Most Popular, Day Tour
Standard Sani Pass Tour
A guided tour up the majestic Sani Pass, venturing as far into Lesotho as Black Mountain (3240m).
Eastern Lesotho Village Experience Tour
Traditional cooking and a range of activities gives you a window into the lives of a proud and unique people.
Basotho Culture
Village Life
Meals Included
Passports Essential
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Community tourism at its best! We take you by 4x4 Land Rover up Sani Pass, over the second highest road pass in Lesotho, then down into remote eastern Lesotho valleys. Lunch along the way, then on to typical highlands villages. Our hosts will help you to appreciate and understand their lifestyle and culture. Enjoy 24 hours as a Basotho villager. Overnight accommodation at a remote mountain village and delicious traditional cooking. A range of activities gives you a window into the lives of a proud and unique people. If you do the 3-day tour, you stay an extra day and can get totally immersed!! Feel the stresses of daily life fall away as you slot into the pace of life in the mountains. These trips are designed to benefit as wider segment of the local community as we can by allowing as many services as possible to be rendered to the tour by community members.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
Experience Fair Trade in Tourism in action. Your tour price includes a contribution to the Sani Top Basotho community. Our ground-breaking approach to grass-roots tourism means that your tour price directly benefits a wide segment of the local community, preserving cultural dignity and ensuring fair remuneration for services rendered. “Sani Lodge is the Silver Award Winner of African Responsible Tourism Award for Poverty Reduction 2018. Sani Lodge and Drakensberg Adventures in the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa has made a major contribution to local livelihoods and poverty reduction over many years. By involving Basotho stakeholders, they have created opportunities for communities to proudly showcase their unique cultural practices, engaging with guests in an authentic manner, thereby earning their respect. They are the future of tourism in Africa". ~ Judges The Landrover is the vehicle which pioneered the Sani Pass back in the 1950's and 60's. We believe that for an authentic Sani Pass experience, it must be in one of our Landrovers!!
ITINERARY
Departure from Sani Lodge (9.00 am)
We meet in near reception ten minutes prior to departure for a quick briefing and introduction to your guide.
Travel up Sani Pass and into Lesotho
Travel up the only road through the Drakensberg cliffs in a 4×4 whilst hearing tales of the pioneering of the route. You will also learn about the natural history of the Drakensberg and see the beautiful wildflowers, wildlife and birds which inhabit the slopes.
Traditional Lunch
Enjoy a traditional (vegetarian) Basotho lunch in Skiring village
Drive over Black Mountain Pass at 3240m
Ascend Black Mountain (3240m), second highest road pass in Lesotho with stunning views. We will meet the shepherds who spend the summer months in the highlands tending flocks of sheep and goats and get a sense of the life they lead. Follow the Sehonghong river valley before turning off on to the road to the remote Menoaneg Pass area.
Arrive at the village, have a cup of tea and be shown around.
Once you are settled in there are a variety of activities, which may happen in a different order on trips, but include:
*Go for a walk through the village. See how people live. *Visit the traditional healer (have a personal consultation if you like – small extra cost). *Evening dancing and singing. *If schools are open, we visit the local school. *An optional extra activity is horse-riding which is not included in the tour price. *A walk into the beautiful mountains and valleys is an option if you don’t go riding. * Enjoy discussions with your host on the way of life in his village * Meet Granny who is over 100 years old. Hear her stories of the changes during her long life.
Return Journey
After lunch on the last day, we take our leave and start the journey back to Sani Lodge. We stop off for a drink at the Highest Pub in Africa at Sani Top. Return to Sani Lodge by 5pm.
Accommodation
We sleep the night in a homestay. Accommodation is in a thatch roofed, stone walled rondavel. There is no electricity or running water. A basin of water will be provided for bathing. Please bear in mind that given the remote location the toilet is a “long drop” (pit latrine). Warm blankets are provided as bedding.
3 Day Eastern Lesotho Village Experience Tour
Spend an extra day in the village to get a feel for the rhythm of life in the Highlands. Climb a nearby peak, spend longer on horseback, help with the agricultural or cooking chores and become part of the community.
3 Day Combination Tour
Combine the 2 day Village Experience with the 2 day Pony Trek (or even the 2 day Village Hike). A popular choice giving you the best of various tours!
TOUR MAP
Take a look at the routes our tours take.
USEFUL DOCUMENTS
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Please note that the price quoted above is for tours running with a minimum of four guests. If you wish to do this tour with a group of less than four, there will be additional charges due to the fixed nature of certain costs. Owing to the current fuel cost increase, there may be an additional fuel levy. Lesotho has a Tourist Levy of R50 per person entering the country which will increase to R100 per person from 1 November 2024.
SPECIAL DIETARY ITEMS AVAILABLE, JUST ASK.
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. Someone will be available between 7am and 7 pm everyday. South African time is GMT+2
Send Us an Email
Send us an email or complete the contact form. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Drop By and Talk
We'd love to share our detailed knowledge of the local area with you.
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