What’s the deal?

Basotho Guides accompany riders on all pony trek adventures and the price of overnight treks includes a pack horse. Spend between 2 and 6 days in the saddle, exploring the beauty and culture of Lesotho.

Please Note: These pony trek horse riding holidays are NOT luxury holidays and accommodation and facilities are very basic:

• No showers, you bathe in the plastic basins and streams
• No Flush Toilets, only Long Drop Toilets,
• No Chairs, very few tables. Etc etc.

Where is it?

The Basotho pony trekking horse riding holidays take place in the foothills and mountains of Lesotho.

When is the best time to do it?

During the spring and summer months of Lesotho, when the scenery is at it’s most beautiful.

Limits & Restrictions:

• Luggage weight limit per person: 12.5 kg
• Wight limit per packhorse: 50 kg (4 persons to 1 packhorse)
• Excess luggage weight: additional packhorse hire available at R450.00 per day for the group’s expense.
• Rider weight limit: 90-100kgs
• Carrying heavy backpacks (10 kg) is NOT advisable as it can lead to injuries.

NB: PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU BRING ALL RUBBISH BACK FROM THE VILLAGE HUTS WITH YOU SO THAT IT CAN BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY AT THE LODGE – THE VILLAGE HUTS DO NOT HAVE RUBBISH DUMPS

We supply:

• Crockery
• Cutlery
• Pans
• Pots
• Gas cooker
• Bucket of fresh spring water for washing drinking and cooking. Please Note: Boiling the water or sing water purification tablets before drinking is advisable is you have a sensitive stomach.
• Mattresses on the floor at the overnight huts

What to bring:

• Sleeping Bags
• Water Bottle
• Food
• Water Purifying Tablets (Optional)
• Rain Suit
• Warm clothing
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Candles, a torch or a gas light
• First Aid Kit

Please Note: Cutlery and crockery are only supplied at the huts. Meals such as lunches enjoyed away from the hut require you to bring your own utensils unless you make sandwiches or other finger foods.

Suggested items of Clothing

• Change of clothing
• Long sleeve shirt and long trousers
• Shorts and a short sleeve shirt
• Warm fleece jacket
• Rain Jacket/Suit
• Wide-brim sun hat
• Sunscreen with a high SPF
• Neck scarf
• Preferably either riding or hiking boots but running shoes will also be suitable
• Extra pair of shoes
• Swim suit

Other necessary items:

• Towel
• Toiletries
• Toilet Paper
• Black Bin Bags
• Dish washing liquid, dish sponge/cloth and drying cloth
• Can opener and/or bottle opener
• Tupperware containers
• Swiss army knife
• Bring a small camping stove along, if you have one, just in case

Suggested Food List for Horse Treks and Trails:

Please Note: Basotho pony trek horse riding holidays do not provide guests with food and it is essential that you bring your own food with you; there are no restaurants and take-aways on these trips.

• Breakfast: Coffee, Tea, Sugar, Long life Milk, Hot Chocolate, Meusli, Rusks, Apples, Oranges.
• Lunch: Seed Loaf, Provita, Margarine/Butter, Processed Cheese, Cucumber, Carrots, Lettuce, Mussels, Tuna Mayonnaise, Tinned Beef &Ham, Chocolates.
• Dinner: Chinese Noodles, Cup-a-soup, Smash, Pasta, Pasta Sauces (in a can or a packet) Indian Tomato Curry Cans, Tinned Veggies and fruit, Tinned Caramel & Biscuits, Rice o’mix, Chakalaka, Toppers, Ultramel Custard.
• Drinks: Bottled water, beer& wines are available for sale at the lodge

NB: PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU BRING ALL RUBBISH BACK FROM THE VILLAGE HUTS WITH YOU SO THAT IT CAN BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY AT THE LODGE – THE VILLAGE HUTS DO NOT HAVE RUBBISH DUMPS

Riding Hints:

This adventure is taken at each rider’s own risk.

• No back up services available to collect you with a vehicle. You have to return to the lodge on horseback if you happen to fall off.
• Several hair-raising mountain passes. If you do not feel safe, you are welcome to dismount your horse and walk if you feel safer. Even surefooted horses may occasionally stumble, always correcting themselves.
• Horses occasionally pull their heads down to eat grass. Holding on the the reins too tightly may result in you being pulled over his head and falling off.
• On mountain passes, keep your reins loose. Horses steer using their heads and necks.
• The horses don’t eat sugar, apples etc. After the trek, you may buy a treat for the horses if you want to.

