Malealea Lodge & Pony Trek Centre - Lesotho

Surrounding Area

Lesotho is a world without fences. Breathtaking scenery abounds and every season has unique attractions. Malealea Lodge is run by the owners, Mick & Di Jones, both born in Lesotho and credited with more local knowledge than anyone. Various Basotho Children's choirs and a Local Basotho Band, using their local home-made instruments, entertain the guests in the evenings around a campfire. A Memorable Holiday at Malealea Outings range from 1 hour to 6 days or longer tailor-made to your requirements. The treks are usually about 7 hours each day. No riding experience is necessary. The huts and horses are hired from the Basotho people in remote areas. The huts are very basic and are equipped with a gas cooker, cooking & eating utensils, mattresses on the floor. On trek you experience "THE REAL AFRICA". The trails traverse spectacular mountain passes and some of Lesotho's highest waterfalls exploring Bushman paintings and experiencing "Basotho culture". Basotho Guides and a packhorse accompany the treks. Treks & trails are tailor made to suit your requirements. All is flexible and can be arranged at a moments notice. Specialised Outings at MalealeaLocal Museum & School Visit. Village Walks and Garden Project. Sangoma - Traditional Healer appointment. Local Childrens Choir & Band Day Hikes & Pony Treks Botsoela Waterfall Hike, Pony Trek or Scenic Drive The Pitseng Canyon & Rockpool Hike The Bushman Paintings & Echo Cave Hike or Pony Trek The "Gates of Paradise Pass" hike along the ridge of the Matelile Ridge Hikers: Take the "donkey work" out of backpacking by hiring horses to carry your luggageOvernight Pony Trek & Hiking Trails Routes: The Ribaneng Waterfall Trek - 2 days and 1 night in a village The Ribaneng & Mountain Pass Trek 3 days & 2 nights in villages. The Ribaneng & Ketane Waterfall Trek - 4 days & 3 nights in villages. The Ribaneng, Ketane & Maletsunyane Trek - 5 days & 4 nights in villages Ribaneng, Ketane & Maletsunyane Trek - 6 days & 5 nights in villages Lesotho adventures start at Malealea, exploring the day outings before travelling across the country. Companions can be arranged at Malealea to accompany your trip, introducing you to local chiefs, helping in locating night camping sites, and ensuring your safety.

Accommodations

Situated in remote South Western Lesotho, breathtaking in its beauty.Accommodation ranges from budget to comfortable en-suite rooms.

