Best Views, Day Tour, Drive & Hike
Hodgson's Peaks Tour
A guided tour & hike to the top of the world.
Polihali Dam Day Tour
Travel up Sani Pass and deep into Lesotho to visit the massive new dam being built as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project supplying pure mountain water to Johannesburg.
Great Views
10 Hours
Lunch Included
Passports Essential
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
This is a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of one of Southern Africa’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. The Polihali Dam Tour offers exclusive insight into the scale, complexity, and human impact of the Polihali Dam, set deep in the remote Maluti Mountains of Lesotho. Travelling via the iconic Sani Pass and over Black Mountain Pass (3,240 m), the journey alone is an unforgettable high-altitude adventure beyond the town of Mokhotlong.
Accompanied by a specialist guide from the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, you gain privileged access to key elements of the project, including the bridge spanning the Senqu River, the future dam basin, relocation sites, and a 360-degree panoramic viewpoint overlooking the entire operation. Highlights include the water transfer tunnels linking Polihali to the Katse Dam, the staff village, Polihali Lodge, diversion tunnels, the dam wall construction site, and the Information Centre.
This is a long, in-depth and technical day tour, ideal for travellers with an interest in engineering, mega infrastructure, development, or large-scale environmental projects. The tour operates in a Toyota Hilux double cab, with a maximum of four guests per tour, and runs Monday to Friday only.
ITINERARY
Departure from Sani Lodge (7.15 am)
We meet near reception ten minutes prior to departure for a quick briefing and introduction to your guide.
Travel up the Sani Pass
Travel up the only road through the Drakensberg cliffs in a 4×4. Time for a few short photo stops as we have a long way to go!
Venture into the Lesotho Highlands
We drive further into Lesotho, ascending Black Mountain Pass at 3240m and then decending along the Sehonghong river valley towards the main town of the eastern highlands, Mokhotlong. We continue on to meet our local guide and view the new massive Senqu River brindge being constructed on the main road between mokhotlong and the Lowlands.
View the Construction
Our guide will point out all aspects of the dam project, from the construction of a massive rock wall (to be lined with concrete), the transfer tunnels to take the water to Katse Dam and on to South Africa from there, the brand new staff village and lodge, the coffer dam and diversion tunnels and the information Centre. And the social program around the communities in and around the dam site. Time to really understand and discuss the issues with our guide.
Return Journey
After a picnic lunch with a view, we begin the return journey, aiming to have you back at Sani Lodge between 5 and 5:30 pm.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
Experience Fair Trade Tourism in action. Every tour includes a direct contribution to the Sani Top Basotho community, ensuring your visit delivers real social and economic benefits. Our grass-roots tourism model supports fair pay, cultural dignity, and meaningful community participation, creating authentic encounters that respect local traditions.
Our commitment to responsible tourism has been internationally recognised. Sani Lodge & Drakensberg Adventuresare Silver Award winners at the African Responsible Tourism Awards (2018) for Poverty Reduction, praised for empowering Basotho communities to share their culture with pride and purpose.
For a truly authentic Sani Pass experience, the vehicle matters. The Land Rover pioneered the Sani Pass in the 1950s and 60s, and we proudly continue this legacy today. There is no better way to experience the Sani Pass than in an iconic Land Rover.
ABOUT POLIHALI AND THE LESOTHO HIGHLANDS WATER PROJECT
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is one of the largest engineering undertakings in the world. Its first phase involved the construction of the Katse Dam, which currently supplies Johannesburg with 780 million cubic meters of pure mountain water per year through a complex system of tunnels and gravity-fed flows. However, as the city continues to grow, even this vast supply is becoming insufficient. To address this increasing demand, Phase 2 of the project is now underway with the construction of the Polihali Dam near Mokhotlong. This new dam will provide an additional 490 million cubic meters of water annually. Construction began in 2023, with completion targeted for 2028. Our tour offers a unique opportunity to witness the construction of this massive dam firsthand. Accompanied by a guide from the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, you will gain insights into the scale and significance of the project. We have the privilege of visiting a viewpoint that overlooks the entire construction site, providing a breathtaking perspective on the work in progress. One of the most striking features of the site is the series of white markers indicating the future water level once the dam is full. These markers highlight the villages and homesteads that will need to be relocated as the reservoir expands. Visitors will also witness the incredible scale of excavation, with constant blasting and trucking operations shifting vast quantities of rock to form the dam wall. Additionally, entrances to the tunnels being bored through the mountains to transfer water to Katse Dam can be observed. The tour also includes a visit to the newly constructed staff village and lodge, the dam wall construction site, and the Information Centre, where further details about the project are available. For more information on the Polihali Dam and its role in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, click the button below
MOUNTAIN KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
Lesotho, known as the Mountain Kingdom, is a unique country entirely surrounded by South Africa. It has the highest lowest point of any country in the world and is home to Thabana Ntlenyana (3,482 m), the highest peak in Southern Africa. The nation was founded by King Moshoeshoe the Great, who united Sesotho-speaking clans during the turbulent early 19th century from his mountain stronghold at Thaba Bosiu, offering refuge and peace and shaping the Basotho identity that endures today. This legacy is reflected in Lesotho’s national motto, “Khotso, Pula, Nala” (Peace, Rain and Prosperity).
Formerly the British Protectorate of Basutoland, Lesotho gained independence in 1965 and has retained a strong and distinctive identity, with its own currency, government, and traditions. The Basotho people, one of Africa’s great mountain cultures, have adapted to life in dramatic highland landscapes, where a familiar sight is a horseman on a hardy Basotho pony, wrapped in a traditional blanket.
Explore Lesotho on one of our guided tours to experience remote regions and gain an authentic insight into the culture, history, and landscapes of this remarkable country.
GET IN TOUCH
Whichever method you choose, we will respond to you as quickly and informatively as possible.
Give Us a Call
Call our reception on +27 83 987 3071, phone or WhatsApp.. Someone will be available between 7am and 7 pm everyday. South African time is GMT+2
Send Us an Email
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Drop By and Talk
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