From Tickey Draai to TLBs: A Century of Road Building at Malealea

Over a century later, that spirit of perseverance and community remains strong

Every year, after the summer rains (typically between late April and early May), the Malealea community unites once again to tackle the road repairs. The tools may have changed slightly, but the spirit remains the same: teamwork, determination, and pride in our shared home. These days, we’re fortunate to be able to hire a TLB (tractor-loader-backhoe) and a tipper truck to dig up and transport materials from the nearby quarry, dropping off neat piles along the road (with thanks to the support of The Malealea Development Trust (MDT)), And then—just like in Mervyn’s time—the community arrives with shovels, picks, and wheelbarrows, ready to put in the hard labour.

110 Road Builders, One Big Heart

This year an incredible 110 community members came together in a single day to transform the road. I left in the morning and returned that evening—and I couldn’t believe my eyes. It looked like a team had been working on it for an entire month.

And they haven’t stopped. Week after week, they’ve kept showing up—improving the road, metre by metre—with nothing more than grit, community spirit, and a shared vision for a better Malealea.

Why This Road Matters

This isn’t just a lodge access road. It’s a lifeline for over 5,000 people living in the Malealea Valley. It connects the community to essential services and opportunities, providing access to:

Four primary schools
One high school
Several preschools
A rural health clinic
Countless homes and villages

Every day, local minibus drivers—in their Quantums and Sprinters—navigate this road to transport people to and from town, schools, clinics, markets, and workplaces. These drivers are a vital part of the rhythm of life here, braving the bumps and dust with determination, day in and day out.

Maintaining this road means supporting education, healthcare, transport, and daily life for an entire community in one of Lesotho’s most beautiful and remote corners.

The Journey to Malealea: What to Expect

This 7-kilometre stretch of gravel road from the tar turnoff to the lodge may not seem long on paper, but it’s an adventure in itself. It typically takes between 30 minutes to an hour to drive, depending on your vehicle and your driving skills. While a 4x4 is not required, we highly recommend a high-clearance vehicle—something like a Suzuki Swift, Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota Urban Cruiser, or anything more rugged. Trust us, your suspension will thank you.

It’s bumpy, it’s slow—but it’s part of the magic.

To Our Guests: Thank You

So to every guest who makes the bumpy journey to Malealea Lodge—we see you, and we thank you. That wide-eyed expression when you finally arrive (after having taken your false teeth out and strapped yourselves in)—“Eish! The road!—means so much more to us than you might think. It reminds us that the journey is still an adventure.

Looking Ahead

The rains arrived late this year—only in February—but they hit hard. The damage was real. Yet, as always, the community was ready. We hope the repairs will hold through the next rainy season, which may come as early as November or December but we are so grateful to the community for standing strong. 

As the Sesotho saying goes:

“Ha ho letho le etsoang ke motho a le mong.” (Nothing is accomplished by one person alone.)

The Legacy Continues

Here’s to the road builders of the past and the present. To Mervyn, with his wheelbarrow and vision. To the community with their shovels and teamwork. And to every traveller who braves the journey to discover the magic of this place between the mountains—Malealea, the Gateway to Paradise.