Leribe

A green but busy little town, Leribe stands on the banks of the Hlotse River close to the South African border northeast of Maseru, and is the administrative centre of the district of that name.

Founded in 1876 by the British missionary John Widdicombe, Leribe was fortified four years later, during the so-called Gun War, when a group of Basotho chiefs rose up against the Cape colonial administration to reassert their right to bear arms. The quaint Major Bell’s Tower, a circular two-storey thatch-and-sandstone building on the main street through town, is a relic of this war. The nearby District Administration Office, a handsome sandstone building with a wide balcony and ornate tin roof, also dates to the late 19th century.

A well-known landmark, Leribe Craft Centre is the outlet for a philanthropic Anglican Church project that is widely regarded to produce the Lesotho’s finest mohair products. The centre has its roots in a program established in 1911 by the Sisters of the Holy Name to train young Basotho women to spin and weave mohair, a superior wool-like fabric made from the hair of Angora goats. The project now employs several physically disabled and deaf women to spin, weave and knit a varied selection of 100% mohair products including table mats, ponchos, shoulder bags, scarves, tapestries and cushion covers.

Situated close to the A1 about 4km north of Leribe, Subeng Dinosaur Footprints, embedded in a sandstone slab in a small stream, ranks among the most important sites of its type in the country. Discovered in 1955, Subeng incorporates the footprints of at least three and possibly as many as six different species of dinosaur, some with five toes on their feet, and others with three. Look carefully and you will also see fossilised worm trails and mud cracks on other slabs in the riverbed.

Travel Tips

Sleeping: There are a few small hotels and guesthouses in Leribe.

Eating: Leribe boasts a fair range of local-style eateries as well as a Shoprite supermarket.

Access: Leribe lies about 95km northeast of Maseru along the surfaced A1 via Teya-Teyaneng. Allow two hours in either direction. Plenty of public transport connects Leribe town to Maseru and other towns in northwest Lesotho.

Preparations: If you plan to drop into the Leribe Craft Centre, be aware it is closed on closes on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Opening hours are 8am-4.30pm Mon-Fri and 9am-1pm Sat.