Rugged mountains and alpine vegetation create a wilderness area in the Maloti Mountains. Home to rare bearded vultures and indigenous Leucosidea forest.
Tšehlanyane National Park sits in Lesotho’s Maloti Mountains at heights up to 3,112 meters. This area protects one of the country’s last native forests, filled with old “Ouhout” trees and berg bamboo that support rare butterflies. Walk along paths shaped by the Ts’ehlanyane and Holomo rivers to find waterfalls, caves, and rock pools. You can hike sub-alpine slopes, ride Basotho ponies on mountain ridges, or take a two-day 39-kilometer trek to Bokong Nature Reserve. Maliba Lodge serves as the main base, where you can arrange activities and connect with local Basotho culture.
Tšehlanyane’s trails range from easy walks to multi-day hikes. The Cave Trail gains 590 meters over 8.4 kilometers, taking you through bamboo patches to a lookout above the Holomo Valley. Try the Circular Route for a full-day hike—it climbs to 2,626 meters and passes Black Pool, a deep swimming spot surrounded by sandstone cliffs. The Waterfall Trail drops into a gorge before rising to a cascade that’s fullest after summer rains. If you’re prepared, hike the 39-kilometer route to Bokong over two days, sleeping in mountain shelters along the way. Trails have clear markers, but a local guide can teach you about plants used for medicine and help spot hard-to-find birds like bald ibis.
Tšehlanyane hosts 24 mammal species, including eland, grey rhebok, and rock hyrax. Watch for Cape vultures circling cliffs or Drakensberg siskins darting between trees. The park’s real importance lies in its plant life—over 220 flowering species grow here, many found only in Lesotho’s highlands. Berg bamboo lines the rivers, a key resource for Basotho communities, while sub-alpine grasslands bloom with wildflowers from October to March. Keep an eye out for the Bamboo Sylph butterfly, which survives only on bamboo. Guided walks with rangers explain how locals use plants for crafts, healing, and cultural practices.
Maliba Lodge arranges trips to nearby villages where you’ll step into round thatched homes and watch wool blanket weaving. Drive 20 minutes to Liphofung Cave to see San rock paintings and Stone Age tools uncovered in its chambers. Join a guided tour to dinosaur footprints pressed into riverbed rocks, remnants of the area’s ancient past. Evenings at the lodge include stories about Moshoeshoe I, the king who united Lesotho, and pony rides with local guides demonstrate how these animals remain essential for travel in the mountains.
Visit between March–April or September for cooler weather and fewer clouds. Winters (June–August) bring frost and occasional snow—bring warm layers, though trails stay open. Entry fees are 50 LTL per person and 30 LTL per vehicle, paid at the park gate. From Butha-Buthe, a paved 32-kilometer road leads to the park, winding past villages where sheep often block the route. South African rand works for payments, and lodge tap water is drinkable. Pack rain gear in summer for sudden storms, and carry a paper map—phone signals fade beyond Maliba Lodge.
Maliba Mountain Lodge, Lesotho’s only five-star hotel, has stone chalets with fireplaces and balconies facing the peaks. Nearby, the River Lodge provides smaller rooms with kitchens for self-catering. Campers set up tents near the Hlotse River, using shared bathrooms and fire pits. Everyone eats at the main lodge restaurant, which cooks local dishes like venison stew and maize porridge. Book horse rides or spa sessions early, especially during South African school breaks. Weekdays are quieter, with fewer hikers on trails and more one-on-one time during village visits.
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