Abseiling in Lesotho Lesotho Adventure and Sports

Abseiling the Maletsunyane falls – Take the plunge!

September 28, 2010
Maletsunyane Falls, Lesotho. 2006

Photo by sherburne-photo

For all those adrenaline junkies out there, Lesotho has a very special experience in store for you, a breathtaking/petrifying 40 minute long total adrenaline rush! It is abseiling at its most exciting and attracts many an international daredevil.

Maletsunyane Falls near Semonkong is the venue for this daring feat and as waterfalls go, this is probably the most famous waterfall in the Mountain Kingdom.

Guinness world records logoAt a whopping 204 metres (669ft), it is both the highest single-drop waterfall in Southern Africa and it holds the Guinness World Record for the “highest commercially operated abseil in the world“. That’s quite a resumé when you think about it.

The name of “Place of Smoke” refers to the pluming mirages that unfold as the water plummets to the base of the falls. Jonathan Halse along with his qualified guides, have been operating the abseil since 2003.

“The abseil itself is an extremely exposed straight drop where at times you are suspended in mid air with the spray of the waterfall upon you and the birds of the cliffs flying around you.”

The abseil requires two days in order to undertake and no previous abseiling experience is required as full training is provided. Each run down the waterfall takes a full 40 minutes and a willingness to spend vast amounts of time sitting on rocks looking out over vistas of unspoilt mountains.

The abseil costs M850 for one person, M750 for two or M700 for three people. Price includes all equipment, guides and transport, as well as a certificate and a CD of photos, taken by the ever smiling Benedict. (The Maluti is exactly equal in value to the South African Rand)

A maximum of 4 people per training for the Maletsunyane Falls abseil.

The walk back up and out of the gorge takes an hour and, at an altitude of 2100m, is not for the unprepared.


GPS: S29˚50’35.3” E28˚02’36.4”

Semongkong MapFor all enquires please contact:

enquiries and Enquires

Telephone/Fax: (+266) 270 060 37

Mobile: (+266) 620 210 21

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1 Comment

  • Reply Blyde Grobler October 6, 2016 at 3:28 pm

    We are 2 people and would love to experience the abseiling. Will it be possible? For tomorrow Friday 7 Oct.
    Please let us know.

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