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Post by tod2 on Mar 12, 2013 13:14:19 GMT
Prince Harry comes here as often as he can. Following in his wonderful mother's footsteps by keeping tabs on a school project. The first time I went to Lesotho and the capital Maseru, I hated it. The locals were pretty unfriendly and I couldn't wait to get out of there. This was 32 years ago. Since then we entered Lesotho again a few years ago via the Free State and had a wonderful days drive to the Katse Dam and back. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katse_DamHere are some photos of the Mountain Kingdom. The long road ahead into the hills.      Remote little houses dot the landscape....miles from anywhere.  There are no roads so your best best is by horseback or walking.  Our first glimpse of the dam    And from the front.  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2013 15:44:53 GMT
It looks very nice. I wanted to pass through Lesotho when I went to South Africa, but after much studying of the map, I decided that it was too complicated and would use up my Cape Town time if I went there. It always reassures me to see good roads, because I have been on some bad ones -- and when you are in a foreign country and have no idea where you are going, you really do not enjoy being on a bad road... to perhaps nowhere.
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 12, 2013 15:54:48 GMT
Great photos- I didn't expect such roads or terrain.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 12, 2013 16:12:18 GMT
Absolutely dazzling, Tod! I can see how someone would fall completely in love with that terrain.
Was the perceived unfriendliness of your first visit because of the racial climate at the time?
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Post by tod2 on Mar 12, 2013 17:06:25 GMT
Kerouac - don't let me mislead you. That is the road built especially for the dam. I reckon it's about the best road in Lesotho. Actually I wonder if it even looks that good now  The roads are dirt and some only for vehicles in the 4X4 range. Like the one that goes from the bottom of the Drakensberg up the pass. Only 4X4's allowed. We shredded a tire doing it in our X5. Another factor is the weather. The roads are blocked by snow for weeks on end. As you can see, there ain't no snow poles!! Helicopters have to drop supplies to starving communities and cattle. I am trying to locate more photos. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2013 17:32:57 GMT
Ah, that jogs my memory a bit. I think that when I saw on my road map that the roads were not paved, I decided it wasn't the place for me in my compact rental car. Later in my trip, somewhere between Durban and East London, I had to do a long stretch of unpaved road and my main obsession was "when am I going to get back to civilisation?" It just shows how one changes with time, because the road I grew up on was not paved until I was about 5 years old. I still remember the day of the asphalt truck -- so exciting!
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Post by lugg on Mar 16, 2013 6:45:58 GMT
Fascinating Tod, I had no idea that this country was so mountainous; well actually no idea about it at all. I do hope you do find some more photo's.
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Post by lola on Mar 16, 2013 17:57:39 GMT
Beautiful, tod! Eye opening.
Imagine living in one of those remote settlements. You'd need some sort of social life somehow.
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Post by tod2 on Mar 17, 2013 13:02:58 GMT
Lugg - Another name for Lesotho is "The Mountain Kingdom". Its nothing but mountain, hills and valleys.
Hence the main living is from cattle and sheep herding.
Lola - A social life for these people stuck out in the middle of nowhere is mainly derived from gatherings of a religious or tribal nature.
Contact with the outside world is sketchy to say the least. Of course in the main towns like Maseru things are very different.
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Post by tod2 on Mar 21, 2013 13:05:30 GMT
I found two more photos of our travels into Lesotho. The dusty route up the Drakensberg mountains via the Sani Pass. I remember on this occassion loosing a back tyre to the vicious stones in the road.  And at the very top after the border police have stamped your passport IN and OUT at the same time - so they can get on with their drinking..... we also move on to the highest pub in Africa.  |
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Post by anshjain97 on Mar 21, 2013 13:54:27 GMT
Nice pictures! Do you have any of an urban area, say Maseru?
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Post by bjd on Mar 21, 2013 19:57:06 GMT
Tod, I don't want to hijack your thread, but there is a Norwegian guy I have been in touch with virtually who has some really nice photos of Lesotho.
If you like I can post the link.
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Post by tod2 on Mar 22, 2013 7:48:45 GMT
bjd - Please, please, get the photos! I don't think I have any more. It's a;so unlikely I will be going to Lesotho anytime soon. Thanks for the good idea!
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Post by bjd on Mar 22, 2013 10:35:57 GMT
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Post by nycgirl on Mar 27, 2013 15:04:45 GMT
Wow, great photos. What a spectacular place. It reminds me a little of Peru. I had briefly considered visiting Lesotho but, like Kerouac, decided there wasn't enough time. Maybe next time.
Bjd, love your friends photos. I especially like getting a glimpse of local life. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2013 20:55:18 GMT
Fabulous photos in the link.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 5, 2013 11:35:49 GMT
I didn't see him - just an advert for spy cameras  |
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