Lesotho Tours and Travel

Day 1 – Johannesburg, South Africa

• Arrival at your convenience into Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city and the gateway to Southern Africa. Johannesburg has regular connections to major international hubs, including London, Dubai, Addis Ababa, Singapore, and New York.
• Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
• The rest of the day is free to relax or explore the local area.
• Dinner at a traditional South African restaurant. Expect hearty portions, grilled meats, boerewors sausage, and a good introduction to South African food.
• Overnight in Johannesburg.

Day 2 – Johannesburg – Maseru, Lesotho

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before departing Johannesburg and beginning the 5–6 hour drive towards Lesotho.
• Following border formalities, enter the Kingdom in the Sky and continue to Maseru, the capital and largest city in the country.

Afternoon

• Lunch in Maseru before exploring the city.
• Visit the central market where vendors sell everything from fresh produce and traditional medicines to the famous Basotho blankets that have become a symbol of the nation.
• We’ll also visit the Moshoeshoe I Statue and gain an introduction to the founder of the Basotho nation, whose legacy remains central to the country’s identity today.
• Continue through the city centre and visit the area around the Royal Palace and Parliament buildings, providing an insight into the modern monarchy and political system of one of Africa’s few remaining kingdoms.
• Dinner at a local restaurant serving Basotho staples such as papa, moroho, and slow-cooked beef or lamb stews.
• Overnight in Maseru.

Day 3 – Maseru – Thaba-Bosiu – Semonkong

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before making the short 30-minute drive to Thaba-Bosiu, the mountain fortress of King Moshoeshoe I and one of the most important historical sites in the country.
• Explore the plateau, visit the royal cemetery and learn about the history of the Basotho nation. It was from here that Moshoeshoe united the Basotho people and laid the foundations for the modern kingdom.

Afternoon

• Lunch near Thaba-Bosiu before continuing by road towards Semonkong. The roughly 3-hour journey climbs through mountain valleys and small villages.
• Arrive in Semonkong, known as the “Place of Smoke” because of the mist rising from nearby waterfalls.
• Check into your lodge before enjoying dinner overlooking the mountains and settling in for the evening.
• Overnight in Semonkong.

Day 4 – Semonkong 

Morning

• Breakfast at the lodge before visiting Maletsunyane Falls, where the Maletsunyane River plunges nearly 200 metres into a dramatic gorge below. The falls are among the highest single-drop waterfalls in Africa and one of the defining landmarks of the mountain kingdom.
• Explore the viewpoints surrounding the falls and take in the scale of the landscape. This is also one of the best photography opportunities of the trip.
• We’ll also learn about some of the local legends associated with the falls and the communities that have lived in the area.

Afternoon

• Lunch in Semonkong before spending the afternoon exploring the surrounding highlands.
• A horseback trek through the mountains can be arranged, providing a traditional way to experience the highlands. Horses remain an important form of transport throughout rural areas and are still used daily by many local communities.
• We’ll also explore nearby villages and gain an insight into Basotho culture and life away from the country’s main towns. Opportunities to interact with locals are a natural part of travelling through this part of the highlands.
• Dinner is a great opportunity to try locally farmed trout, one of the region’s best-known specialities.
• Overnight in Semonkong.

Day 5 – Semonkong  – Mokhotlong

Morning

• Breakfast before leaving Semonkong and continuing deeper into the country.
• Today’s route is one of the highlights of the trip, with around 6–7 hours of driving through high mountain passes and remote communities.

Afternoon

• Lunch en route before stopping at Katse Dam, the centrepiece of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
• We’ll have a look around Katse Dam, surrounded by steep mountains. The vast reservoir stretches deep into the interior, creating impressive views across the landscape.
• We’ll also learn how the Lesotho Highlands Water Project transformed parts of the country. Built to supply water to neighbouring South Africa while generating revenue for the kingdom, it remains one of the largest engineering undertakings in the region.
• Continue onwards to Mokhotlong, a town that serves as a gateway to the eastern highlands.
• Check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax, take a stroll through town or simply take in the atmosphere of the eastern highlands before dinner.
• Overnight in Mokhotlong.

Day 6 – Mokhotlong and the Highlands

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before heading out to explore the area surrounding Mokhotlong.
• We’ll travel through the surrounding highlands, where villages cling to hillsides and daily life is shaped by altitude, weather and the vast distances between communities.
• We’ll explore local villages and gain a better understanding of life in one of Africa’s highest and most sparsely populated countries.

Afternoon

• Lunch in a local town before continuing through the surrounding countryside.
• Along the way you’ll encounter horse riders using mountain trails instead of roads, communities perched on hillsides and sweeping views across the highlands.
• Back in Mokhotlong, explore the local market and spend some time observing everyday life in this remote community.
• You might be interested to stop for a drink and try joala, the traditional sorghum beer enjoyed throughout the country.
• Dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the hotel.
• Overnight in Mokhotlong.

Day 7 – Mokhotlong – Sani Pass – Durban

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before departing Mokhotlong and making the 2–3 hour journey towards Sani Pass, one of Africa’s most famous mountain roads.
• The route passes through some of the highest mountain country in Southern Africa before reaching the top of Sani Pass.
• Lunch at Sani Mountain Lodge, home to what is often claimed to be Africa’s highest pub.

Afternoon

• Complete border formalities and cross into South Africa before descending the dramatic switchbacks of Sani Pass, the principal route linking the highlands with South Africa.
• Continue through the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains and onwards to Durban, arriving approximately 3 hours later.
• If time allows before your departure, enjoy a farewell dinner featuring Durban’s famous Indian influences, including the chance to try local curries or the city’s iconic bunny chow.
• Transfer to King Shaka International Airport according to your onward flight schedule. The airport has regular connections to major hubs including Johannesburg, Doha, Dubai and Addis Ababa, providing onward connections throughout Africa and beyond.
• Alternatively, you can have an additional night in Durban and get more time to explore the city. YPT can arrange additional nights and onward travel throughout Southern Africa upon request.