Ts'ehlanyane National Park

Lesotho’s most accessible national park, set in the southern Maluti Mountains 150km northeast of Maseru, is known for its rugged montane vistas, rich sub-Alpine floral diversity, beautiful waterfalls, diverse birdlife, and excellent network of hiking and horseback trails.

Extending across 56 square kilometres of sensational mountain scenery, Ts'ehlanyane boasts an impressive altitude span of 1,940 to 3,110 metres and it is flowed through by four major rivers including the Holomo and tributary Ts’ehlanyane.

The upper slopes of Ts'ehlanyane support a cover of rare heath-like mountain fynbos studded with colourful aloes, irises and other flowering plants that bloom most prodigiously in spring. It is also the world’s most important stronghold for the berg bamboo Thamnocalamus tessellatus, a Maloti-Drakensberg endemic that lends its Sotho name Ts’ehlanyane not only to the park but also to the river along whose banks it is particularly prolific. By contrast, the Holomo River valley supports a gorgeous tract of forest dominated by Leucosidea sericea, an evergreen tree whose common Afrikaans name Ouhout (Old Wood) refers to the gnarled, timeworn appearance of its trunk.

Ts’ehlanyane is best explored along a network of well-marked walking trails that emanate from its main focal point Maliba Lodge. These range from the flat and gentle Lower Trail to Lets’a Lets’o (Black Lake), an attractive natural swimming pool set above a small waterfall on the bamboo-lined Ts’ehlanyane River, to the demanding 16km Circular Trail, which has some very steep sections but rewards with sensational views to the lovely Matsa Mararo Falls as they cascade down a tall cliff in three tiered stages, each with a large pool at its base. The same trails can also be done on horseback by arrangement with the lodge or the national park guides.

The most conspicuous of 20-plus mammal species protected in Ts’ehlanyane are the majestic eland (the world’s largest antelope) and the endearing rock hyrax, which looks like an overgrown guinea pig but is more closely related to elephants than rodents. Birders will find the park highly rewarding: look out for bush blackcap, southern boubou, Cape batis and Drakensberg siskin in the riverine woodland, the iridescent malachite sunbird feeding on aloes and other flowers, and jackal buzzard, Cape vulture and possibly even the endangered bearded vulture soaring overhead.

Travel Tips

Sleeping: The best base for exploring Ts’ehlanyane, Maliba Lodge (pronounced Madiba) is privately managed but lies within the national park. It offers the choice of five-star catered accommodation in the main mountain lodge or more affordable self-catering units on the Holomo River.

Eating: The restaurant at Maliba Lodge serves a la carte lunches and set three-course dinners. The nearest place for self-caterers to stock up is the Shoprite supermarket in Hlotse. 

Access: The national park is reached along a 32km gravel road through a picturesque river valley that runs east from the surfaced A1 route about 23km northeast of Leribe and 8km southwest of Butha Buthe. Allow three hours coming from Maseru.

Preparations: Maliba Lodge is often full over weekends and during school holidays, so booking is highly recommended.