Rooms/Suites

Comfortable

Amenities

DAY ACTIVITIES & OUTINGSSCHOOL VISITVisitors are welcome to visit the schools during term times. 3 classrooms were built at the Makheteng School, Malealea. Donations were received from visitors.LOCAL MUSEUM IN A TRADITIONAL HUTVisitors are welcome to visit the schools during term times. 3 classrooms were built at the Makheteng School, Malealea. Donations were received from visitors. VILLAGE WALK and GARDEN PROJECT LOCAL MUSEUM IN A TRADITIONAL HUT, with plenty of Lesotho Herbs and Plants..DAVID MOKHALA offers you a cup of herbal Basotho Tea while he relates stories of the past traditions and herbs. R10.00 per hour, per person. Guides, schools are paid and the balance goes to the Malealea Development Trust. Children from the village take you on a walk to their homes and places of interest.PLANT A TREETsepang, another entrepeneur, has started a Fruit Tree & Tree Nursery. Compensate for the use of Carbon di-oxide used for your holiday travel and "Plant a Tree" in Malealea village! PONY TREKSThese can be arranged in the morning or the afternoon. Beginner Riders can ask for the Basotho Children to accompany their horse and lead them at a rate of R10.00 per hour, paid to the Guide. EASY RIDES Bushman Painting Pony Trek, 2 hours riding and 1 hour steep hike to the paintings R125.00 pp - 2 peopleR100.00pp - 3 people Very easy Beginners Ride to Top of Gorge-2 hours riding. R125.00 pp - 2 peopleR100.00pp - 3 people FOR THE MORE ADVENTUROUS PEOPLE-PONY TREKKING 4 hour trek to Botsoela Waterfall R155.00pp - 2 peopleR130.00pp - 3 people 5-6 hours trek. Bushman paintings and Botsoela waterfall R175.00pp - 2 peopleR150.00pp - 3 people 5-6 hours trek to Makhaleng Plateaux Ride for experienced riders R185.00 pp - 2 peopleR160.00pp - 3 people HIKING TRAILS- as with the pony treks...- PITSENG CANYON HIKE to a cascade of 3 rock pools, large canyon,overhanging rocks. 3 or 6 hours - R10.00 per hour per person - for hiking trails only.SCENIC DRIVES(Visitors using their own vehicle-no charge)1. Botsoela waterfall Drive.-Ordinary vehicles and 4x4: about 2 hours2. 4 x 4 DRIVE: Jobo Mountain Adventure into the Ribaneng valleys-3 hours and can extend to Full Day 3. 4x4 DRIVE: Makhaleng Sunset Drive- Shorter real 4x4 adventure to top of GorgeSANGOMA APPOINTMENT - LATE AFTERNOON: Please book in the morning- R20.00 pp.We do have a Sangoma - Herbalist in the village. This is for people who are genuinely interested in finding out about Traditional healers. The Bones are thrown and the Sangoma discusses health, travel and well-being of the visitor. You have to ask the questions that you are interested in e.g. health, travel family etc. You have to read between the lines and the answers are often symbolic. Most of the time only the genuinely interested people will get a good response. Other Visitors can be disappointed, but it is up to you to ask as many questions as possible. If you are not happy with his consultation - please tell Pitso and NkopaneCHILDREN'S CHOIR AND BAND - EVENINGThe choir put a hat down and are paid separately. Minimum donations are R10.00pp for the choir and R5.00 pp for the band.6.00 pm - A Basotho Choir6.30 pm - A local Basotho Band, using homemade instruments will entertain the visitors. The groups are welcome to dance with the band and this always creates good interaction and fun --------------------------------------------------------------------------------OVERNIGHT TREKS3+pax = R200.00 pp per day, plus R45.00 pp for village huts.2 pax = R240.00 pp per day, plus R45.00 for huts These Outings range from 1 hour to six days or longer: tailor-made to your requirements.The treks are usually about 7 hours each day. No riding experience is necessary.The huts and horses are hired from the Basotho people in remote areas.The huts are very basic and are equipped with a gas cooker, cooking and eating utensils and mattresses on the floor.On your trek you experience "THE REAL AFRICA".The trails traverse spectacular mountain passes and some of Lesotho's highest waterfalls exploring Bushman paintings and experiencing "Basotho culture".Basotho Guides and a packhorse accompany the treks. Maximum weight = 90 kg Luggage = 12.5 kg ppThe Ribaneng Waterfall - 2 days and 1 night in a village The Ribaneng and Mountain pass Trek - 3 days and 2 nights in villages The Ribaneng and Ketane Waterfall Trek - 4 days and 3 nights in villages The Ribaneng and Ketane and Maletsunyane Trek - 5 days and 4 nights in villages The Ribaneng Ketane and Maletsunyane Trek - 6days and 5 nights in villages. WHAT TO BRINGFood, Sleeping Bags, Rain suit, Warm Clothing, Towels, Hat, Torch, Water Bottle and First Aid Kit SPECIAL: "GO ANYWHERE TREK" Bring your own cooking equipment and mattresses and explore Lesotho with a Basotho Guide,discovering new routes and remote villages. SUGGESTED ITINERARIES TO COMPLEMENT A SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOUR TOUR 1 A 2 day Horse Trek. 1 night in a Basotho village (ROUGH AND TOUGH) - 2 nights at Malealea Lodge TOUR 2 Day Pony Treks and Hikes or Scenic Drives with 3 nights at Malealea Lodge-Comfortable TOUR 3 Trekking and Hiking Holiday experiencing Real Africa: 4 nights at Malealea Lodge, 4 days trekking and 3 nights in Basotho Villages. This tour can be made shorter as you require. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rates & Availability

ACCOMODATION RATES AT MALEALEA FOR 2005 22 New Rondavels & Units, shower en-suite R 180.00pp 18 Farmhouse bedrooms, all with shower en-suite R 135.00pp 5 Basotho huts & Rooms, 3 communal bathrooms R 90.00pp 9 Forest Huts/Backpackers, communal bathrooms, using own sleeping bags R 70.00pp Camping R 45.00pp CATERING Breakfast R 40.00 Lunch R 45.00 Dinner R 65.00 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directions

How do you get to Malealea? S 29° 49.704 E 27° 35.981 In Lesotho take the main South towards the airport. Do not take the airport turn off which is 18km but continue towards Mafeteng 45 km south. At a junction called Motsekuoa turn left at the junction and drive 10km on the tarred road, take the RIGHT fork, drive 15kms on tarred road. Turn left at the Malealea sign board and drive for 1km over the "Gates of Paradise Pass" Continue for 6kms and you will be at Malealea Lodge. Suggested RoutesJohannesburg (500km) Kroonstad,Ventersburg, Senekal,Marquard, Clocolan, Ladybrand, Maseru, Motsekuoa, Malealea Durban (700km) Harrismith, Golden Gate,Clarens, Ficksburg, Ladybrand, Maseru, Motsekuoa, Malealea Cape Town (1000km)Colesburg, Smithfield, Rouxville, Zastron, Wepener, Mafeteng, Motsekuoa, Malealea (Overnight at Pula-House in Smithfield ex CT) Bloemfontein (200km)Dewetsdorp, Wepener, Mafeteng, Motsekuoa, Malealea LESOTHO LAW: PLEASE HAVE 2 RED TRIANGLES IN YOUR VEHICLE IN LESOTHO.