 

Itineraries:

Pony Trek Descriptions:

2 DAYS:  RIBANENG WATERFALL

Day 1:

• 6 hours ride
• Drinks at Ha Lebona
• Hire guide for the hike to the bottom of the Ribaneng waterfall. (R10.00).
• 3 hour return trip hike
• You can undertake the hike the next morning if you are not in a hurry to return to the lodge.

Day 2:

• Return ride to lodge

3 DAYS: RIBANENG BOTH NIGHTS.

Day 1:

• R6 hours ride
• Drinks at Ha Lebona
• Overnight in huts

Day 2:

• 4-hour ride up "Slide Your Ass Pass" to the top of the waterfall
• Hire guide for the hike to the bottom of the Ribaneng waterfall. (R10.00).
• 3-hour Afternoon return trip hike
• Overnight in the same hut

Day 3:

Return ride to lodge

3 DAYS: RIBANENG, SEKOTENG

Day 1:

• 6 hours ride
• Drinks at Ha Lebona
• Overnight in huts

Day 2:

• 6 – 7 hour ride
• 2 hour mountain climb to Sekoteng.

Day 3

7 hour return ride down the mountain to the lodge

4 DAYS: RIBANENG, KETANE & SEKOTENG.

Best Basotho pony trek - you ride through remote villages

Day 1:

• 6 hours ride
• Drinks at Ha Lebona
• Hire guide for the hike to the bottom of the Ribaneng waterfall. (R10.00).
• Afternoon 3-hour return hike trip

Day 2:

• 7 hours riding, with stops
• You may ask to see the views from the top of the waterfall, however: this detour will add another hour on
• Arrival at Ha Hlalele village (Chief Matias)
• Hire guide and take a 2 hour hike to the Ketane Waterfall

Day 3:

 6 hours ride to Sekoteng (Chief Puli)

Day 4:

• 7 hour return ride to lodge
• This Basotho pony trek may often be done in reverse, depending on the availability of hut space.

PLEASE NOTE: When the Makhaleng River is flooded, the bridge has to be used, lengthening Days 1 and 4 by 2 hours.

6 DAYS: RIBANENG, SEMONGKONG, KETANE SEKOTENG

Day 1:

•  6 hours ride
• Drinks at Ha Lebona
• Hire guide for the hike to the bottom of the Ribaneng waterfall. (R10.00).
• 3-hour afternoon return trip hike to the bottom of the waterfall

Day 2:

• 10 hour ride, with stops
• Arrival at Semongkong Lodge
• Overnight at the lodge for 2 nights
• Riders need to book their own Semongkong accommodation for nights 2 and 3

Day 3:

• Ride to and explore Maletsunyane Falls (198m – South Africa’s highest single drop falls).
• Overnight at Semonkong Lodge (for your own account)

Day 4:

• 5 hour ride, with stops.
• Arrive at Ha Hlalele village (Chief Matias)
• Hire guide for the 2 hour hike to the Ketane Waterfall

Day 5:

6 hour ride to Sekoteng (Chief Puli)

Day 6:

• 7 hour ride back to the lodge
• This Basotho pony trek may often be done in reverse, depending on the availability of hut space.

PLEASE NOTE: When the Makhaleng River is flooded, the bridge has to be used, lengthening Days 1 and 4 by 2 hours.

Please Take Note:

• Departure from the lodge from front reception is at 09:00am
• Bring luggage to the tack room for loading onto packhorses
• Excess belonging not taken on the trek must be left in vehicles parked at reception
• Valuables may be handed in to reception for safekeeping
• Perishables may be handed in for refrigeration
• Riding helmets must be worn by al riders at all times
• Wrap clothing and sleeping backs on plastic bags
• Distribute weight of pannier bags as evenly as possible
• Guides may not speak English as a first language, please be patient
• Do not hand out sweets to children. If you would like to offer them something as a reward for doing something for you, offer them fruit instead.
• Your dishes will be washed for you at outstations, please arrange with the guide.
• Outstations have VERY little wood if any, braai-ing will require you to bring charcoal, firelighters and a grill along – Extra packhorse per group needs to be hired.
• Do NOT drink river or stream water – spring water is provided at outstations