Contact us for rates for a stay with hiking, biking, pony treks and cultural experiences
This lodge is situated in a remote part of Western Lesotho, breathtaking in its beauty and a chance to experience traditional Basotho life.
Inscription in the rock by Mervyn Bosworth-Smith, founder of Malealea, Trading Station in the early 1900's - now Malealea Lodge.
Lesotho is a world without fences. Breathtaking scenery abounds and every season has unique attractions. This lodge is run by the owners, 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.
ACCOMMODATION RATES
22 New Rondavels & Units, shower en-suite
18 Farmhouse bedrooms, all with shower en-suite
5 Basotho huts & Rooms, 3 communal bathrooms
9 Forest Huts/Backpackers, communal bathrooms, using own sleeping bags
Camping
CATERING:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Home cooked meals are served at the Lodge
Linen is supplied, except for Forest Huts.
There is a Shop & Bar on site for basic food supplies
PLEASE BRING TORCHES OR FLASHLIGHTS
Generator for Electricity. Lights from 6.00pm - 10.00pm
2 Basic Self-catering, Backpacker Type Communal Kitchens.
PONY TREKS:
From a hour to multi day available.
Outings range from 1 hour to 6 days or longer tailor-made to your requirement
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 the lodge
Local 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 luggage
Overnight 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 this lodge, exploring the day outings before travelling across the country. Companions can be arranged from this lodge to accompany your trip, introducing you to local chiefs, helping in locating night camping sites, and ensuring your safety.
MORNING OUTINGS
1. SCHOOL VISIT: Visitors are welcome to visit the schools during term times. 3 classrooms were built at the Makheteng School, Malealea. Donations were received from visitors.
2. 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.
Makheteng School, Malealea Pre-Primary School
Museum with DAVID MOKHALA
Lesotho Minister of Tourism, Hon Lebohang Ntsinyi, visiting museum
3. VILLAGE WALK and GARDEN PROJECT. 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 TREE. - Tsepang, 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!
4. PONY TREKS:- These 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:
a) Bushman Painting Pony Trek, 2 hours riding and 1 hour steep hike to the paintings.
b) Very easy Beginners Ride to Top of Gorge-2 hours riding.
6. SCENIC DRIVES: Visitors using their own vehicle-no charge.
1. Botsoela waterfall Drive.-Ordinary vehicles and 4x4: about 2 hours
2. 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 Gorge
7. SANGOMA APPOINTMENT - LATE AFTERNOON:
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.
8. CHILDREN'S CHOIR AND BAND - EVENING
The choir put a hat down and are paid separately.
6.00 pm - A Basotho Choir
6.30 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
Sangoma, Pitso and band members.
The Malealea Band
The Band at WomADELAIDE
The band performed at the Womad Festival in Adelaide, South Australia March 2004 & Rivermead, London July 2003.
9.
GENERATOR FOR ELECTRICITY. LIGHTS GO OFF AT 10.00PM.
PLEASE BRING TORCHES. (FLASHLIGHTS)
