Posted By SA Adventure on May 12, 2010
Sani Pass – Trans Lesotho Adventure
3 night / 4 day adventure (guest house accommodation)
Cost: R 3,200 per person (children under 10 @ 50%)
This long weekend is a must for any 4×4 or sports utility enthusiast; if you have not yet “tamed the dragon” you can now safely do so in the comfort of your own vehicle with SA Adventure. Though the Sani Pass is awesome, no previous 4×4 experience is required and you will be in radio contact with your tour leader at all times.
This adventure traverses Lesotho from east to west over the highest mountain passes in Africa. Our overnight stops are spent in the comfort of the Himeville Arms Hotel, the Old Trading Post Lodge at Ramabanta and the Bella Rosa Guest House in the Eastern Free State.
The Adventure
Starting in the picturesque village of Himeville we drive through the foothills of the majestic Drakensberg and cross the border into Lesotho at the base of the Sani Pass.
On reaching the top of the pass, we celebrate with a drink in the warm comfort of the Sani Top Chalet, reputed to be the highest pub in Africa. We traverse the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho from east to west along some of the highest navigable roads in Africa, past Thabana Ntlenyana, which is 3482 meters above sea level and is the highest point in Southern Africa. We continue through the Blue Mountain Pass, through Roma to our second nights stop at the Old Trading Post Lodge at Ramabanta, its situated on a cliff face overlooking the infamous Baboons Pass!
Our “homes away from home” during this adventure, The Himeville Arms Hotel in the Natal Midlands, The Old Trading Post and the Bella Rosa Guest House in the Eastern Free State will not only provide us with comfortable accommodation, but will also give us a taste of local history and cuisine.
Please do not expect to do any “vehicle breaking” off road driving on this adventure, as we will do a large percentage of the route on tar roads and good dirt roads. The only “REALY TOUGH’ driving will be Sani Pass itself, and here we will practice extreme care.
The Team
As we will be making use of formal accommodation and there will be no camping or cooking in the field, the crew will consist of only your tour leader and his assistant, who will provide you with tasty picnic lunches and assist where and whenever necessary.
Your tour leader is an experienced nature conservationist and adventure guide. He will be in radio contact with you at all times and impart a wealth of biological, cultural, historic and 4-wheel drive safety knowledge.
Adventure itinerary
Day 1:
We meet at the Himeville Arms Hotel at 17h00. After checking in and getting settled, we get together in the restaurant at about 19h00 to get to know each other and enjoy a hearty a-la-carte dinner. Your guide will elaborate on the plans for the rest of the trip.
Day 2:
After a good nights rest and a big breakfast we issue each vehicle with a two way, hand held radio. Having done radio and safety checks we head east through the foothills of the Drakensberg, from where we can see the awesome Sani Pass getting ever closer.
We stop en route to admire the magnificent views and peaceful mountain surrounds. At the base of the pass we leave South Africa and enter Lesotho through the Sani Border Post.
With a great sense of achievement on reaching the top of the pass we check through the Lesotho border post and celebrate, replenish our energy with a hot drink and warm ourselves at the Sani Top Hotel.
Once again heading west we cross the highest navigable road in Africa at the top of the Letsing Pass at 3270m above sea level.
Winding our way through the famous Maluti range of mountains, which is the main catchment area for Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme, and having a picnic lunch along the way, we head for our next overnight stop at the Old Trading Post in Ramabanta.
Day 3:
Once again, after a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast, we head back through Roma where we stop to have a look at ancient dinosaur foot prints left behind millions of years ago, through the capital Maseru, where we head for our final destination along some of the roads used in the Roof of Africa Rally.
After a picnic lunch, we head back across the Maluti Mountains to the comfort of the Bella Rosa in Ficksburg to yet another evening spent with good company over a superb dinner.
Day 4:
Sadly this is our last day, after another hearty breakfast we head for the hills to do a short but fascinating 4×4 route through the red sandstone hills outside Ficksburg. At about 10h00, we bid you farewell as you take to the road to head home.
Contact us here for Trans Lesotho dates and prices!
Category: 4x4 tours & trips |
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Tags: lesotho 4x4 adventure, Sani Pass, sani pass lesotho
