En-route to Lesotho and Katse dam

On Friday afternoon we headed for Fouriesburg to meet up with family for our long weekend break away.

Geography lesson: Fouriesburg is a small town near the Maluti Mountains in the Free State Province of South Africa. It is 10km from the Caledonspoort Border Control on the Lesotho Border and 35km from the picturesque town of Clarens.

On our way there we had the spectacular view of clouds with silver linings and this absolutely beautiful sunset. It doesn't get any prettier than this.

Because of the distance between Fouriesburg and Lesotho we made reservations at Fouriesburg Country Inn. Although it is always a pleasant stay with delicious homey food, they have traded their once soft and fluffy pillows with maxi bricks. The accommodation cost: R385p/p including breakfast. The only suggestion I would make when travelling there is to take your own pillow, it is much needed.

Day 2 - Fouriesburg to Calendonspoort Border Control, Mafika Lisiu pass and Katse dam

On Saturday morning we were at Caledonspoort Border Control at 9:30 and it was a scorching 24°C. I have to high five myself (and hug my husband) because I got my first stamp in my new passport. It was also our last chance to make use of a hygiene, sort of no germ free, white toilet until we reached the Katse dam visitor centre. This is a tip. If you have travelled there before you know the drill, but for all of you who haven't been deprived of such luxury, use it or squat.

The distance from the post to Katse dam was 155km and be aware that you travel in km and not in time. It's not because the road is bad, because it is not. It just takes time and you have to drive while using gears. Well, when I say gears I mean first and second gear. Before you can even dream to put the car in third gear, you have reached the next turn in the road and it is time to slow down again and this carries on throughout the entire trip. The tar roads have degree of damage to them. The roads give way on the sides and when it is tar road painting season there is some laziness that goes into the process as you can see on the picture and yes, you have guessed it. It is easier to paint everything in that hole and even gravel than what it is fixing the road. Nonetheless the road condition is on par with South Africa.

Lesotho has to be one of my favourite places to drive through. There are so many hills and valleys and the next is more beautiful than the last. Not to mention that this place is like the holy grail of water supply. There is water pouring out of the mountains creating streams and mini cascading waterfalls down the hills. We even had some of the water and tastes better than bottled water, not that it surprised me.

I have seen something this past weekend that I have seen in my entire life, a white donkey. It looks like a horse but with less pizazz! We have also managed to see a rare species of walking bush donkey. It looked really strange from a far but made sense the closer we got.

After driving up Mafika Lisiu pass which reaches an altitude of 3090m, we drove to the view point. What a view. It is both breath taking and cold. Be sure to take a jacket even in summer. Mafika Lisiu pass can be found between Pitseng and Lejone, it is characterised by its sleep climbs and descends and hairpin bends.


I have to admit. When I first heard that we were going to drive to a dam the odds were not in Katse's favour, but the more the drove alongside it, I realised that this isn't any dam. It is 1993m above sea level, making it Africa's highest dam and it also the second biggest dam in Africa. Katse dam is situated in one of the most scenic regions of the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho.

Eventually you arrive at the dam wall and there is this impressive block of concrete holding back 1 950m³ of water and then some.

We decided to spend the night at Katse lodge and these people know a thing or two about hospitality. We were greeted with glasses of juice and warm smiles. The accommodation per night is R695 including breakfast and dinner and dinner is a four course meal. Impressive. The best thing was when we got to our rooms the beds were already heated against the cold that was to arrive with darkness. It was hot outside but we enjoyd the warmth of the bed. Please don't ask me why. I don't know ...

We went outside to enjoy the view of the dam and it is spectacular and I had my first taste of Maluti lager and it is good. The bar is a bit overprized. R110 for 2 grapetizers and 2 lagers, but it was worth every sip, especially after spending 5 hours in the car. The day turned into night and it was the third day.

Day 3

When you open your bedroom curtain the next morning please make sure you have your sunglasses on. The glare almost blinds you, but it is such a pretty sight. The sky was blue and all the clouds of the day before vanished.

What is even more perfect is that you can enjoy your morning coffee on the deck and overlook Katse dam. There is a silence. Not the awkward kind but the one that you can actually listen to and it gets drenched into your soul and you feel at peace. 

We had to take the same route back unfortunately but the view changes completely. At one point we were at an altitude of 3010m and we found a handful of ice beside the road and the temperature was 14°C. Quite the opposite of the previous day. In Lesotho you should always be prepared because temperature changes from scorching hot to ice cold. It became clear to us that it had rained the night before, water was pouring out of the rock faces creating cascading waterfalls.

This place is crazy, crazy beautiful. It is worth every cent you spend on travel cost, accommodation and the time you spend in your car driving. If you haven't been here before ... what are you waiting for?