TRAVEL AFRICA
at Thaba-Bosiu, near present-day Maseru. From its cliffs, he defended his people and laid the foundations of the Basotho nation. The heritage site, with the ruins and a grave marked by a simple stone, remains open to visitors.
Most visitors assume summer is the best time to visit Lesotho, but winter, from June to August, is when the highlands are at their most striking. The peaks are snow-capped, the skies clear, and the dry conditions make for excellent trekking. Afriski Mountain Resort near Oxbow, the only ski resort south of the equator, draws a loyal winter crowd.
The most rewarding trekking, however, is in the backcountry, where multi-day routes through the Maloti range pass through remote villages where few outsiders ever travel.
About three hours’ drive from the capital Maseru lies Semonkong, named for the mist that rises from Maletsunyane Falls. At 192m, it is one of the highest single-drop waterfalls in Southern Africa. and its 204m abseil is one of the longest commercial abseils in the world. Even the drive there feels like part of the destination, past shepherds in blankets and open highlands.
Maseru is served by daily flights from Johannesburg’ s OR Tambo International Airport. No visa is required for South African, UK, EU, or US citizens, the loti is pegged to the rand, and a 4x4 is strongly recommended beyond the main roads. Lesotho is one of Southern Africa’ s genuinely undiscovered destinations. It is an hour’ s flight from Johannesburg but a world away from everything else. IB
18 INBOUND SA / MAY 2026