Benefit from pickup at a location of your choice in Durban, and then make your way to the historic city of Pietermaritzburg, capital of KwaZulu Natal. Take a short sightseeing tour to see the statue of Mahatma Gandhi by City Hall. Then, venture into the Drakensberg Mountains on the amazing Sani Pass into Lesotho. Travel along the 33-kilometer gravel road that straddles the sheer cliffs in a series of tight zig-zag curves. Marvel at the dramatic landscape as you head from the Sani Pass Hotel, 1,566 meters above sea level. Be amazed as your 4WD Land Rover navigates the narrow road across the border post with Lesotho. Get spectacular views of the rolling hills and endless sky. Reach the top of the Sani Pass, 3,240 meters above sea level. Enjoy a hot lunch at the highest pub in Africa, and then meet the native Basotho people in a local village to learn about their everyday lives. Make your way back down the mountain to cross the boarder back into South Africa.

It’s the perfect mix of nature, culture and history; enjoy Lesotho’s natural flora and fauna, driving past Lesotho’s highest peak, dive into the culture of the Basotho people in this historical trading post and take a peek into history by getting to see the beautiful old buildings that pack lots of history into this small village. Lesotho is the only country in the world that is in its entirety above 1000m in elevation, making this an experience that you cannot enjoy anywhere else in the world! This tour ticks all these boxes – nature, culture and history – all in Lesotho, all in one day. 6.30 AM We pick you up from your accommodation in Durban. 2 9.00 AM We arrive in Undeberg, grab a coffee and head up into Lesotho for the day. 3 9.00 AM We head up to the highest pass in South Africa, Sani Pass. We travel through Himeville to the World Heritage Site of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, following the Mkomazana River up the scenic Sani Valley to the South African Border Post (border formalities) and the Lesotho Border. 4 10.30 AM After the Lesotho border formalities at the top of Sani Pass, we climb even further into the Lesotho highlands, all the way to the top of the Black Mountain pass. 5 11.00 PM At the top of Black Mountain Pass we get a chance to leave our vehicle, climb a short distance to a beautiful viewpoint of Thabana Ntlenyana. 6 12.30 PM We arrive in the town of Mokhotlong and enjoy lunch together 7 1.00 PM We visit a cultural Basotho village OR go horse-rinding into the Lesotho Highlands 8 2.00 PM We make our back to Sani Pass. 9 5 PM We watch the sun go down on the top of Black Mountain Pass before making our way to overnight accommodation DAY 2 1 8.00 AM After a hearty breakfast, we join up with you again for day two’s activities. 2 8.30 AM Choose between a visit to a cultural village, a hike at the top of Sani Pass or Come back down the pass to explore the villages of Underberg and Himeville and its museum. 3 12:15 PM We arrive back in Underberg, in time for lunch, if you aren’t in a hurry we’ll choose the best spot in Underberg to have lunch together. 4 13:15 PM Head back to Durban.

