Discover Sehlabathebe: Nature and Rock Art

Near Sehlabathebe lies Sehlabathebe National Park. The park brings together a distinctive highland landscape, unique plant and animal species, and rock art sites. The park offers practical points to consider when planning a trip and looking for a holiday rental: landscape, species, the history of the protected area, and activities on the Tsoelikana River.

Landscape and rare species

Near Sehlabathebe, Sehlabathebe National Park protects 65 square kilometres of hilly grassland strewn with boulders, below the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg escarpment along the border with South Africa. The hills, grassland and boulders give the park a tangible landscape character; its position below the escarpment and along the national border also provides a clear sense of location. If you are mainly looking for a striking highland setting when choosing your destination, the nearby park’s landscape is a concrete point of reference for your plans.

Two endangered species occur in nearby Sehlabathebe National Park. The Maloti minnow (Pseudobarbus quathlambae) is critically endangered and occurs only in Sehlabathebe National Park. The Sehlabathebe water lily (Aponogeton ranunculiflorus) is also endangered and endemic; it grows in the muddy bottoms of shallow sandstone rock pools in Sehlabathebe National Park. The fish is notable for occurring exclusively in the park, while the water lily is notable for its particular habitat.

Rock art and the history of the protected area

A total of 65 rock art sites have been documented in nearby Sehlabathebe National Park. The nearby park is also Lesotho’s oldest protected area and its first World Heritage Site. The park’s rock art sites draw attention to tangible cultural traces in the landscape; the two distinctions place the protected area in its historical and national context. Travellers who want to consider both landscape and culture will find two clearly distinct themes to include in their plans. The wider Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site spans the border and includes uKhahlamba-Drakensberg National Park in South Africa and Sehlathebe National Park in Lesotho.

Tsoelikana River and access

Trout fishing is possible in the Tsoelikana River in nearby Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho. At the same river, a waterfall plunges over a low cliff into a natural swimming pool within the park. This offers both a fishing activity and a striking landscape feature. You can consider this river landscape as a focus in its own right when planning your trip, alongside rock art or the unique species. Another natural highlight in Lesotho can be found on the upper slopes of Ts’ehlanyane National Park: there, heath-like montane fynbos grows alongside aloes, irises and other flowering plants, blooming particularly profusely in spring.

All access roads to nearby Sehlabathebe National Park are unpaved and require high-clearance vehicles; four-wheel drive is recommended. As road conditions can change, check them again before setting out. If the park’s natural, cultural or river attractions are a focus of your trip, factor these access conditions into your accommodation and travel plans.

For the broader travel overview: Qacha's Nek.