Sani Pass

The Sani Pass (2874m) is the only vehicle route over the Drakensberg escarpment and into the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. It is a spectacular 4x4 track twisting and snaking its way through the rocky cliffs to the top of the world. SOME THINGS CHANGE & SOME NEVER DO Before the 1950's, it was a trail for pack animals to carry goods through to the isolated town of Mokhotlong in Eastern Lesotho. Now, the road carries 4x4 vehicles, though the odd donkey and horse can still be seen plodding slowly up the steep route. Crossing the border at the top of the pass, one enters not only another country, but another world. Our popular day tour gives an all-round experience of Lesotho via the famous Sani Pass. This 4x4 former mule track cutting through the Drakensberg cliffs with a gradient of 1:5 on the 180-degree switchback bends. Hear tales of the pioneering of the route and see the jewels of the Drakensberg which the unique wildflowers, wildlife and birds inhabiting the sheer slopes.

Lesotho

Once through the border post and into Lesotho, we visit a household in a small shepherd’s village and respectfully engage with the Basotho people to learn about their remarkable lives at this altitude. We enjoy a traditional vegetarian lunch, followed by a visit to the shearing shed to view sheep and angora goat shearing (by hand) in season. We then ascend Black Mountain Pass (3240m), second highest road pass in Lesotho with 360-degree panoramic views where it is likely we will meet shepherds dressed traditionally in blankets. These fascinating people spend the summer months in the highlands tending flocks of sheep and goats. Take a short walk to a viewpoint where on a clear day, one can see Thabana Ntlenyana, the highest point in Southern Africa at 3482m before returning via a pitstop for a drink at the highest pub in Africa.