Tourist Attractions in Lesotho

Sehlabathebe National Park

Sehlabathebe National Park is the national designated nature reserve in Lesotho and comprises 6 500 hectares at an average elevation of 2 400 m. The park is ideal for hiking, bird-watching and contains unusual rock formations and alpine flora. Game is limited to a few antelope species but the scenery is stunning.
Maletsunyane Waterfalls, one of the highest single dropping waterfalls in the Southern Hemisphere plummeting 186 metres into a spectacular gorge creating clouds of spray visible from afar Semonkong Lodge offers you the chance to explore the magnificent scenery and culture of Lesotho The Lodge together with the local community provides ponies and guides for the adventure, day trips to the Maletsunyane Fall.

Thaba Bosiu Mountain

Thaba Bosiu, The name Thaba Bosiu means the 'Mountain at Night'. It was in July,1824 when Moshoeshoe and his people took occupation of the mountain which his brother Mohale had reconnoitred. He named the mountain Thaba Bosiu-Mountain at Night because he and his people arrived there in the evening and the essential protective work took him until late at night. Many years later the news to intimidate his enemies was spread that at night time the mountain grew larger than usual.

The mountain is flat-topped and it is situated in the valley of the Phuthiatsana River. It is about fifteen miles east of the junction of this river with Mohokare or Caledon that divides Lesotho from the Free State. It rises about 350 ft. from the surrounding valley and its summit is surrounded by a belt of perpendicular cliffs some 40 ft. high on the average.

Tse'hlanyane National Park

Tse'hlanyane National Park, is located deep in the front range of the Maluti mountains, with headquarters at the foot of the Holomo Pass. The reserve owes its origin to the access road to the Hlotse tunnel adit for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). This protected area lies at the junction of the Tse'hlanyane and the Holomo rivers.

Over 5600 hectares of extremely rugged mountains terrain is protected within this park, which includes one of the very few indigenous woodlands in Lesotho. The reserve also encompasses a reasonable proportion of mountain lsquo;fynbos' with a high degree of endemism.

The park is reached by a 32km-gravel access road that leaves the main A1 route 8 km south of Butha Buthe. The route passes through the village of Khabo's and parallels the Hlotse River along a very picturesque valley until it reaches the park entrance.

Liphofung Nature Reserve

Liphofung Nature Reserve, "place of the eland" cave occupies an important place in Lesotho history. This is the smallest of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority reserves at about 4 hectares. The cave is in fact a large overhang in the Clarens sandstones, which is a typical feature of the Lesotho lowlands region.

This is particular site lies in a tributary stream valley of the Hololo River just off the main route from Butha Buthe to Oxbow and Mokhotlong. Access is by means of a newly constructed concrete road and is passable for all vehicles. A small visitor's centre incorporating a display of Basotho culture and San rock art has been developed, along with ablution facilities and a small shop. The site is proving to be a popular destination with school groups and tourists en route to Oxbow.

Lesotho Highlands

Snow skiing is possible on the slopes below the Mahlasela Pass; New Oxbow Lodge nearby and Afri Ski rents skis and boots. There are three slopes and two ski lifts, while several alternative activities are on hand in the summer months. The resort of Afri-Ski is 4 frac12; hours' drive from Johannesburg South Africa via the steep tarred Moteng pass and the Mahlasela pass and is one of only two skiing resorts in Africa.