Itinerary Day 1: Depart at 08:00 from Durban and head to the aptly named town of Underberg under the Drakensberg mountains. In our guided 4wd vehicle in Underberg we proceed into Lesotho Via Sani Pass The Sani Pass climbs from 1500m to 2874m ASL. The famous switchbacks overlooking the South African valleys are spectacular. Go on a hike of the escarpment overlooking the Sani Pass or pony trek along the cliffs. Day 2: Climb further to the top of Black Mountain Pass at 3240m ASL. The remote villages of the Sani Top and Mokhotlong areas are some of the most remote villages in Lesotho. Get an inside look at the people living in this tough environment with a visit to a village. Picnic lunch is over a beautiful vista of the Senqu river, which becomes the Orange river in South Africa. An important river for several Southern African countries makes the perfect lunch stop. The route from Sani Top to Thaba Bosiu is often called the Roof of Africa route, we have already conquered the Sani Pass as well as Black Mountain Pass. After lunch we tackle Taeeng pass at 3225m and Motebong pass at 2820m. Along the way you will see Letseng Diamond mine–the world’s highest diamond mine and Afriski Moutain Resort and countless villages and other picturesque scenes. We will head to our overnight accommodation in Hlotse. Check-in at Bird Haven at approx. 18:00. Day 3: Breakfast at 07:00, departure at approx. 08:00-30. We backtrack slightly to visit a riverbed close to our overnight accommodation, where there is evidence of prehistoric life forms. If the river is in flood these ancient footprints are hidden to the world but usually the water levels are low enough for us to look at the Dinosaur Footprints We now leave the main road to Maseru and travel to the Kome Caves, home to modern cave-dwellers, these caves were originally inhabited by clans escaping the Lifqane wars and cannibalism. We make our way to Thaba Bosiu along the back roads which go through many rural villages. Thaba Bosiu is a cultural centre of utmost importance to Lesotho and its history. From Thaba Bosiu we drive into the capital city Maseru for lunch at approx. 13:00, this gives one a good understanding of modern-day city life in Lesotho and its mix with Lesotho’s strong culture. By 15:00, We head back into the highlands of Lesotho going through the Mantsa Pass to highland town of Semonkong. Check-in at Semonkong at approx. 17:30 Day 4: Breakfast at 7:30am Hike/4wd Drive to the Maletsunyane Falls Depart the Lesotho highlands via passes that enter South Africa at Qacha’s Nek. We snake our way through the last remote villages of Lesotho. We cross the Senqu river again–which we first saw on day 1 and then follow it along the Senqu river valleys toward the border town of Qachas Nek. Once back in South Africa we are normally in Matatiele around 13:00 for lunch. From Matatiele we skirt alongside the Drakensberg mountains and return to Underberg along scenic back roads, returning usually around 15:00-16:00

Beginning early at 6:00AM from the coastal city of Durban, your professional driver will collect you from your hotel in a well maintained vehicle, before you head out of the city towards the mountains. After passing the historical city of Pietermaritsburg, your tour will turn towards the Southern Drakensberg Mountain Range. For the next hour you will pass through mountains and valleys, which are dotted with small rural villages steeped in traditions. At approximately 9:00AM, you will arrive at the tiny mountain town of Underberg, which lies at the base of the Sani Pass. Here you will transfer to a comfortable 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Without a doubt, the Sani Pass is one of the most spectacular and scenic mountain passes in Africa. It lies between the Southern Drakensburg Mountains and the landlocked country of Lesotho, and your highly experienced and professional guide will take you through the South African border control. For the next 8 kilometers, the gravel road winds steeply up the pass towards the summit of the Drakensberg to the Lesotho border post. The sharp bends and panoramic mountains make this a photographer's paradise, in an area which has been described as "Southern Africa's Switzerland". Once there you will visit a local living Basotho village where you can learn about their customs and traditions. This village was originally built to care for the shepherds in the mountains, who tend flocks the year round, you may even be lucky to catch a glimpse of these tough blanket-clad men. Following this you will head towards the "highest pub in Africa" for some well earned refreshments, and perhaps even a taste of the local Maluti Beer if so inclined. Following your adventure is a gentle drive back to Durban, which will will see you at your destination at approximately 6:30PM depending on weather and traffic conditions.

From the bustling City of Durban, Tour to Lesotho – “Kingdom in the Sky” The Sani Pass tour into Lesotho from Durban gives you the opportunity to experience an adventure of a lifetime – a comfortable and exciting journey up this famous pass. Starting off in Durban, our tour heads up through the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, to the picturesque town of Underberg, where the real adventure begins. Our luxury Sani Pass tour snakes up the mountain and takes you through a scenic valley along a crystal clear river, making for a breath-taking experience. Your personal Tour Guide will fill you in on all you can learn about the history of the pass and the surrounding area. Feast your eyes on the natural landscape that is dotted with many species of wildflowers, creating splashes of vibrant colors. The road itself is rough which is why only 4×4 vehicles are allowed to traverse it, but because of this and the hairpin bends, you are in for a fun and heart-racing trip. Once you reach the top your senses will be filled beyond your wildest dreams – breathe in the fresh mountain air, drink in the sweeping vistas that are nothing short of majestic, and enjoy this unique African experience in Lesotho – ‘Kingdom of the Sky’.

