I (Annika) and Moses recently returned from one of the few tours offered in South Africa, which includes the visit and overnight stay in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Sunway Safaris visits Lesotho on our South Africa Scenic Route 18 days Camping Tour from Johannesburg to Cape Town and a lot of guests choose this tour because of the stay in this small, rural kingdom. The reasons do not have to be looked for – it is a stunning country not to be missed!

The kingdom of Lesotho is an enclaved country, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is a small kingdom with an area of only about 30,000 square kilometres and a population of not even 2 million.
There is a lot of reasons why the breath taking scenery of Lesotho is called the mountain kingdom, starting with the fact that about two thirds of the area consists of mountains above 2200 metres. Everywhere around you, you will see mountains – of every imaginable form and shape!

 
Lesotho is also the country with the highest lowest point in the world. The countries lowest point above sea level is 1500 metres, which even makes its lowest point a place that would be a mountain in a lot of other countries!
There is only two ski resorts in Southern Africa and one is – you guessed right – in Lesotho. Afriski is located 3050m above sea level in the Maluti Mountains and a real attraction to visit.
Last but not least Lesotho is really a kingdom of all mountains in Southern Africa. The highest point lies within the country and is 3482m high, the highest point south of the Kilimanjaro, named Thabana Ntlenyana.
I, personally, think that’s a lot of reasons to be rightfully called the mountain kingdom and this kingdom needs to be discovered on foot, just as we do on our trips. We got a full day of hiking, accompanied by a local guide and with a traditionally used pony which carries our lunch packs. Only this way you will really get to absorb the stunning views and learn about the culture, including its history of the San and their rock paintings, which date thousands of years back. After witnessing the rock art and a bit of physical exercise in the mountains, our lunch spot is a stunning waterfall, which the country is also not short of. Freshened up after a swim in the fresh water of the waterfall and a well - deserved rest around lunch time, we head back to our lodge to enjoy a Maluti, the local beer.
A day well spent, seeing most of what the small kingdom has to offer and agreeing that it definitely is a mountain kingdom!

Thank you Moses for the wonderful images.