Pony trekking is an excellent way to see the highlands of Lesotho. Discovering Lesotho on the back of a pony or on foot are the two greatest attractions for travellers. You wander through the magnificent scenery of Lesotho, with plenty of stops to enjoy the views and relax with a picnic by a cooling waterfall. The sure-footed Basotho pony has been bred as the ideal form of transport in the rugged mountains and is the most effective means of reaching inaccessible mountain villages. Gentle and sure-footed, they are ideal for people who have not sat on a horse for many years or not at all. They are also used as packhorses for carrying luggage.
No pony treks are flat in Lesotho, but if you are a beginner or just want a beautiful scenic trek, and you think you can sit for two hours on a horse, this is the trek for you. You will go out the gates of Malealea Lodge and go past some shops and houses on the main road you came in on. You will leave this road quite soon and climb a small hill, heading off towards the Pitseng Gorge. The horses can not go down into the gorge so this trek traverses around the edges of the Pitseng Gorge, with some impressive views of the river and sandstone formations below. In the distance you will see the Thaba Putsoa Mountain Range and when you get to a point overlooking the Makhaleng River Valley the route turns sharply and you trek through some more Basotho Villages and make your way back up to Malealea Lodge.
The Botsoela Waterfall Hike or Pony Trek: (4 hours from Lodge return including a swim).
The first 30 minutes is flat along the top of the valley. Pass the Handicraft Centre, pass Makhetheng Primary School on the right and about 300m further on, take the left fork to the village of Malealea, (see map) overlooking the Botsoela river. The next 15 minutes is a descent down to the stream. Head north, and follow upstream for about 45 minutes along a path next to the stream at the bottom of the valley with some boulder hopping every now and then to criss cross the stream.
The horses then take an adventurous path up the mountain which is very narrow in places and it is recommended you get off the horse at this point, but the guides will stop and let you know when is the right time to get off.
At the top of the Waterfall you will get off the horse and taken on a 15 minute guided hike down to the Waterfall.
Those who are feeling hot and adventurous can go for a dip under the waterfall. There is a nice picnic area at the waterfall where you can eat lunch. (Lunch packs can be ordered at the lodge, preferably the day before the hike. It's best to order the lunch packs in the evening after arrival).
Caution: Beware of wet & slippery rocks.
After you get back on the horse at the top, the route does a loop around the waterfall so you can view it from the top and then you go down a fairly steep path to join the river again. Here you follow the same route back to the lodge.