Underberg to Oxbow on Day 1 Around 9:00 a.m., we will depart from Underberg and go toward the notorious Sani Pass, where your journey through Lesotho will begin. Before visiting a Basotho household to learn more about the way of life of the Mountain People of Lesotho, we will first have an early lunch at the Sani Mountain Lodge (The Highest Pub in Africa). You will get to view a lot of the Lesotho Highlands on the way to your overnight lodging, passing the Letsing Diamond Mine and Lesotho's highest pass, Tlaeeng. You will spend the night at the cozy Oxbow Lodge, which is tucked away high in the Maluti Mountain Range and gives visitors a genuine taste of African mountain life. Day 2: Katse - Oxbow On Day 2, we travel to the utterly stunning Katse Dam. You will have the option to get out of the car on the way there and learn more about the Bushmen who lived in this region by looking at their more than 300-year-old paintings. We'll also stop by an Anglican Church job program and sheltered workshop. Young Basotho women have been taught cooking and needlework skills as well as how to spin and weave mohair from the mountain goats that reside in Lesotho since 1911 by the Sisters of the Holy Name. We move back up into the mountains near Katse Dam after descending in height. There, we decide to have lunch in a lovely location. Day 3: Mohale - Katse On Day 3, we will begin the morning with a trip within the wall of the Katse Dam, which is the second-largest dam in Africa and is a concrete arch dam on the Malibamat'so River in Lesotho. After that, you may take in all that Lesotho has to offer, from expansive views of the Lesotho mountains to its distinctive flora and fauna, as you enjoy the magnificent drive from Katse to Mohale. Along the way, we'll stop at a peaceful location to eat our picnic lunch for the day. We will have a leisurely boat trip on the Mohale dam in the afternoon. The Mohale Lodge, where we'll be staying overnight, has a variety of amenities. Day 4: Semonkong to Mohale On Day 4, as we return to Lesotho's capital, we stop at Thaba Bosiu, a must-see attraction. King Moeshoeshoe built and administered the Kingdom of Lesotho from this mountain stronghold in the 19th century, where he also fought several wars to defend his Kingdom. The Kings and Queens of Lesotho are buried here today. We hike up the hill to the graveyard if you're up for it so you can see them. The Maletsunyane Falls is our first stop before continuing on to Semonkong, where we will spend the night. It holds the distinction of being Africa's highest single-drop waterfall at 192 meters. Semonkong to Underberg on Day 5 On Day 5, we leave the Mountain Kingdom via Qacha's Nek and return to Underberg via the Southern Drakensberg's backroads, where the mountains' stunning splendor continues to astound.

On this tour, you will experience all that a standard Sani Pass tour offers plus the trip to Makhapung, a small Basotho village deep in the highlands of Lesotho. From Sani Top, cross the Sani Plateau before climbing the Black Mountain Pass (3240 meters). From here you can see Thabana Ntlenyana (the highest point in Southern Africa). Then head down the Sehonghong Valley, past Highland Basotho villages and on to Makhapung. The Makhapung living village is untainted and retains all its cultures and traditions. This trip offers a real insight into the lives of the Basotho nation. Have a completely unique experience and support this sustainable tourism project. Visit the resident traditional healer, observe a unique song and dance routine, and a secret ceremonial dance. Interact and have lunch with the villagers. 

Get your adrenaline rush driving a 4x4 vehicle up Sani Pass, the highest road pass in Africa. Scrape the clouds as you travel one of the highest mountain paths in Africa! Begin by driving through beautiful rolling hills of the Midlands to the town of Underberg, where you will board your 4x4 vehicle. These off-roaders are the only vehicles that can climb Sani Pass. On your drive, you'll enter the Kingdom of Lesotho, and nearby Sotho Village for a taste of the local culture. Enjoy a light lunch while admiring stunning views from the highest pub in Africa.