Ts'ehlanyane National Park

Ts'ehlanyane National Park is in the Leribe district of Lesotho.

Understand

History

This is the largest National Park in Lesotho. The park owes its existence to the “Hlotse Tunnel” adit (Lesotho Highlands Water Project), where it transfers its sparkling water from Katse Dam into the Ash River near the South African Town of Clarens. It used to be classified as a Nature Reserve and is now part of the Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area.

Landscape

Over 5600 hectares of extremely rugged mountain terrain is protected within this park, which includes one of the very few indigenous woodlands in Lesotho.

Flora and fauna

The diversity of habitat types is exceptionally high and derived from the large latitudinal range that the park has.

Some of the finest examples of Che-che (old wood), woodland are preserved at the heart of this area, with a number of rare undergrowth plants that are unique to this woodland habitat. On the banks of the rivers and streams are stands of berg bamboo which are of significant cultural significance to the Basotho people (used in initiation ceremonies, hut building, etc.) The reserve also encompasses a reasonable proportion of very rare mountain "fynbos" that do not occur anywhere else in the world and also recorded are in excess of 220 flowing plant species.

There have been 24 small- to medium-sized mammalian species recorded in the highlands area and these include the African wild cat, black-backed jackal, porcupine, caracal, grey rhebuck, baboon, striped pole cat and rock hyrax, ice rat, the clawless otter (there is circumstantial evidence that leopard still occurs in a few refuge habitats), All of these species with the exception of the clawless otter, grey rhebuck and rock hyrax are considered to be endangered in the park area.

No information is available on the avifauna of the park, other than the limited surveys undertaken by field staff to date. The very provisional list prepared to date indicates the presence of some 69 species of birds.

The list included two of the Red Data species (bearded and Cape vultures), and only one (orange-breasted rock jumper) of the three southern African endemic species considered to be globally “near-threatened” because of their restricted range. It is likely that further work will considerably extend this list.

Climate

Ts'ehlanyane National Park has an altitude ranging between 1940 to 3112 metres and is considered mostly sub-alpine. Summers are warm and wet while winter temperatures can drop well below freezing with snow fall dusting the upper reaches of the mountain side.

Get in

The park is located deep in the northern range of the Maloti Mountains at the foot of the Holomo Pass and about 45 minutes on a good road from the South African border post of Caledonspoort (Caledonspoort is 15 minutes drive from the popular Freestate town of Clarens and about 4 hours from O.R. Thambo International Airport).

A 32-km tarred access road that leaves the main A1 route 8km south of Butha Buthe. The route passes through the village of Khabo and parallels the Hlotse river along the very picturesque Holomo valley until it reaches the park entrance gate. It is possible to take minibuses or taxis from Butha-Buthe to the park entrance. Cost is M20-30 for minibus and around M150 by taxi (April 2014). It may be difficult to return to Butha-Buthe from the park by public transport, and will likely require walking several kilometers to the nearest town before finding any available vehicles.

Fees and permits

• Adults: M50 per person
• Children (5-13years): M10 pp
• Pre Primary Schools: M2 pp
• Primary Schools: M5 pp
• High Schools: M10 pp
• Tertiary institutions: M15 pp
• Vehicles (up to 15 seats): M30 per vehicle
• Buses (16 seats and above): M60 pv

Do

• Picnic site at the day visitors area
• A spectacular 39-km hiking trail links the Ts’ehlanyane National Park with the Bokong Nature Reserve. Stone hiking huts are available at the two end points
• Various other hiking trails
• Photographic opportunities. Not only is the scenery spectacular, but the fauna and flora offer a boundless variety of photographic subjects.
• Day walks: experience nature first hand by taking a stroll into the woodlands.
• Bird watching: keep an eye out for the Bearded Vulture and Ground Woodpecker.
• Basotho pony rides offer an ideal way to explore nature from a higher vantage point.
• Swimming in the streams and rock pools
• Small game viewing

Drink

There is a bar located at Maliba Mountain Lodge which day visitors to the park are able to make use of.

Sleep

• Maliba Mountain Lodge (Follow signs from front gate), ☏ +27317028791. Lesotho's only 5-star luxury lodge. Excellent food and service. M3993 per night for a chalet (including breakfast). (updated Jun 2023)
• Maliba River Lodge (Follow signs from front gate), ☏ +27317028791. Self-catering chalets, Max 8 people per chalet. M2096 per night for up to four people (M485 per additional person). (updated Nov 2023)
• Youth hostel-type accommodation, mostly used by park employees, is available directly from the park. The worker at the entrance gate may only be familiar with Maliba as a hotel for tourists but explain that you want to stay at the building about 500 m from the park entrance. While not as romantic as the lodging at Maliba, it is reasonably clean and functional. Dormitories for M150/200 per night for two-beds/three-beds (June 2023). It is a 30-45 minute walk (~2-4 km) from the park lodging to the starting points of the hiking trails, though there appears to be a 4x4 trail nearby which also leads to the trails. Consult the park office for details.

Remember

Passport, pocket knife, insect repellant, anti-itch gel, antibiotic cream, sunblock (the African sun is intense), hat, sporting equipment, torch, travel guidebooks, English-Sesotho dictionary, plastic bags, warm clothing, waterproof clothing, compass or GPS, water bottle, binoculars, first aid kit and hiking shoes.

The water from the taps appears to be potable, but confirm with park and/or lodging staff if unsure.