JOBO ADVENTURE Mountain Drive Ribaneng Valley, first section - all vehicles last section, strictly experienced 4x4 drivers...
 

Start out at Malealea Lodge, drive for 3 km, follow the left fork at Likhohloaneng for another 3 km, until you go through "The Gates of Paradise Pass". A spectacular view of the "Roof of Africa". Follow this road for another 1 km and turn left. Following this road you will have a good view of the gorge on the right, snow capped mountains (in winter) and villages scattered around. Up to this point it is a very good all weather road.  After 7 km driving on a plateau, you will reach the village of Ha Qaba. There are a few potholes and an average of 40 - 50 km/h is advised. The road winds down to the Sekering, with a beautiful gorge on the left. 9 km from Qaba, the road makes a 180 degree turn to the river on the left. Follow this small two track road for 400m along the riverbank. Turn right at the poplar trees (good picnic spot) to cross the river. Here a high lift jack or a second vehicle would be recommended. Our Basotho Guide asked me the Million Dollar question, after being stuck in the river sand for 30 minutes, "Why do you go through the river if the bridge is just around the corner???" This is open to suggestions! Follow the road left up the escarpment on the opposite river bank. Follow the two track road straight into the village, Kakoanyane and turn left onto the "main road". Follow this road past the Ribaneng High School. When you have travelled 9 km from the river, the road will fork, take the right fork.  (The left fork will take you down the pass into the Ribaneng valley- also a great trip to explore)Follow this Right  winding road through villages for another 4 km, on the main road. Here you must take the right fork, the road is badly eroded and a 4 x 4 is recommended. As you follow the winding roads through the villages, remember the following code of makeshift flags, clolouring the landscape.

Stop and sample, if you dare, the following goods:

1. White flag - Beer made of Sorghum - recommended for a strong stomach.
2. Yellow flag - Beer made of Barley
3. Green flag - selling vegetables.
4. Red flag - selling meat.

4x4 track starts - DO NOT ATTEMPT IN WET WEATHER   24-Oct-02 (Leave your car at the bottom of the pass and hike up the mountain - The road has now washed away in sections and it will be difficult to turn your car around.

Follow the mountain pass, at times very steep and difficult. Not recommended for novice drivers. On your way up, don't forget to absorb the beauty of the Ribaneng Gorge on the left and the Jobo Gorge on the right. The last 100 m being the most difficult, should only be done by very experienced drivers as there is no turn around point and a very tricky three point turn is required to follow the same route back down the mountain. I would advise your  passengers to leave the car at this stage!!! When you get to the dead end on top, it is advised you take the 20 minute hike to the top of the mountain where a village, Jobo is situated with the most spectacular views of Lesotho you can ever imagine. It is this view and the challenge of the treacherous mountain pass, which makes this 4 x 4 route a must to any visitor in the area with the necessary experience. On your return home take the Qaba - Malealea 4 x 4 route.

4 X 4 ROUTE FROM QABA TO MALEALEA ACROSS THE LANDS  - ONLY 4x4

Follow the same route back to Ha Qaba. Turn right at Ha Qaba lodge and follow this road for 1.5 km and turn right. Turn right another 300 m further. Turn left 800 m further and left again 300m further. Turn left 400m on and 300m further across the river on the right and up the steep embankment. Follow this road for 1.6 km and turn right onto the main road to Malealea Lodge. Here you will have Mick & Di Jones welcoming you with a lovely hot shower, a good old bottle of Tassies and a scrumptious meal cooked by Aggie and Mantumeng. Sitting around a fire at night with travellers from all around the world, you can enjoy the peaceful tranquility and share a love for Africa.

BOTSOELA WATERFALL DRIVE. 2wd & 4x4 vehicles in DRY WEATHER ONLY

A leisurely hours return. ORDINARY VEHICLES, but spectacular for 4 x 4's. A morning drive past the Botsoela waterfall and circular route through remote villages back to Malealea. Road is quite good and not really 4 x 4 , but magnificent scenery. The road hugs the side of a mountain, also a hand-built road. Drive back towards the "Gates of Paradise Pass". Take the right fork at 3 kms from Malealea Lodge. Continue for 14.1 kms and leave the vehicle at the bottom of the pass. En-route the 14.1 kms do not take the road going straight, but turn sharp right to go down the pass. To get to the top of the waterfall look out point, hike downstream for about 500m on the right side of the stream. Hike over the small stream and continue around the top of the gorge to the far point. This is the best view of the waterfall and Botsoela stream gorge. The first view of the waterfall is not the best one. From here, on the left hand side of the stream, you can see the path going down to the waterfall, if you wish to join the pony trekkers. Continue the drive from the waterfall up the pass for about 5 kms until you reach the view point.

