Welcome to Sani Lodge & Cottages!
Soaring mountain vistas, secluded waterfalls, ancient rock art as well as a unique ecosystem of fauna and flora.
On this 3 day tour, let us show you the wonders of Lesotho’s oldest national park, the high plateau country of Sehlabathebe. The centerpiece of these tours is the oldest National Park in Lesotho, Sehlabathebe National Park which was created by Lesotho’s first Prime Minister, Chief Leabua Jonathan. The park is a little known, secret jewel!! Explore the hidden gems of this park: soaring mountain vistas, secluded rock pools, waterfalls, rock dwellings, massive overhangs, rock art, rock arches and a beautiful and unique ecosystem of plants, birds and animals. The tours end with a unique way to cross from one country to another, via a border post which has a road coming into it from the South African side, but only a path on the Lesotho side.
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
Sadly, the historic Park Lodge where we used to stay has been closed to the public. We therefore stay at the basic Mabotle Lodge in the nearby Sehlabathebe village which is currently the only option in the area.
Take a look at the routes our tours take.
Before the 1950's, it was a trail for pack animals to carry goods through to the isolated town of Mokhotlong in Eastern Lesotho. Now, the road carries 4x4 vehicles, though the odd donkey and horse can still be seen plodding slowly up the steep route. Crossing the border at the top of the pass, one enters not only another country (passports required), but another world. The Basotho have a unique African mountain culture, reminiscent of Tibet! People live in traditional rondavels (huts), herd goats and sheep in the high mountains and grow crops by ox-ploughing and hand-hoeing in a lifestyle fascinating for the visitor. Come and experience the wonders of the mountains. Visit Lesotho under your own steam, or on one of our tours. The South African border post opens at 6 am and closes at 6 pm.
Lesotho is a little-known country. It is unique in several respects. It is the only “real” country completely surrounded by another country (South Africa). it is also the country with the highest lowest point in the world – the lowest point in Lesotho is 1433m which is higher than in any other country. The highest point in Southern Africa, Thabana Ntlenyana, 3482m, is situated in the east of the country. Lesotho owes its existence to their great and revered first king, Moshoeshoe the Great. He welded a group of disparate Sesotho speaking clans into a single nation through wise statesmanship and his mountain fortress of Thaba Bosiu. Southern Africa in the first part of the 19th century was in some chaos, with warfare and population displacement rife. Moshoeshoe offered sanctuary at his mountain fortress in these troubled times, effectively forging the Basotho nation through the offering of peace. This ethos can be felt in the current motto of Lesotho which is “Khotso, Pula, Nala meaning Peace, Rain and Prosperity” Lesotho has managed to retain its own separate identity ever since. One of Moshoeshoe’s last acts as an old man was to ask for “protection” and the country thus became the British Protectorate of Basutoland from 1868 until its independence in 1965. An attempt to include the country in the Cape Colony led to the Gun war of the 1880’s and from then on, the country was governed directly from London. Basutoland was offered the opportunity to join the Union of South Africa when it was formed in 1910, but the council of chiefs declined. The country has its own currency, government system and schooling system and its people are fiercely independent. As one of the few mountain peoples in Africa, the Basotho people have a unique lifestyle and culture. Soaring mountain peaks and deep incised river valleys have led to many adaptations to the environment. This is exemplified by the sight of a horseman mounted on the sturdy Basotho pony, wearing a traditional Basotho blanket! Visit under your own steam or go on one of our tours which visit remote, seldom visited areas and give you an authentic window into the lifestyle of these proud and friendly people.
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 R100 per person entering the country.
Whichever method you choose, we will respond to you as quickly and informatively as possible.
Call our reception on +27 83 987 3071 phone or WhatsApp. Someone will be available between 7am and 7pm everyday. South African time is GMT+2
Send us an email or complete the contact form. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
We'd love to share our detailed knowledge of the local area with you.
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