I started the day with a hearty breakfast at the Masoba Soba guesthouse. There was a short ride to the Lesotho Border control. The formalities were completed fast. The one border post official had a short exchange of pleasentries in German with me 🙂 . As I started down I passed the, apparently, highest pub in africa. Actually I would think the pub at Masoba Soba is higher. The road down the pass looks quite impressive and it is respected by the 4 wheeled vehicle community. As I started down on my bike I found it quite a pleasant ride. I can imagine if it is snow/ice covered or very wet that it would be a little challenging but dry it is an easy ride down.
Along the way there were some dassies and at one point a troop of baboons who quickly cleared the road for me to pass. The vehicles travelling up the pass have right of way so I stopped or gave way to a couple of vehicles crawling up the hill in low 4X4 gear. As there had been quite a some rain in the previous days there were a couple of places where streams crossed the road. One of the streams was quite deep and I got wet to just below my knees. It was remarkable how quickly it warmed up as I got closer to the bottom.
Along the way down I stopped a number of time to take a look back at the stunning mountain panorama I was leaving behind.
At the base of the pass is the South African Border control where the checks were completed just as quickly as at the top.
In the parking at the bottom I changed into dry “clean” clothes and removed the bags from my bike to to wait for Annemarie, Irene and Debbie who were coming to pick me up.
While I was waiting a number of safari type vehicles taking tourists up to the exorbatently expensive “Highest” pub in africa. I suppose the views from the pub are quite impressive.
After a short while my family arrived to pick me up and mark the end of 8 days of wonderful albeit strenuous days in Lesotho.
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