how I spend a day in Lesotho

 January 2023, the year I pronounced as " it’s just a passport stamp away". We went on an extended family holiday to the golden national park, which if you ask me should be compulsory for every South African to visit. I could not get enough. Weeks before we left on this trip I renewed my passport even though there was no plans of a cross border trip anytime soon. Neighbouring the national park is a town called Clarens, a 1900s small town on the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. When my mom told me we would be going to clarens for holiday the first thing I did was grabbed my phone and searched “things to do In Clarens?” I mean there was a list of ten things but the one that stood out for me was “visit Lesotho” and then I thought. Why not ? I have a passport and it’s less than 50 kilometres from Clarens. Although, as my mom would say once I have my mind made up there would be no going back I knew there were going to be some challenges : do I drive by myself ? Is it safe ? Who will go with me ?. Remember how I said “extended family holiday” well out of the 30 people I don’t think any of them read what to do in clarens or packed their passports. It was time to make my decision so I did I called a tour guide from the area and planned my trip to Lesotho. When she asked me what I wanted to do for my day in Lesotho all I could say was “meet the locals and take in the beauty of the land” and that’s exactly what I did.  

Lesotho being landlocked by South Africa I could not help to think that there might be no difference between South Africa and Lesotho. I mean yes they have their own currency but they still do accept rands so what is the difference between the besothu lands and South Africa. Lesotho is the nation of blue skies, rolling hill, 1000 waterfalls and not to mention the friendly faces. Lesotho being the highest point in Southern Africa already has a different climate to South Africa in Lesotho you can expect to experience crisp summers and snowy winters. The locals keep warm with what us know as the seanamarena blankets, which if you ask me is the coolest garments yet. Anyway, let the adventure begin. To the gates of the besothu paradise we used the clardenspoort border control to our advantage it didn’t even take 10 minutes and I was in Lesotho. Lesotho being on the list of top ten countries with the cleanest water it was imperative to go up to the muela power stations to see the workings of the water sanitation plant. I won’t lie that wasn’t really my thing…to technical for me but the views were immaculate. Again, we were on the move up the A1 known as the Moteng pass- I promise you this route can get you anywhere in Lesotho but the crazy uphill and curvy roads are not for the faint hearted. Wait, did I mention that we got stuck on the pass for about half an hour because a truck was jack-knifed now I know I could complain but I think it was apart of the experience and I loved every moment of it. Down the moteng pass we went after having a stop at the world renown ski lodge in Africa- Afriski.  We have arrived at the lipofung caves - the place of the eland, rich with Lesothos history originating from the time of the San and other Stone Age people. I won’t bore you with a history lesson so on I went to last activity of the day. A trip to Lesotho can not be complete without saddling up on a besothu horse. My pony for the day was Jumbo, the blue eyed horse that has stole my heart. Traversing the Lesotho landscape from the saddle is incredible. The vistas feel even bigger, you feel even smaller. It’s a welcome new perspective. The ponies know their way around these mountains and they take lead, effortlessly meandering around boulders, across river beds and up gravel tracks. I did not feel this free since I jumped out of a plane. And that was it back to the town of  Buthe Buthe and back to South Africa. 

There you have it my perfect day spent in Lesotho meeting the friendly faces and saddling up. Until next time Lesotho, you were amazing! 

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