Walk up a small hill to view the panoramic scene of Malealea and it's valleys. Either backtrack to the lodge with views in opposite directions or: Continue on a circular route taking all the left turns, until you are back at Malealea via "The Gates of Paradise." This will take about 2 ½ hours.

MAKHALENG BOAT CROSSING

4 x 4 drive or Evening Sundowner Special
Test your 4 wheel drive by going to the top of the Makhaleng river. Turn sharp left outside the wooden gate of the lodge, go past the woolshed on the left, past the Makheteng School on the right and about 300 m further take the right fork. Keep right and follow all the right tracks until you drive to the top of Gorge.

A FULL DAYS DRIVE TO MALETSUNYANE WATERFALL or Overnight stay at Semonkong.

This route is over magnificent mountain passes. 150 kms one way. Take the road to the Botsoela Waterfall, taking all the right turns until you get to the  tar road. Turn left and continue to Semonkong. 3 ½ - 4 hours. At the weir near Semonkong turn right to view the Maletsunyane Waterfall & Gorge. Stay over at the Frasers Lodge or return to Malealea via Roma. This route is longer in kilometres, but quicker in time. 3 - 3 ½ hours.

A FULL DAYS DRIVE PAST MPHARANE, MOHALESHOEK, QUTHING

(Dinasour footprints, Ellenbergers cave house.) Continue along the Mt. Moorosi Road and up magnificent passes to Mpaki. This road overlooks magnificent sandstone gorges. Return along the back route via Letsies lake, Mokoaes valley rejoining the road at Mt. Moorosi.

SCENIC DAY DRIVE TO THABA BOSIU, MASERU, MORIJA MUSEUM & ARCHIVES

Take the road to the Botsoela Waterfall as in 1c and continue through Basotho villages until you get to a T-Junction. From here take all the right turns until you reach the tar road, where you turn left and eventually pass through Roma - 2 ½ hours. Continue about 8 kms to the Thaba Bosiu turnoff. Turn right until you get to the Thaba Bosiu information office. Guides will take you up the historic mountain, Thaba Bosiu, and explain in detail the history of the Basotho Nation - 1 hour hike. Continue to Maseru along the back road - 25 kms. Obtain information at the LesothoTourist Board Information Centre in the main street of Maseru opposite the Basotho Hat building. En-route back to Malealea, turn off at Morija and visit the Museum & Archives.

ALL AROUND MALEALEA ARE 4 X 4 TRACKS INTO REMOTE VILLAGES WAITING TO BE EXPLORED.

Malealea Lodge can arrange Basotho companions or Professional Guides to accompany you around Lesotho on a camping trip introducing you to the local chiefs, ensuring that you are well looked after. You may camp privately or enjoy the hopsitality of the local villages. In Lesotho it is etiquette to introduce yourself to the headman or local chief. WE encourage you to pay a small fee for your stay in his area. More often than not, he will send someone to guard your campsite.

Malealea can tailor make your trips to suit your requirements. eg, really remote areas camping in Basotho villages or lodge to lodge. Shorter trips and backtracking to Malealea. 

SCENIC BACK ROUTE TO MALEALEA FROM ROMA & SEMONKONG

Take the back route on the A3, turn left towards Roma, drive on the Semonkong Road. At Moitsupeli, where the tar ends, turn right, drive one kilometre, turn left past Tlali Trading station and drive for 35km.At a T-junction, turn left to Malealea via Sebelekoane for another 35kms (There is a Malealea Sign at the T-junction, but often gets knocked down by bored herdboys!) From Sebelekoane to Malealea is one of the most spectacular drives hugging along the mountainside overlooking sandstone valleys passing by the Botsoela waterfall, as you descend and ascend an almost miniature "Sani Pass".

We can arrange for Basotho companions to travel with clients in their 4x4 vehicles introducing them to various villages, where they can camp overnight and be welcomed and protected by the various villages. The chiefs are usually most hospitable, and a fee of R10.00pp is recommended to pay the chief. This will encourage and involve tourism with the local Basotho people. At the moment people are just camping anywhere in full view of passing traffic along the roadside. We have made contact with various villages that are just off the main roads and people can enjoy a "Special Basotho Experience".