Thoughts from Mr Rittersport's back seat

Africa » Lesotho » Maseru
July 16th 2007

Published: October 27th 2007

It had been a cold night with little sleep. I looked out of the tent and found Mr Seja scraping off frost from his tent and efficiently packing his belongings into his red German rental car. We'd met him one day earlier as we - resembling two bagladies - had dragged our plastic-bagged belongings across the border at Maseru bridge. He was efficiency personified. Punctuality, rationality, German h... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 39, Displayed: 21

The Butha-Buthe Chinese market

Lesotho is yet another country where Chinese merchants have a strong foothold, in the border towns of the north and north-west every store and small shop is owned by the Chinese. With the surrounding mountains it looks a bit like the occupied country of Tibet, that China's laid claims on. Maybe they'll do something similarly humble to Lesotho one day as well.

Kekeletso

Kekeletso means "addition" and is a common name for Basotho children if they're the third or forth child. The first child is often named Mpho "Gift" which obviously is a more common name in a country with a population growth rate of 0.144%.

Young Cattle herder

At the national university in Roma.

Solitude

A rare sight in a country with a life expectancy of 40 ears only. An old woman slowly wandering along the open plains in the south western lowlands ( no point in lesotho is lower than 1400m!). Makhakhe.

Disturbing the peace and tranquility of rural Lesotho, a group of loud Saffans.

Loud and brash. Typical Saffans on vacation in Lesotho bringing their Quad bikes so to destroy any moment of peace. As they come riding cross-country doing their wonderful part to soil erosion they sound like the Texas Chainsaw-massacre, and they blend in just perfect with the humble local population. Don't they? WROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

"Hostile Type Accmodation"

It said in the leaflet we were handed at the entrance to the Bokong Nature Reserve, not that I found it particularly hostile, though. The hut we staid in was very good value for money with clean bed sheets and an orderly kitchen. Aili and Mr Seja can be seen trekking through the snow down to our hut.

Towards Malealea

South Eastern Lesotho's tourist ghetto is set in a picturesque valley.

Fertile countryside

Less than 11% of the country is arable land. Though reality.

House

And cows.

Winter Gown

A young man in the highland, draped in his blanket riding into Seshote.

Road

And hills.

Building Bokong

The Bokong NAture Reserve is about to expand with some "luxurious" stone lodges.

Two hours good fun on your skis

But forget about off-piste at the Afri-Ski resort at Oxbox, north easter Lesotho.

Highland house

Probably the highest located house in the entire southern Africa region. At a hight of around 3000m life is cold and difficult, still someone has decided to live here.

Aili on top of the roof of Southern Africa

Walking far to close to a far to long drop...

"My Fleend!"

As we speed past in Mr Seja's car, a smiling Basotho waves and laughs as he jumps to the side to survive our efficient car.

Roadside stone village

Northern Lesotho.

Laundry

And cow...

28th October 2007

katie
non-member comment

better and better
Been following your blogs for a long time now, love your perspective and individual style, but had to comment on this one as the photos are just breath taking, they get better and better everytime.....these are the pictures I want to see, not some stupid monument with someone standing in front of it smiling.....I have too many of these pictures myself, next time I travel though I will attempt to follow your lead....keep enjoying your travels, and thank you for inspiring me x

28th October 2007

Syrran
non-member comment

A country of my taste
Det här måste ju vara den snyggaste flaggan i hela afrika... Av dina bilder att döma, ett av de enligt mig vackraste platserna än så länge. Vilka vyer, så klart, så kargt, så kallt, så vackert. Värme o skratt till er... Kram

30th October 2007

Greg
non-member comment

Doing it right
Glad you're back on the road and doing things in your inimitable style. Was worried you might atrophy in Cape Town. Dig the blanket! Yours in spirit, vicarious observer...

17th November 2007

Martin"DREX"Johansson
non-member comment

Ey you Bobbie
Det här är Mr.Martin Claud the glid Drex. Iso förklarade för mig att det fanns enblogg där du skriver vad ni har för er. Då tänkte jag fan va gött. Har nu tittat en hel del (feta bilder du e grym på o fota)och ska börja läsa all den jäkla texten.Däm va fett att ni gör vad ni känner för o reser runt i Afrika. Själv e jag grymt sugen på Afrika. Om ni har vägen förbi Malmö så har ni alltid ett hem o komma till. Ha det bäst

17th November 2007

George Bush
non-member comment

Hello
Ey we will send troops to you enna. Be

15th October 2008

Tibi Kibe
non-member comment

Basotho
Hi there I am a Mosotho woman (although not from Lesotho) but I have a huge interest in my people and culture. I hope some myths and some wrongs can be corrected in the way people write. This is such a beautiful document which has been put together. It shows the essence of the Basotho people. I think more clarity on Moshoeshoe's shoe needs to be made because some don't know who Moshoeshoe is. Is the person wearing the shoe Moshoeshoe or would a shoe that looks like that be called a "Moshoeshoe shoe". I am sure you understand taht the correct terms and words need to be used as the BAsotho in South Africa are of different groupings and this information is vital for our children as they access the Internet so much. Please make sure that things lik e"Basotho foot" get erased as I'm sure a Mosotho's foot looks just the same as a German's? Please clarify. All in all, well done, this website is really cool and the picture quality is excellent. Warm Regards Tebello Kibe University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa

24th December 2009

christine kristen
non-member comment

with appreciation
I'm writing from San Francisco, where I live. I was a Peace corps volunteer in Lesotho in 1976-77, and I really loved reading your blog and seeing your photos. I lived in Morija near the capital, Maseru. Your photos are lovely and you have a very good eye. I like your attitude as well~ clearly you are empathic to the Basotho in their difficult situation, and not thrilled by the annoying white South Africans who tread heavily on Basotho land and culture. Thanks for your sensitivity.

11th December 2010

Siweya Family
non-member comment

Lesotho
as we looking forward to visit mountain kingdom, your comment and pictures on Facebook is energating. We cannnot wait to visit the kingdom during December holiday.Thatha Lesotho thatha.

7th April 2011

Tman
non-member comment

Grammatic correction
I have watched all your photos, which I find phenomenal and shows that you have criss-crossed the country, seen it and heard it all, except for the language. your title for the photo should be " your average Mosotho" which is singular which will tie in with your explanation of what the photo portrays.

7th April 2011

Tman
non-member comment

Contradictory statement
I like the photo and the theme. but the first statement and the forecast looks gloomy to me.

19th March 2013

Caitlin Murphy
non-member comment

Essential Travel Magazine Likes Your Photo
Hi there I write for Essential Travel Magazine. In our April issue we will be publishing an article on Top 10 Underrated Destinations, and will be including Malealea. With your permission, I would love to use this photograph and will of course credit it to you. Looking forward to hearing from you. Kindly, Caitlin http://www.essentialtravel.co.uk/magazine/

Tot: 0.065s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 12; qc: 23; dbt: 0.0364s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.1mb

Do not copy images or text from this page without requesting and receiving permission. All rights are reserved by the author and photographer.

Contact Bobbie Nystrom (le_flow) - a lack of a response does not mean that you have permission to use material from this page.

Thoughts from Mr Rittersport's back seat

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved