Sani Pass Drakensberg day tour 25th April 2015
I met me clients in Durban and they would be doing two days of touring with me beginning with today’s Sani Pass Drakensberg day tour from Durban.
It was an early start at 6am and we began the almost 3 hour drive to the base of Sani pass which boarders on Lesotho the mountain kingdom. It was here we met with the 4×4 vehicles for the tour itself of the Drakensberg.
On route I had already set the scene and covered a lot of the History of Durban, KwaZulu Natal and South Africa.
As we ascended the great Drakensberg over into Lesotho we enjoyed the spectacular views of the mountain and enjoyed the day of touring from Durban.
Sani pass drakensberg day tour; Picture going up Sani Pass
Sani pass drakensberg day tour; Picture going up Sani Pass
Every so often we go out of the vehicle to stretch the legs and enjoy the view on route to our destination Lesotho and the highest Pub in Africa!
We got the the South African border post and after the formalities of passport stamping we spotted some Eland up on the hill. These majestic antelope are the original people of South Africa, the bushmen’s totem animal. The blood and fat of these animals were used in the paint of the Bushmen in the cliff overhangs in this Drakensberg range.
The name itself Drakensberg means Dragons peak and the Zulu name “Ukhahlamba” mean barrier of spears! Both names are so indicative of this amazing mountain which is a mixture of Sand stone and Basalt rock.
Sani pass drakensberg day tour; Picture of Eland
Sani pass drakensberg day tour; Picture of Eland
We finally reached boarder post into Lesotho at an altitude of 2874 meters above sea level. Having come from Sea level it was pretty high and it is normal to have a little headache.
It was hear that we had conquered this great mountain to reach its summit as many other had done before us. We spotted a little shop at the top before heading to the highest pub in Africa.
Sani pass drakensberg day tour; Shop at Sani top
Sani pass drakensberg day tour; Shop at Sani top
Lesotho on the eastern side is very baron and this pass was originally used for Donkeys and horses to trade with the South Africans with Mohair and wool. It is such a rough arid environment that you just cannot see how people can survive here, but they do. The nearest school is 50 km away so when the kids leave for school they only return for holidays to see their family.
Sani pass drakensberg day tour; Basotho homes
Sani pass drakensberg day tour; Basotho homes
At the moment the Chinese are in Lesotho creating a road from the village at Sani Pass to the nearest town where the kids get educated. The agreement is that they must use local staff for the labour.
We had a great lunch under the hot Lesotho sun but with the breeze we were all a little cold however that wasn’t going to stop us from enjoying the breathtaking views, the Basotho Shepherds and after lunch the Basotho village. It was here we entered into on of the locals homes and she had some bread in a pot on coals and she was kind enough to share some with us and even allow us to taste there traditional beer.
The views on the way down were just as good as on the way up the pass and our Drakensberg day tour from Durban had really been amazing.
Sani pass drakensberg day tour; Picture coming down Sani pass
Sani pass drakensberg day tour; Picture coming down Sani pass
We were grateful for the amazing weather that we had been blessed with and the amazing sights and sounds of this mountain we have come to know as the Drakensberg. After we arrived back at the bottom we headed off to Durban where I dropped my clients off at a restaurant I recommended and then I headed back home for the night.
It had been a great Durban day tour up Sani Pass into Lesotho.
