytes)Oxbow

Lesotho is one of the few places in Africa where snow skiing is possible, although the quality of the snow depends of the vagaries of the weather and the large differential between night and daytime temperatures in the winter season, which can cause the snow to melt rapidly. Normally skiing is possible in July and August, and there is accommodation at the New Oxbow Lodge. Even if skiing is not possible, this is a wonderful area for walking and bird watching.

Nearby accommodation
New Oxbow Lodge

Backpackers Info

Adventures in Africa, adventure holidays, adrenaline rushes, expeditions, safarisThis is the original "Roof of Africa" rally route. It is a quite spectacular journey, going over a number of mountain passes and spending much of the journey at over 3000m. From Butha Buthe, the road goes north for 15km, then at a junction goes east and climbs into the foothills of the Maluti mountains. It ascends the Moteng Pass at 2840m, then drops down into the upper valley of the Malibamatso River. Here, one comes to Oxbow Lodge, an upmarket ski resort. It is possible to free camp near the Lodge and to enjoy stories of Costas the owner, and his great bar over the river.

Transport
One bus a day runs each way between Mokhotlong and Butha Buthe and one bus between Mokhotlong and Maseru. From Mokhotlong, the buses leave from opposite PEP Stores in the main street. They arrive in Butha Buthe in dine to catch taxis to Johannesburg if required The journey costs M34 between Mokhotlong and Maseru, M27 as far as Butha Buthe. Since the opening of the new tar road, minibus taxis now also run the route. They charge M42 from Maseru and M30 from Butha Buthe.
Lesotho Air and Mission Aviation fly between Maseru and Mokhotlong


    GUIDE TO LESOTHO
Lesotho Information&Enquiries

Sign the Guestbook   anim-write.gif (8447 bytes)  View the Guestbook

Website created and hosted by Africa Insites
Last updated: 15 May 2005