Add Malealea To Your Lesotho Bucket List

As usual, we stumbled upon this gem by accident.  While we were in Mohale’s Hoek we actually started researching Lesotho a bit.  We do that now, just figure out the next stop from the one we’re at.  It seems to work the best in terms of being spontaneous, although there is a good chance that we miss out on certain things along the way.  Howevs, I’ve realised that there is just no way to see everything, if we did, we’d be on the road for years (and also be totally and completely broke).

The great thing about Malealea, was that it’s just a short drive from our last stop.  And one of the most beautiful drives I have ever been on.  The view from the top of the valley was just stunning!

We chose to stay at Malealea Lodge which is just amazing.  They have so many options of things to do there (horse rides to rock paintings, bike rides, village tours, hikes and live performances to name a few).  They are also invested in giving back to the community which is so great.  There are also all the options in terms of accommodation, camping, basotho huts and rondavels.

Obvs we camped although it was so cold that the great people running the place offered us a room.  We wanted to test it out though, if we could stand the col in Optimus and it was actually OK.  We figured out in Hogsback that the best way to heat the van, was to just light the gas stove for a bit and then it was lovely and toasty in there.  Plus we’re kind of hoping for snow right, so best to test it out on just a slightly cold day 😉

Seth and Knox went for a walk around the village and came back with the pinkest chips I have ever seen!  Like Nik Naks but PINK.  And not cheesy.  I don’t actually know what they tasted like but they filled the gap.  Then we watched the live performance that happens in the main area every evening.  It’s incredible to watch.  The women sing choir style but the men play instruments that they made with tins and other random bits and bobs.  It’s really awesome!!

One of the things we wanted to do on this trip was try things that we have never done before.  Like riding horses for 2 hours to rock paintings hidden in the mountains.  So we did.  But before we start I have to tell you that in terms of horse back riding experience we have um, ZERO.  If anything the kids have done those 2 minutes rides you get at fairs and birthday parties but that my friends, is it.  Seth and I have NEVER ridden a horse, nevermind controlled the beast ourselves.  I was nervous to say the least.

Donkey Trekking to Rock Paintings

We paid a bit extra for each of the kids to have someone to lead the kids horses, but Seth and I were on our own.  Our guides assured us that it would be fine, we just need to pull right to go right, left to go left and whatnot.  Um…  Ja.  If you say so.  My horse, Jealous was what one would call free spirited.  She just did whatever the hell she wanted for the most part.  In fact on our way down the rocky slope close to the rock paintings she went completely rouge and I must say, I freaked out internally.  Like all the way out.  But the guide took control and lead my feisty horse down the hill.  It all turned out OK.

The rock paintings were really awesome.  It’s insane to know how many people lived in the area before and how they lived.  It was really interesting.  Another thing that we loved is that you walk for hours through hills covered with fields and things but not one fence.  Everyone just has their portion and sticks to it.  I loved that SO much.

All in all I would really add Malealea to your bucket list of places to visit in Lesotho, there’s a lot to do in the area.  Plus the Lodge grounds also offer a lot of things to do, from the natural beauty of it (blossoms in the evening sun light), the glass bottle labyrinth and so much more.  Plus there are a lot of tourists that pass through there so it’s cool to catch up and swap stories and ideas.  That’s actually often how we have found the places that we go or things that we want to do, by just chatting to the locals and people we meet along the way.