Stepping out of the Groove: Sani Pass into the Kingdom of Lesotho

The drive up the Sani Pass into Lesotho scratched an itch that had been lingering for 15 years. Joanie and I had missed Lesotho on our previous SA trip in 1998. For this trip, we were camped at a caravan/backpackers resort at the base. From there it was an 18km drive to the pass summit where we would enter the Kingdom of Lesotho - a landlocked country that lies wholly within the borders of South Africa. It is somewhat like Tibet in that the lowest place in the country is something like 8000' or so above sea level and the vast majority of the terrain is 10,000+.

The valley approaching the pass looked like what I would imagine Ireland to resemble: rolling hills of green, but maybe steeper. The SA border post is at the base and you enter Lesotho at their border post at the summit. Personally, I have never been much of a fan of "4 x 4'ing". Bumpy roads looking to jar the fillings loose from you head, slow going, etc. It has always been about the means to the end and this one was no different.

I had previously laid down some trash talk about the "serious 4x4 endeavor"...in fairness, I would give it a 'legit' rating on the San Juan 4x4 scale. It was pretty cruiser for the first 90% and then the final half dozen switchbacks provided the 'sting in the tail'. Joanie chose to walk that section. It was similar to Upper Imogene. We survived just fine and so did the rig.

Lesotho is an exceptionally poor country. From the Sani Pass side we only passed through some small settlements - no cities or even villages. Everyone we saw seemed to be a sheep herder or someone involved in livestock management.

We continued into Lesotho on a corrugated, hard scrabble road for around 20km. We stopped at a high point with great 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside and then turned it around for home. We stopped at the Highest Pub in Africa for a requisite beer prior to the descent back into South Africa.

This was our first taste of the Drackensburg which is South Africa's alpine terrain.