Mountain Biking in Lesotho

Among the different adventure sports enjoyed in Lesotho, mountain biking occupies an important place. Lesotho takes bikers amidst the highest and most beautiful mountain ranges in Southern Africa. It has, therefore, become one of the more popular activities among the young adventure loving tourists who visit the mountain kingdom on a regular basis.

What makes Lesotho an excellent biking destination?

The terrain for starters is great, with wide valleys and mountain passes making for a varied and exciting riding.

Second, its network of bridle paths and tracks, usually only passable on horseback and 4×4, covers much of the countryside and provide bikers with predefined paths with which to navigate the countryside.

One of the most visited mountain biking trails of Lesotho begins from Underberg, a world heritage site located in Ukahlamba Drakensberg Park. The trail follows the Mkozama River and passes through the Sani Valley. While passing the Sani Pass, bikers can get a panoramic view of Hodgon’s Peak and the Giants Cup.

There are a number of popular MTB races held in or around Lesotho during the year. Here are just a few to wet your appetites.

• The Lesotho Thin Air Challenge is not just another race; it is an unforgettable fine mountain biking experience at a high altitude that takes you through breathtaking mountain scenery. This race is physically and mentally very challenging especially the weather and the altitude. If you don’t have the mechanical knowledge or at least have a partner that is technically minded don’t try this race.
• The Drak MTB Xperience is geared toward a relaxed and fun event for the whole family and offers fully administered ROAG riding and event and will be a true and exciting test of mountain biking – with distances (20km & 40km Classic) and skill levels to suite everyone’s choice.
• The Trans Lesotho Mountain Bike Trail marks the opening of the northern section of the Trans Lesotho Mountain Bike Trail. It’s a journey by mountain bike that will take riders to altitudes of 3000 meters and the isolation of remote peaks and valleys.  This promises to become an iconic event on the international mountain biking calendar.

There are many tour operators out there who can organise excellent mountain bike holidays throughout Lesotho. But, don’t go out on your ride without carrying some warm clothing, as the weather can change from sunny to freezing in minutes up in the mountains.

“After a week in the wilds of southern Lesotho, I had broken my bicycle and acquired a bandaged leg, torn clothes and a face covered in flea bites. Laugh if you like, but I still felt lucky. Lesotho had made a real traveller out of me.” – Alison Westwood