Travel to Lesotho

surprisingly wild and remote highlands

Lesotho is an independent country which is completely surrounded by South Africa.

This mountain kingdom is one of only a handful of countries in the world whose lowest altitude is above 1000m. It’s a wild land of stunning upland scenery, with remote tribal villages connected by pony tracks and vast open landscapes largely devoid of fences.

The country is connected to the outside world via a handful of dramatic passes through the mountains, which creates a very remote and detached atmosphere.

The culture here is very different from surrounding regions, the people are noticeably more tribal and have a very unique set of customs and traditions. They also tend to be very friendly and welcoming.

The main reason to visit is to undertake multiple day treks through the villages and mountains, usually supported by local ponies. Other more peripheral activities include skiing and 4×4 trails.

The majority of the few international visitors who visit Lesotho do so as part of a self-drive trip around South Africa. We tend to include it in trips relatively rarely, primarily because these kinds of trips tend to need at least three weeks in duration and because the need to rent a 4×4 vehicle for the whole trip dramatically bumps up the costs.

There is a remarkable shortage of decent accommodation in Lesotho. By far the best option is the remote Maliba Mountain Lodge, from which pony trekking is possible. The simpler Malealea Lodge is a slightly more accessible but maybe less exciting option.

a shortage of good accommodation options