Lesotho Travel: 7 Beautiful Places To Visit
Lesotho is a landlocked country situated within South Africa. The entire country sits above 1,000 meters, making it a haven for dramatic mountain scenery. When exploring the diverse nature of Lesotho, you’ll find rolling grasslands, cascading waterfalls, and deep valleys. But beyond its landscapes, this mountain kingdom boasts a rich cultural heritage, with vibrant traditions and friendly Basotho people. In this travel guide, we share 7 beautiful places to visit in Lesotho as well as a map with all the places of interest and where we stayed.
Check out our video about Lesotho to see these fascinating places to visit through our camera!
Places To Travel In Lesotho
7. Liphofung Cave
Nestled in the northeast of Lesotho’s foothills lies Liphofung Cave, a place steeped in history and natural wonder. Translated to "Place of the eland" in English, Liphofung has significance on multiple levels. San people used it for shelter millennia ago, leaving behind precious rock art depicting traditions and hunting methods. Later, King Moshoeshoe I, the founder of Lesotho, sought refuge here. Today, you can explore the cave and bushman rock art with a local guide. There is also a small visitor center where you can learn more about the San people, who are no longer present in the country. When driving to the cave, make sure to take in the amazing scenery as well.
6. Ts’ehlanyane National Park
Ts’ehlanyane National Park is located in the Maluti Mountains in the north of the country. This 56-square-kilometer (21 sq mi) area is one of Lesotho's only national parks, and its magic lies in rugged landscapes and untouched beauty. Combine your visit with a stay at Maliba Lodge, which is located at the base of the park. Soak in the spectacular views from the lodge or engage in a number of outdoor activities. The park is home to many trails, which can be explored on foot or by pony trekking. We hiked the “Three Cascades Waterfall” (Mats'a-Mararo) trail, which was about 10km or 6.2 miles round trip and can be made into a loop. With 473 meters or 1550 feet of elevation gain, this is a moderately challenging hike. The scenic route takes you from the natural swimming hole near the lodge through Lesotho’s rugged mountains and up to a very unique waterfall.
After leaving the park, you can make a detour to nearby Leribe, where you can see dinosaur footprints in the Subeng riverbed.
5. Ha Kome caves
Located just to the east of Lesotho’s capital, the Ha Kome Caves are unique dwellings carved into sandstone cliffs. Fleeing wars, cannibalism, and droughts in the 19th century, tribesmen found refuge in these natural caverns. But instead of simply sheltering within them, they built mud houses, creating a unique community nestled into the mountainside. Today, the Ha Kome Caves are a National Heritage Site. To get here, you can drive with a high-clearance vehicle down the dirt road and stop at the Visitor’s Center. From here, a guide will take you down to the caves and share stories of these settlements.
4. Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village
Set among Lesotho's rolling highlands is Thaba Bosiu, a sandstone mountain crowned as a national monument. Here, the legendary stronghold of King Moshoeshoe I founded Lesotho in the 1820s, using the mountain's natural defenses to protect his Basotho people. Today, the mountain slopes are dotted with ruins and memorials. And at its foot, you can find the Cultural Village. During a guided tour, you can walk through recreated traditional Basotho huts showcasing the way of life. There is also a small museum, which houses interesting displays about the formation of the Basotho Nation, its cultural heritage, as well as its colonial and post-colonial history.
3. Sani Pass
Located in the jagged mountains of the east, Sani Pass is an iconic route that connects Lesotho to South Africa. Once a challenging pack animal trail, it's now a popular 4x4 adventure that is most often reached from Underberg in South Africa. This is also where we accessed it from and we opted for a guided tour since the road conditions were poor and the cliffs were extremely steep.
After conquering a number of switchbacks, you reach Lesotho’s border at a staggering 2,874 meters or 9430 feet. On the plateau, you can find the highest pub in Africa. It’s a great place to grab a drink and have some lunch while enjoying the panoramic views. There are also a number of small mountain villages on the plateau where you can immerse yourself in Basotho culture.
2. Malealea
Nestled in Lesotho's scenic highlands, Malealea is a haven for outdoor adventures. This unique village is famed for its breathtaking hiking and pony trekking routes. Traverse the stunning mountain landscapes like the Basotho, a tradition dating back centuries that still lives on today. We did a short hike to the Pitseng Gorge where we explored hidden valleys, deep gorges, and soaked in the fresh mountain air. But beyond hiking and riding, Malealea offers cultural immersion. A guided visit to the local village is a great way to support the local community while learning about Basotho customs and traditions. You can book this activity through the Malealea lodge, which also hosts evening performances from the local band.
1. Semonkong & Maletsunyane Falls
Finally, Semonkong is another unique destination situated in Lesotho’s highlands. It’s home to the majestic Maletsunyane Falls, which is one of Africa’s highest waterfalls. Witness the power and beauty of the falls from various vantage points, accessible by car, horseback, or a scenic walk. We opted for the latter, a 9 kilometer or 5.6 mile scenic hike which took us from the Semonkong Lodge to the famous waterfalls. The trail had about 282 meters or 925 feet of elevation gain and we considered it an easy hike overall. The trail itself doesn’t have much signage, but winds through the open countryside dotted with traditional villages. At every turn, we were greeted by friendly locals. From the top of the gorge, we had amazing views of the 192 meter tall falls. We left a link to the trail we did in the description below the video if you want to follow the same one. It’s also possible to hike down or abseil down the cliff face and this can be booked through the Semonkong Lodge. And as a bonus, the drive to and from Semonkong is an experience in itself as you cross mountain passes and wind through local villages and stunning scenery.
Map Lesotho
Find all the places to see and stay in Lesotho on Google Maps. To follow and save the list, do the following:
Tap on the link to open it (click button below)
Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.
Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.
If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of Lesotho will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.
Use These Websites To Save Money On Your Trip To Lesotho
Booking.com for places to stay
Skyscanner for cheap flights
GetYourGuide for local tours
Rentalcars.com for affordable car rentals
Are you having a hard time planning your trip to Lesotho? Get our Interactive Travel Planner to keep it all organized.
Need more travel inspiration? Check out our other destinations and articles about nearby South Africa & Eswatini:
