We spent a lovely day exploring Ts’ehlanyane National Park, a rugged, high-altitude wilderness area in northern Lesotho’s Leribe District. The park is home to Maliba Lodge, one of Lesotho’s premier mountain retreats, where we stayed at the campsite right next to the river, with many of the park’s famous hiking trails starting right from there.
Covering roughly 5,600 hectares (56 km²), Ts’ehlanyane (🎟️50 LSL🚙70 LSL) protects a pristine landscape of sub-alpine valleys, mountain ridges and crystal-clear streams. The elevation ranges from around 1,940 metres to 3,112 metres above sea level, with the valleys carved by the confluence of the Ts’ehlanyane and Holomo rivers. Along the way, there are cascading mountain streams, rocky pools, and, during the colder months, spectacular frozen waterfalls.
The park is particularly known for its rare indigenous vegetation, including one of Lesotho’s largest concentrated stands of berg bamboo (Thamnocalamus tesselatus), from which the park takes its name, as well as tall cheche trees. Wildlife includes caracal, baboons and grey rhebok, although spotting animals in this rugged terrain is never guaranteed.
Most hiking trails begin at or near Maliba Lodge, situated at about 2,030 metres above sea level, and lead up through the surrounding ridges and along the beautiful river valleys. With its dramatic mountain scenery, clear streams and untouched feeling, Ts’ehlanyane was another memorable stop on our journey through Lesotho.
Parking location – Ts’ehlanyane NP: 28.9184933S 28.4354194E (🚻,🚿,💦,🔌,🍽️,🅿️203 LSL/pax)