Blogs from Roma, Lesotho, Africa

8:45 p.m. We have landed in the most unimaginable “hotel” ever! Out my window and patio door is a wide view of a Drakensberg escarpment and mountain, fully green and filled with darker green trees and bushes. My “room” is a bedroom off a large sitting room and kitchen, shared by Judy, who is in a loft. Ours is part of a set of four unique sitting-bedroom arrangements, each unique, once part of a farm with stables. Ramabantha Trading Lodge was one of the original holdings on a trail of trading posts established by one family in the early twentieth century. They still run the modernized business. When we arrived about 5:00, out of curiosity we all walked through the other buildings and people's rooms. Norm and Duane are in the converted stables, with rooms that ... read more

The Roma Trading Post turned out to be exactly what we needed, a sanctuary. For the next two days we used it as a base whilst we explored on foot and via mini bus the surrounding area including small villages and local markets, our favourites, but also Maseru, the capital of Lesotho only 30km away, the National University, ancient bushman rock paintings, and among other things, dinosaur footprints. As was becoming the norm in Lesotho our adventures often yielded their own small, but very random and distinct chapters. After another colossal and comfortable sleep courtesy of "The Long Way Round Lads´" mattresses, we commandeered Thiddy (that´s P Thiddy to you and I,) a local employee of the TP to guide us on the short hike to the nearby dinosaur footprints. P Thiddy had excellent English and ... read more