The Ts’ehlanyane National Park is Lesotho’s largest and most accessible national park. It is also one of the most popular holiday destinations in Lesotho. It is located in the Maloti Mountains in Butha-Buthe District, Leribe. Ts’ehlanyane National Park covers an area of 5,600 hectares and houses the only indigenous forest of Lesotho with rare species of undergrowth flora.
The Park has an altitude ranging from 1940 to 3112metres. It owes its origin to the access road to the Hlotse tunnel as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. This proclaimed protected pristine area lies at the junction of the Ts’ehlanyane and the Holomo rivers.
Ts’ehlanyane is the local common name for the berg bamboo from which the river and park take their names which grows there. It is known for its rugged montane views, rich sub-Alphine floral diversity, beautiful waterfalls, diverse birdlife and excellent network of hiking and horseback trails. While visiting this park in winter is an entirely different experience, there are so many things to do and see in the spring, summer, and autumn months.
Horse Riding
The horse is a source of pride in Lesotho and the Basotho are renowned as a nation of horsemen. For generations, the sure-footed Basotho ‘pony’ has been bred as the ideal form of transport in the rugged mountains. Even today, the pony is still the most effective means of reaching the more inaccessible mountain villages.Pony trekking holidays on the hardy Basotho ponies are immensely popular and a fantastic way of exploring Lesotho’s beautiful rugged terrain as the bridle paths that criss-cross Lesotho are barely wide enough for vehicles but the ponies effortlessly dodge obstacles and loose rocks. Basotho Horse Rides are fun for everyone young and old. Go on a guided trek on the back of a traditional Basotho horse by yourself or in a group.
4×4 Trails
The Lesotho Highlands offer some of the most fantastic off road driving you will encounter anywhere in Southern Africa. It is full of beautiful mountain passes and deep river valleys with tremendous scenery wherever you look. They don’t call it the roof of Africa for nothing!The roads and passes themselves offer varying challenges that can test drivers and vehicles alike. Most of the countries roads are little more than dirt tracks, however the road network is slowly upgrading in line with the main roads. So whether you are in 4 wheels or just 2, the mountain Kingdom has a challenge for you that you will find both inspiring and rewarding at the end of the day in the immediate vicinity of Ts’ehlanyane National Park.
Hiking
There are at least 5 walking tracks for hiking in the immediate area around Madiba in this park which you can follow using a guide upon request.
One of them is the cave trail whose length is 8.4 km return trip (5.25miles), climbing from 1930m to 2520m above sea level. This is a hike leaving from the park entrance. There is parking lot next to the rangers’ offices at the gate. It is good practice to advise the rangers you will be hiking in the area.
Another is the circular route whose length is 13km return trip (8miles), starting at Maliba Lodge at 2030m, following the Upper Route to Black Pool, then climbing steadily up to 2626m above sea level. Thereafter you come down the fairly steep valley to the ventilation shaft, and then circle back to the lodge through gate #8 and the river pool route. Note that this hike is strenuous.
The Waterfall Trail is another whose length is 8.7 km return way trip (5.4 miles), starting at Maliba Lodge at 2030m, dropping to 1980m, climbing steadily up to 2320m above sea level. This hike is also strenuous as it involves pushing your way through dense vegetation up the valley leading to the falls.
There is also the upper trail and the lower trail which involves the length of 1.9-2 miles taking about 1hr 20mins to Black Pool respectively.
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