Sehlabathebe National Park
Expert Reviews (3)
Lesotho Parks
Ariadne is a renowned African wildlife photographer whose work is featured in many well-known guidebooks and magazines.
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A giant’s playground of arches and rock pools
Set below the Drakensberg Mountains as it runs along the Lesotho–South Africa border, the park is a hiker’s paradise. You’ll love exploring the labyrinth of rock formations; most notable are the arches and sandstone pillars which offer endless photo opportunities. So do the rock pools reflecting ‘Devil’s Knuckles’, a trio of imposing peaks which dominate the landscape. Head out here early in the morning and the rising mist adds a touch of mystique to this magnificent scene. There isn’t a lot of wildlife, but you won’t miss big groups of hyrax sunbathing on the rocks. We also saw several pairs of grey rhebok and an inquisitive black-backed jackal trotting on the road. Sehlabathebe protects 65 rock art sites and visiting some of these could be a great challenge for keen explorers. However, one of the best-preserved panels is conveniently located just next to the main road through the park.
Dale is a multi-award-winning writer and photographer with more than 500 published magazine articles featured in magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Travel Africa, and CNN Travel.
A Mountain Adventure in the Saddle
The Sehlabathebe National Park, nestled within the vast Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier UNESCO world heritage site, is a paradise for intrepid hikers. As a frequent visitor, I've grown to love its alpine atmosphere, despite the inevitable throbbing feet and aching thighs that come with exploring its numerous trails. This park is incredibly mountainous, so expect both literal and metaphorical ups and downs.
On my latest excursion, I decided to give my aging legs a break and opted for a multiday horseback adventure starting in South Africa's Maseru district and ending in the rustic stone-hutted village of Thamathu, nestled high in Lesotho's craggy peaks. Over three days, we journeyed through Sehlabathebe, marveling at its geological wonders, such as bizarre formations resembling enormous granite mushrooms and gravity-defying arches. The park also boasts a stunning single-drop waterfall, inviting me to take a dip in the plunge pool below. It was breathtaking, both in terms of scenery and its Baltic-like temperature.
As we continued our journey, we ventured into steep-sided canyons where pure mountain streams gurgled and tumbled, and above us, bearded vultures glided effortlessly on invisible thermals. We also paused at numerous rocky overhangs adorned with ancient Bushman cave paintings, some estimated to be thousands of years old. They offered a glimpse into an ancient Stone Age era of a long-gone people who once hunted eland and antelope in these harsh yet beautiful mountains.