Things to see and do Lesotho

The one called Thaba Bosiu, the "mountain of the night" is classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The place has a high symbolic importance for the Lesothans: it was the base camp of Moshoeshoe I, the founder of the Kingdom of Lesotho, during the war of 1824 against the Boers. In the landscape, it is actually a plateau, up to the top of which you can climb quite easily with a guide. It is possible to walk up to the top of the plateau, but also to ride on horseback to the tomb of the king and the ruins of his fortress.

One of the highest reserves in Africa, at the top of the Mafika Lisiu Pass at an altitude of over 3,000 m, it overlooks the Katse Lake dam and offers sublime scenery. In this mountainous climate, birds, antelopes and "ice rats" live in colonies. The visitor centre perched above the Lepaqoa Falls, a campsite and activities. The reserve offers 45-minute, half-day, and full-day hikes, as well as 2-3 day hikes, following the ridge of the plateau before descending to Ts'ehlanyane National Park.

A small botanical garden for lovers of biodiversity and rare plants that grow in Lesotho. These 17 hectares nestled on the heights of the village of Katse were initiated in order to protect the alpine flora which was then greatly threatened by the arrival of the Katse dam. In particular, the beautiful spiral aloes that can be found there today were greatly threatened. It is the highest botanical garden in Africa and also contains many traditional medicinal plants used by the Sotho.

This small museum on Sotho traditions is a good introduction to the people before climbing the mountains. Born in 1956 from the private collection of the Dieterlen family, who methodically archived ethnographic, paleontological and historical collections on the country, the museum is diverse. You will learn more about the history of the Lesotho blankets, the everyday objects in the Sotho culture, the geological formation of the country...

This enormous dam built by a consortium of Italy, France, South Africa, Germany and the United Kingdom rose from the ground, or rather from the water, in 1997, after heavy work. It is the largest dam in Africa, made of 687 million tons of cement, 185 meters high and with three high passes with the car. The turbines stir 6,000 cubic metres of water; 20 hours a day! It is this Katse Dam that supplies South Africa with drinking water. A majestic building, very impressive, and the visit is unmissable!