Semonkong, Maletsunyane Falls and the Mohale Highland Dam

Within forty minutes of leaving Maseru's traffic, paved mountain roads climb out of the lowland sandstone valleys into the treeless basalt rooftop of the Maloti range, where shepherds wrapped in wool blankets herd Merino sheep and Angora goats across passes above 2,600 metres. Two contrasting routes make outstanding day trips (or overnight loops) from the capital.

Route 1: Roma, Ramabanta and Maletsunyane Falls in Semonkong

Driving southeast from Maseru on the A5 passes the sandstone cliffs enclosing the university town of Roma before climbing steeply over Bushman's Pass (Lekhalong-la-Baroa, 2,268 m) and higher 2,800-metre ridges to reach Semonkong ("Place of Smoke") in roughly two hours. Five kilometres outside the village, the Maletsunyane River drops off a sheer prehistoric basalt ledge into a cavernous amphitheatre at Maletsunyane Falls. At 192 metres, it is one of the highest single-drop waterfalls in Africa: when the river is high after summer rains, the plume of white mist rises hundreds of metres above the rim and the roar echoes across the valley. You can walk from Semonkong village along the grassy gorge rim (about ninety minutes round trip on foot, or ride a guided Basotho pony) to the main cliff viewpoints, or scramble down the steep footpath to the rocky plunge pool at the bottom of the canyon.

Route 2: Nazareth, Blue Mountain Pass and Mohale Dam

If you want to experience the high engineering and alpine reservoirs of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project closer to Maseru, follow the paved A3 Mountain Road directly east past Nazareth (with a short detour to the riverside San rock art shelter at Ha Baroana). The highway switchbacks up Bushman's Pass, God Help Me Pass (Lekhalong-la-Molimo-Nthuse) and Blue Mountain Pass (2,634 m) to the crystal-clear mountain waters of Mohale Dam, a 145-metre-high concrete-faced rockfill dam connected by an underground mountain tunnel to Katse Dam further east. Pack warm windproof clothing from our packing list before ascending either pass.