Sani, Katse & The Crashing Falls
Right across Lesotho in Four Days
Our guests asked us for this and finally we are able to deliver:
The best Lesotho has to offer!
Fully packed with cultural and top attractions which also include the world-famous Katse Damn tour, plus time to experience the cannibal caves, dinosaurs’ footprints, the place of Kings, Maletsunyana falls & still hike or walk in this amazing country.
Inclusions on this tour.
Private Guide and Vehicle
All Meals and snacks
Bottled Water
Juices
All Activities
Tourism Levies and Cross Border fees
All Cross Border documentation.
Specialized Hiking guides.
Passenger Liability Insurance
Blankets in the vehicle when cold
Lots of little hidden extras
EXCLUSIONS
Additional and all Alcoholic drinks
Curio’s and personal items
Gratuities
ITINERARY
Day 1
- Either arrive in an upmarket chauffeur from Durban or meet us in Underberg at 09h00.
- Traverse the breathtaking Sani Pass stopping frequently for photo opportunities.
- After crossing the Lesotho border, stop for refreshments at the Highest Pub.
- Enjoy a hike across the top of the pass (2 hours) or a horse ride (1 hour) or take a leisurely walk or simply sit of the deck and soak up the amazing views. Lunch at the Highest pub in Africa
- Visit a small private Basotho homestead where you will hear about the culture of these folk and enjoy some delicious home-made bread
- Pass the Highest Point Black Mountain and head down into the Makupung valley.
- Visit a traditional healer and hear the local ladies singing for you as they go about their daily duties.
- Finally reach a small guest house in a village where the kings were born
- Overnight in comfort.
Day 2.
- After a leisurely breakfast begin your real 4×4 journey as you turn across the land on a gravel road bordered by the most magnificent views.
- Stop frequently for photo opportunities of this once in a lifetime experience.
- Reach the world-famous Katse Dam and have lunch
- After lunch go on a tour of the dam and experience inspired architecture and be amazed at how this dam was built.
- Visit the botanical gardens
- Head across land past the Bokong nature reserve.
- Check in at a lovely little guest house in the heart of Hlotse.
- Be astounded at how these amazing people can produce such a lovely dinner with so few resources.
- Snuggle up for a good nights rest
DAY 3
- Wake early and have breakfast
- Visit the mohair craft market
- Go to see the cannibal caves
- Visit Thaba Bosiu and see the cultural village at the base of the final resting place of the Kings
- Have lunch at the Roma Trading Store
- Conditions permitting go to see unbelievable dinosaur footprints
- Head to Semonkong and go straight to the Maletsunyana Falls where you will meet your hiking guide (should you not wish to hike you can spend time at the falls and then head back to the lodge with your guide. Or you can request a pony ride to the falls.
- Enjoy the late afternoon vibe of this little trading town like no other you have ever seen.
- Check into the lodge on the outskirts of the town and enjoy dinner and bed in this one-of-a-kind lodge as horses, pack donkeys and cows wander through the village with bells ringing and shepherds ushering them home.
Day 4
- Wake to hear the sounds of chickens and cow bells
- Experience an amazing blanket presentation given in a local hut with amusing and descriptive explanations of the significance of the different blankets which are the national dress of Lesotho and enactment of the local culture. This is always a highlight of the tour.
- Enjoy breakfast – especially the homemade bread – before leaving this incredible lodge
- Drive through the steepest pass with views that almost surpass everything but the Sani Pass.
- Shepherds on horses and small picturesque villages pepper the remote landscape as we drive toward the Highlands again.
- Arrive at the border control at Qacha’s Nek.
- Enjoy a picnic meal overlooking the vast South African Swartberg region.
- Return to in Underberg by late afternoon.
- Either meet your chauffeur to take you back to Durban or collect your vehicle to continue your journey.
Passports & Visas
Valid Passports are essential. No exceptions are made.
Visas may be required for some nationalities, contact us to discuss.
Please check http://www.evisalesotho.com/
What to Bring
Bring a small overnight bag with a few changes of clothing. Additional luggage can be safely stored with us in Underberg.
Bring comfortable warm clothing in case of cold and walking shoes.
Don’t forget sunscreen and mosquito repellent (although there is no malaria in the area), sunglasses and camera’s.
There almost no cell phone or internet signal in the country. In the evenings most lodges have intermittent signal but let your family and friends know you will mostly be out of contact.
Bring some South African Rands for the purchase of curios.
We provide all other refreshments.
The lodges do accept credit cards.
What is the altitude?
The Sani Pass is at an elevation of 2873 meters above sea level.
Black Mountain Pass which is towards the village you will visit is at an elevation of 3278 meters above sea level.
Lesotho has the Highest Lowest point in the world.
At these altitudes, driving is much slower and can be dangerous if not used to the climate conditions.
How long is the tour?
This tour is Four Days and Three Nights long
We leave by 8h00.
When we return to Underberfg on the last day it is usually late afternoon unless we have made other arrangements.
What happens if the weather is bad?
When it is raining, misty or snowing we still operate the tour as most times you rise above the clouds as you go up the Pass.
The only times when the tour will be cancelled is if the Passes have been closed by the border control due to being blocked by snow.
Please speak to us about cancelling if you are not happy as there are cancellation charges with the accommodation facilities.
Is the Sani Pass going to be tarred?
Yes. However according to the engineers involved this will only be in about 5 years.
There are a few road works but this is long before the South African border post.
Can I drive on my own?
Some do attempt to do this but unless you are very experienced it is not advisable. Inclement weather conditions are dangerous if you do not know the road and can happen at any time even if it looks good in the morning.
You will not get to see Basotho culture as this is only provided through a guided tour and your views will be restricted if you do not have the freedom to watch as you pass.
In Lesotho the roads are good. The challenge is driving at high altitudes can be daunting. The second reason why a guided tour is necessary to see Lesotho is because it is remote, there are few signposts and no commercial stops along the way. You will undoubtedly miss most of the attractions. Should something untoward occur you may not be able to get help unless a guide is with you and mobile signals are very poor. Cross border fees with car rental companies are high.
We are geared to handle any problems, have roadside insurance and medical evacuation insurance. We are also in touch with many of our personal contacts along the route.
Rental vehicles are not suggested as rental companies will charge for damage in the area even with full cover insurance.
