Joanna James
Lesotho is an often-overlooked travel destination in South Africa. It is a mountainous country with breathtaking and unspoilt natural beauty. However, if you are a hiking enthusiast, a trip to Lesotho will not be in vain, the trails in the country's numerous parks and nature reserves are to die for.
Bokong Nature Reserve is one of the most underrated parks in Lesotho. It is not a large and expansive nature reserve but is situated at an altitude ranging between 2800m and 3200m above sea level. It offers the hiking enthusiast a very unique experience. The park is home to the horseshoe-shaped Lepaqoa Falls; a dazzling waterfall that cascades over a 60m cliff. Hikers can visit this waterfall and venture further into the park to reach Bokong's clifftop visitor's centre; a viewpoint that overlooks a green valley carved out by the Lepaqoa River.
Sehlabathebe is Lesotho's first national park. It was established in 1970 and is recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage site – for both cultural importance and natural significance; one of the two such sites in sub-equatorial Africa. This park is a must-visit for any hiker who enjoys grasslands. Sehlabathebe is dotted with unique rock formations, which could seemingly have been carved by the hand of a modern-day expressionist. The park sits at an average altitude of 2400m above sea level. Even if you are here for business purposes, you can easily find a meeting venue in Lesotho offered by the likes of Avani Lesotho Hotel & Casino.
If you are visiting Lesotho and you enjoy hiking, you have to go visit the Tsatsane Valley Bushman Paintings. The hike to visit these historic paintings will lead you through one of the most scenic gorges in Lesotho and probably all of southern Africa. The gorge is carved out by the Tsatsane and Sebapala Rivers and is ideal for even beginner-level hikers, as the terrain is flat and quite easy to navigate – at least until you get to the rock art sites – that might present a small but navigable challenge. There are 4 rock art sites you should visit, of which Sekonyela 2 is the most famous for its well-preserved and complex prehistoric frescos.
If you are looking for a bit of a challenge – then a trek through Ts'ehlanyane National Park is for you. This well-marked circular trail is roughly 16km long and has a gradual upward and downward incline of about 1000m. The pay-off is quite worth it as you'll come across a stunning natural swimming pool shrouded by the endemic berg bamboo and the jaw-dropping three-tiered Matsa Mararo Falls. The trail is renowned for its abundance of wildflowers and birds. All in all, the hike lasts roughly six hours and will definitely challenge your stamina.
The ultimate hike in Lesotho is not for the beginner or casual hiker- this trail will test you. From Sani Top to the peak of 3,483m tall Thabana Ntlenyana will see you ascend 600m and takes a full day. Though the hike may be rigorous, it will take you through some of the most stunning Afroalpine scenery on the continent.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
