Today's run took us right across the magnificent central highlands and then over a succession of mountain passes. Lesotho is desperately poor and as recently as 1998 there was an invasion by South African forces to overthrow the government because of fraudulent elections. Everywhere you go you see signs of extreme poverty. Most agriculture is carried out by manual labour with the help of oxen and donkeys. It is difficult to convey how hard the lives are of the people who live and work in the country.
Two Lesothon woman carrying loads on their heads
Back to our tour. We travelled on mainly gravel roads which varied from bad to horrendous but always accompanied by unbelievably beautiful scenery. Great gorges with rivers winding through unspoilt landscapes.
3,000 metre plus mountains were always in sight and one mountain pass followed another. The sign below made us pause for thought about what lay ahead!
At one point we crossed a bridge that had a plaque on it that reminded us of the time the British Empire ruled in this part of the world.
This bridge was opened on
19 - 4 -1956
by
E.P. Arrowsmith
Resident Commissioner
Basutoland
More mountain passes followed and I took this photo of two of our cars winding up one of the pasess far below us. The telephoto lens was set on maximum magnification.
Unfortunately the Weening family Landrover broke down and, at the time of writing this, I am not sure if they have managed to make it to the hotel. Our journey ended at 3pm when we crossed back into South Africa and drove the 20 kms to the Sani Pass hotel.
My Landcruiser with Dave and Patsy Mitchell's Niissan on the summit of Kotisephola Pass.
At 3,250 metres the highest point of the whole tour.
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