The Finale

Having looked at some of the most exciting places to see in Lesotho; it is now that I hope I provided you all with some much needed information about our great nation. 

We cruised from the exotic animals and plant life in the Sehlabathebe National Park, went high in the mountains to the cold yet exciting Afriski. We saw some of the country's greatest architectural marvels in Katse Dam and Metolong Dam.  

We saw some record breaking infrastructures such as the Katse Dam and the Metolong Pedestrian bridge which is the longest in Southern Africa spanning over 240 meters.  

We then looked at some of the 24 species of animals in the Ts'ehlanyane National Park and the only 5 star  accommodation in Lesotho in Maliba Lodge.  We also looked at a hotel above the rest in the Avani Lesotho which is situated at a hill looking down at the City of Maseru.

Having shared these with you, I say to you that these are just the tip of the iceberg in what this country has to offer. Therefore, we wish to see you soon here in the kingdom in the sky; yes, us in the Magical Country. 

               Bokong Nature Reserve 

Ts'ehlanyane National Park

 In the district of Leribe, there is a large area of land called the Ts'ehlanyane National Park which is part of a bigger conservation area of the Maloti Drakensburg Transfronteir. 

The Ts'ehlanyane National Park is one of only two of the country's national parks; with one being the Sehlabathebe National Park.  It is located deep in the front of the Maluti  Mountains at the very start of the Holomo pass. The park provides visitors with unimaginable sceneries, as well as its breathtaking waterfall views.

Ts'ehlanyane National Park is also home to some of the most exotic animals in the country. There are about 24 different species of animals that have so far been recorded in the park. Some of them include, The Eland, the African wild cat, striped pole cat, rock hyrax as well as the clawless other.

  

Maliba Lodge; Ts'ehlanyane National Park 

 

The park also offers visitors a place to stay while they are indulging themselves in the beauty of the park. It offers the Maliba Lodge; this lodge is the first and only 5-star accommodation in Lesotho. It is located in the heart of Lesotho and is a mere 4 and half hours away from OR Tambo international Airport. 

Metolong Dam

 Metolong Dam is a dam outside of Maseru on route to Semonkong. It was build in 2015 so as to provide lowlands of the country with much needed water supply. Since 2018, it has been supplying 2/3 of the country with water.

The Metolong Dam offers up to 80 villages with electricity. During this project over 400 water points had been improved or constructed benefiting about 25 000 people.

 

 Metolong Dam 

Besides this vast technological and architectural marvel, there is another structure more popular with locals and internationals; the Metolong foot bridge. 

The bridge is the longest foot bridge in Southern Africa, it spans over 249 meters. The bridge is also 50 meters above the river that flows under it.

It provides a much needed connection between two communities divided by the Phuthiatsana river. 

            The Metolong Pedestrian bridge 

Àvani Hotel

 The Àvani Hotel is a hotel in the City of Maseru, Lesotho;it bares host to most of the country's high-profile guests. It is suited on the Hillside of Maseru giving guests the pleasure of viewing the whole City from the comfort of their rooms.

It has a total of 158 rooms with each of them having it's own unique style and class, on top of that each room comes along with world class service, high standards. The hotel offers non-smoking rooms for those who have respiratory problems as well as to keep danger away from children. Furthermore, it offers rooms for people who are physically challenged so as to be able to accomadate everyone.                    Lesotho Avani Hotel 

The hotel offers activities such as swimming pools, a playground for the kids, a gym, sauna , hikes, pony treks, quad biking as well as fishing including 4×4 adventures. It also offers golf at the Maseru golf course, lastly, it offers a spa after a long day of activities 

Katse Dam

 

Katse Dam is a huge dam in the highlands of Lesotho; it is located in a village called  Katse. The village was actually named after an old man that was the first and only resident of the village hence the dam also got the name "Katse" 

Katse Dam is located in a district called Thaba-Tseka. It is the second largest dam in Africa standing at a height of 185 meters and a width of 710 meters. It's construction ended in 1996 and is at the heart of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project(LHWP).

Katse Dam is on the Malibamats'o river; and is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions as adventure and sight seekers from all walks of life find it very exhilarating to see.

              Katse Dam overflowing 

Molimo Nthuse 🇱🇸

 Molimo Nthuse is a place in the outskirts of Maseru lying in between mountain ranges. It is located in a village called Setibeng; the name literally translates to "God help me", it derives its name from the pass at the village. The pass is called The Molimo Nthuse Pass or Lekhalong-La-Molimo Nthuse. 

 The pass was called as such because back in the days, it was very hard to navigate through it as there had been many who died on the pass.  It has 31  bends, corners  and curves of 8 which are greater than the 90 degrees and of those 8 bends there are 4 which are about 180 degrees.

                   The Molimo Nthuse Pass

 

Molimo Nthuse Pass has a lodge within it called the Molimo Nthuse Lodge which was part of the Lesotho Hotels project and currently has about 16 rooms. There is currently a bid going on for its expansion so as to rejuvenate and remodel it into the latest tourist facility. 

It offers tourists a place with high altitude training facilities, water and recreational activities, health and wellness resorts, as well as accommodation facilities.

  

Afriski Mountain Resort

 Being the coldest country in Africa, it is safe to assume that there are some places in Lesotho which do not see summer all year around.  

Afriski is located in the Botha-Buthe, at the height of 3050meters above sea level. It is go the only Ski resort in Lesotho and it is cold all year around.

Afriski  Mountain Resort, Lesotho

 

Afriski offers clients and tourists  1.8km of snowy slopes between the elevation of 3050 meters and 3222 meters above sea level. 

It offers slopes for beginners  and the main slope, these slopes are open the winter months which are from May to late August sometimes even in early September due to the country's unpredictable weather conditions. 

The resort has about 5 downhill/enduro tracks and a variaty of single  tracks and a cross country track is sure to make one thirsty for more. 

          A man on one slope in Afriski.

Afriski attracts about 17 000 tourists every year and many believe that the numbers will only go up due to the nature of the resort. Many claim that the resort is the best place where one can train on how  to ski and also to prepare themselves for competitions. 

Afriski being located in one of the few places in the country which never experience the warmth of summer, it sometimes happens that in the peak of summer in the low lands then it snows in places like Afriski and   Oxbow; which means that tourists can sometimes enjoy winter in summer. 

Another fascinating thing about Afriski is the road leading heading to it. One travels through mountain ranges and snowy low lands.

                           Afriski