Inside the Kingdom in the Sky
For a good reason Lesotho is called the “Kingdom in the sky”. The country can overwhelm the unsuspecting visitor with its soaring mountains, spectacular countryside and proud traditional people.
Lesotho must have given birth to the very spirit of adventure and excitement. Nowhere else are off-road sports more fun, gruelling, exhilarating and positively addictively than here. It comes as no surprise that this is home to the annual world-famous Roof of Africa Rally. At altitudes of 3 000 metres, 4×4 enthusiasts traverse across the Maluti Mountains.
Whether you are travelling to escape from work or to learn about other cultures, in Lesotho you get lost within your travel.
Hiking or pony trekking are the best ways of exploring the spectacular, rugged countryside. The serenity of the breathtaking landscapes, spellbinding skyscapes and bountifully flowing rivers challenge artists and photographers alike. Lesotho is the source of the rivers of Southern Africa’s watershed.
The eco-tourist is spoilt for choice in this country of unspoilt beauty. The environment offers the ultimate action holiday with a staggering array of pursuits. Did you know that Lesotho holds the Guinness world record for the longest commercial single-drop abseil? At 204 metres long the Maletsunyane waterfall offers exhilarating white-water courses, canoeing, ski runs, pony trekking, mountain climbing, as well as hiking.
At any given time, wherever you are, look up and share in nature’s spectacular light show, especially in high areas. On a clear day you can see as far as 60 km. Equally spectacular are the unique rock formations and amazing sandstone overhangs.
Lesotho is a Mecca for archaeologists and palaeontologists alike. The country boasts some of the most pristine dinosaur relics in the world and even has a dinosaur named after it – the 1-metre long herbivorous lizard, Lesotho-saurus. This very primitive ornithopod is said to be from the late Triassic and early Jurassic period, 200 – 208 million ago and is kept in the Natural History Museum in London.
Even today dinosaur footprints can be spotted in various parts of the country and at a preserved site in Quthing.
Lesotho has a treasure trove of Bushmen rock art and paintings which are attributed to the wonderful sandstone formations of the region. These nature’s walls also provided the ideal shelter for early man.
The country is sporadically sprinkled with such sites and many of the pictures have important information for the historian, depicting traditions, hunting methods and techniques, as well as a long forgotten way of living.
Built in the 19th century, the Kome cave dwellings depict an old style living and are still lived in by the original families. They have been declared a heritage site and a visitor’s centre has been attached to the site.
As you pass through a village you are likely to stumble upon tribal dancing and stick-fighting entertaining displays. The country thrives on tradition and this is evident from their signature blanket around their shoulders and straw hat to their artistic pottery.
The weather excels in Lesotho. In fact everything is extreme in this country – temperatures, distances, sizes, heights and even depths. Whether you are exploring the mysteries of the past, wonders of the present or your own frontiers of adventure, the Kingdom in the Sky welcomes you either way.
For more information on Lesotho visit: www.seelesotho.com;www.lesothophotographs.com and www.malealea.com