Lesotho Southbound Travel Guide, by David Fleminger

Lesotho Southbound Travel Guide, by David Fleminger. 30° South Publishers (Pty) Ltd. Johannesburg, South Africa 2010. ISBN 9781920143268 / ISBN 978-1-920143-26-8

David Fleminger's Lesotho Southbound Travel Guide is the a full-length guide to the country consiting of just about everything you're likely to need to plan, understand and appreciate your trip into the world of the Basotho.

David Fleminger  

Part 1: About Lesotho

Lesotho isn't just another country; it's another world. And it's begging to be explored. Famously known as the 'Kingdom in the Sky', the 'Mountain Kingdom', or the rather quaint 'Land of the Blanket People', Lesotho is all of those things and more. Venture inside and you will be rewarded with unique landscapes, thrilling roads down which to travel and a pervading sense of abundant, profound peace. The country also offers visitors a variety of outdoor activities, a rich history and a strong sense of cultural integrity. All in all, this small landlocked territory is a gem. But, despite the fact that it is completely surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho is sadly neglected by both the millions of international tourists who visit the subcontinent every year and the South Africans themselves. And that's a great pity, because it's a truly beautiful and fascinating place, packed with potential. This book, therefore, is an attempt to remedy the situation. My goal throughout has been to make the Mountain Kingdom as accessible as possible. You see, I want everyone to experience Lesotho, and you can!Don't be put off by the notion that you'll need a 4x4, a tent and a week's worth of supplies before you dare put a toe over the border. That may have been true in the past when Lesotho's mountain roads were, indeed, very rudimentary. Now, however, many of the main thoroughfares are tarred and an ordinary car will take you comfortably to all kinds of interesting destinations. Backpackers will also be glad to note that there is a serviceable public transport system which incorporates buses and minibus taxis. Of course, if you do have an off-road vehicle at your disposal, so much the better. A basic SUV will happily handle the network of stunning gravel roads, while a proper 4-wheel-drive will grant you access to a special selection of rugged routes revealing a hidden world that is as remote as it is remarkable. You see, nothing about Lesotho is simple. In many respects it is a country that defies convention or analysis; a place where things get done in their own way and on their own terms. After all, the mountainous landscape is difficult to navigate (both literally and figuratively), so everything takes longer than you think it will. Every town, every lodge, every trading post has a story to tell.

The basics

In just about every respect, Lesotho is characterized by its size and its height. It's small and yet very, very mountainous, a geographical paradox that has defined both its cultural and historical evolution. In fact, Lesotho is the only country in the world situated entirely above 1000m, making it the country with the highest low point in the world at 1,388m—comfortably beating its nearest rivals, Rwanda and Andorra. Incidentally, the country with the lowest high point is the Maldives, a chain of tropical islands that never gets much over 15m above sea level—so now you know. Lesotho also contains Thabana Ntlenayana; at 3,482m, it's the highest point in Africa south of Kilimanjaro's 4,600m summit (and much easier to climb). The peak is located on the Lesotho side of the Drakensberg/Maloti mountain chain, close to Sani Top, and can be visited as part of a day hike or pony trek. But these lofty facts are only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. You have to dig a little deeper to find out what really goes on behind Lesotho's implacable stone face. So in the section that follows, we're going to get acquainted with some basic facts about the country. [...]

This is an excerpt from the Lesotho Southbound Travel Guide, by David Fleminger.

Title: Lesotho
Author: David Fleminger
Series: Southbound Travel Guide
Publisher: 30° South Publishers (Pty) Ltd.
Johannesburg, South Africa 2010
ISBN 9781920143268 / ISBN 978-1-920143-26-8
Softcover, 13 x 20 cm, 334 pages, several colour photos