If you ventured up into our mountain kingdom to pound the earth, to feel the crunching of gravel beneath your feet, the burning in your throat as you finish an ascent and the peaceful satisfaction of mingled accomplishment and awe along the way, then please meet Ntate Bob Koali M0hale.

Bob is the lodge manager. He has been with us for a long time (he was a builder, a painter, a member of the night’s watch, and the barman, to name a few), but he has been traversing this land on foot for much longer.  As a teenager, he would skip the bus and walk the three hours across the gorge to visit his cousins, and back, with a few curiosity-driven detours along the way. He knows these mountain passes better than anyone, and he certainly knows them better than you. We want you to have the most successful hike possible, so Bob is here to help you decide which hikes will be the best for you and arrange for you a guide.

Our most popular hike is the journey to the twin Botsoela Waterfalls. It takes about 4 hours  return and you will journey across the crushed red soil of the Malealea Highway, down pebbly grey switchbacks, and over a few small ravines and stream crossings.  Your destination is, naturally, the beautiful cascading waters of the Botsoela Waterfalls. Bob recommends this hike to almost everyone for their first trip out, explaining that you really feel as though you have done something.

Meet your Head Chef, Mme Manthomeng Mahao! She has been with us for the past 30 years, and her brother is the chief of Malealea, so you had better enjoy her cooking or else…

Of course, there is no “or else.” Mme Manthomeng directs her kitchen with as deft and fair a hand as Chief Qaba guides his village, and you will enjoy her cooking because it is as sumptuous as it is diverse. Each evening’s menu offers a blend of authentic Basotho flavors and Western favorites with a twist.

Mme’s favorite dishes are Samp and Coca Cola Chicken. Samp is a traditional food made from creamed white maize, while Coca Cola Chicken is a recipe the Jones family picked up from some American friends when they were living in Mt. Moorosi. About three decades later, it is still served to the delight of all of our guests each and every week.

Mme Manthomeng makes sure that the food is always delicious and the atmosphere delightful in her dining room, but if you are with us for an extended period of time and are looking for more budget alternatives, or simply crave a little variety, please check out our small daytime menu or make use of our communal kitchens!

This is M’e Sanah Khomo and she manages the eight ladies who make sure all of our rooms are neat and tidy within a few hours every single day. They begin their rotation of rooms at 08:00AM. They will sweep and mop the floors, make the beds, make sure the rooms are equipped with towels, replace soaps, and clean the bathrooms, singing and laughing as they go along. Feel free to say “Lumelang!” when you see them. 

Meet assistant reception manager Ntate David Nkhbane Mokala. He may just be the most interesting man you’ll ever talk to – he is a passionate story-teller and historian who curated and owns Malealea’s cultural museum, and he spent nine months training in Germany for the Beijing Olympics as half of Lesotho’s first equestrian team.

Unfortunately, the sponsorship funding ran dry, but David’s passion for horses never will, and neither will Malealea’s. He has been in charge of our pony trekking program for years now, and he is in our reception office to help you organize the trek of a lifetime.

David and his wife, Me Manthabiseng Mokala (the office administrator for the Malealea Development Trust), have opened their home to our guests for two years now. You can have a meal with them and spend the night, discussing culture, politics, and any other facets of Basotho life. David can tell you about his experiences as half of Lesotho’s almost-Olympic equestrian team or regale you with historical tales about Zulu and Basotho prophets, while Manthabiseng is an expert on this community and the humanitarian work of the Trust. Basotho Home Stay

Ntate David Nkhabane also runs the Tack Room and can help you to arrange your rides. 

A journey on horseback is both exhilarating and peaceful. Along any hour on our trails, your pony will guide you up and down rocky switchbacks and across trickling ravines, all while you take in Malealea’s breathtaking scenery. You will form a relationship with the Basotho pony who carries you. They are gentle and trained creatures who will trust you as you put your trust in them.