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Explore Africa<br />
Or you can trek on horseback or the famed Basotho pony through<br />
the rural districts, negotiating winding tracks and roads and sheer<br />
drops, or make your way by 4WD vehicle to the north-eastern<br />
highlands, site of an ancient dinosaur dwelling ground. Here, at<br />
Subeng Stream, you can take a look at the fascinating footprints of<br />
dinosaurs perfectly preserved in sandstone.<br />
Everywhere you go you will be greeted by friendly villagers and<br />
farmers, often travelling on horseback, wrapped in colourful<br />
blankets and wearing balaclavas or mokorotlo hats.<br />
The Maloti Mountains are also home to one of the toughest extreme<br />
endurance races for motorcycles in the world, the Roof of Africa<br />
Race, which recently took place at the end of November. Locals have<br />
come to regard the 49-year old race as a “rainmaker”, as it takes<br />
place every year just as the summer rains start.<br />
Also high up in the mountains you will find Afriski, one of only two<br />
ski resorts on the African continent, situated a mere 80km from the<br />
South African border. Visitors flock here each year for skiing and<br />
snowboarding on the snow-covered slopes, while the resort also<br />
offers a range of summer adventure activities.<br />
The Bokong Nature Reserve is the highest in Africa, lying at over<br />
3,000 meters above sea level. An impressive visitors’ centre is<br />
perched on the edge of a 100m cliff, offering outstanding views<br />
across the highlands. The highlight of this reserve is the Lepaqoa<br />
Waterfall, which freezes in winter to form a solid column of ice. The<br />
reserve is also a favourite with bird watchers and hikers, but the use<br />
of a local guide is strongly advised.<br />
In the south a visit to the Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho’s<br />
flagship park, is a must-do. Other nature reserves include<br />
Liphofung Nature Reserve with its “place of the eland” cave, and<br />
the Sehlabathebe National Park situated atop the Drakensberg<br />
escarpment, home to fascinating rock formation, San paintings,<br />
unique wild flowers, a bird sanctuary, rock pools and a waterfall.<br />
Here the rare minnow fish is found, while rhebok, oribi, mongoose,<br />
wild cat, jackal and baboons frequent the area. The Tse’hlanyane<br />
National Park is located deep in the front range of the Maluti<br />
mountains, traversed by streams and rivers with crystal clear<br />
mountain water.<br />
Another unique experience is the 120 km drive from Maseru over<br />
the “Gates of Paradise Pass” on to Malealea. From here visitors<br />
can be taken to some really remote areas, pony-trekking, hiking<br />
or mountain-biking, while staying overnight in traditional Basotho<br />
villages.<br />
At Katse Village you can take in some spectacular views of the Katse<br />
Dam and the surrounding mountains. At 2,000 metres above sea<br />
level, Katse Dam is the highest dam in Africa, and one of the world’s<br />
10 largest concrete arch dams in terms of its volume. As part of the<br />
Lesotho Highlands Water Project, it supplies much of South Africa’s<br />
water.<br />
20 |ISSUE 4|www.mzanzitravel.co.za | MZANZI TRAVEL