The drive from Morija to Malealea was beautiful and increasingly adventurous, with the final 7 km taking us over the famous Gates of Paradise Pass. The rugged section begins where the paved road ends, and we turned left onto the unpaved track. Within the first 1.8 km, we climbed to the top of Gates of Paradise Pass, rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views across Lesotho’s deep valleys and dramatic mountain landscape.
From there, the remaining route is a rough gravel and dirt road that winds through the mountains with loose stones, rocky outcrops, and several rough sections. After heavy rain, the road can become particularly slippery and challenging. As the road is largely unmaintained, some sections are so deeply eroded that they resemble a dry riverbed rather than a proper gravel road.
For us, travelling in a 13-tonne expedition truck, this final 7 km was definitely more of an adventure than a simple drive — but the spectacular scenery made every slow kilometre worthwhile.
Parking location – Malealea: 29.8284961S 27.5990513E (🚻,🚿,💦,🍽️,🅿️150 LSL/pax)