Things to do in Semonkong
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Semonkong
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best all round window: rain eases, falls still carry water and trekking is most reliable.
Summer rain: falls at full power, with thunderstorms, high water abseil cancellations and difficult fords.
Dry and clear with bitter nights, snow possible, thin falls and the clearest trekking skies.
Spring warming and mostly dry early, good trekking with cold nights lasting longer than expected.
What's on
- Semonkong winter horse racing July, around the Kings Birthday period
Local racing linked in lodge accounts to the July Kings Birthday period, with dates set locally and not published far ahead.
Best things to do in Semonkong
Maletsunyane Falls
A 192 metre single drop into a basalt gorge, whose rising spray gave Semonkong, Place of Smoke, its name.
Donkey Pub Crawl
A guided donkey ride into town to a home beer brewer and local bars, with music and a ride back in the dark.
Basotho Blanket Presentation
A seated home presentation explaining how blanket patterns and ways of wearing them signal identity and status.
Where to stay in Semonkong
Semonkong town and the Maletsunyane River
falls, abseil and pony treks
One lodge on the river below town holds the dormitory, rondavel and campsite tiers for the whole destination.
Ramabanta, on the Maseru road
breaking the mountain drive
A simple trading post lodge about 31 kilometres from Semonkong, useful when the lodge is full or weather closes in.
Best restaurants in Semonkong
Duck and Donkey Tavern
The lodge restaurant and firelit bar, serving hearty home cooked meals and local trout when available.
Manong Restaurant
A small town restaurant listed for local dishes and daily specials, safest as a lunch checked open on the day.
Outdoor things to do in Semonkong
Maletsunyane Falls Abseil
A 204 metre single drop roped descent beside the falls, with a training day first and a hard climb out.
Pony Trek to Maletsunyane Falls
A guided ride on sure footed Basotho ponies, hired from local owners, across highland and villages to the falls.
Ketane Falls
A remote falls of over 100 metres, reached only on foot or by pony on overnight treks with village stays.
Maletsunyane Falls Gorge Hike
A guided hike down into the gorge to the pool at the base of the falls, with the climb out as the real effort.
Maletsunyane River
Guided fly fishing for brown trout, rainbow trout and endemic yellowfish in cold, clear high altitude water.
Mountain Biking from Semonkong Lodge
Guided riding on unmarked highland tracks and river crossings, with the lodge as the only support system.
Best hotels in Semonkong
Semonkong Lodge
The only full service lodge in town, with dormitory rondavels, private rondavels with fireplaces and a campsite.
Ramabanta Trading Post Lodge
A simple trading post lodge on the Maseru road, for breaking the drive or waiting out weather and full dates.
Is Semonkong expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | LSL 700 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | LSL 1,500 a person |
| Splurge | LSL 2,850 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Donkey Pub Crawl: a few days ahead
- Basotho Blanket Presentation: a few days ahead
- Maletsunyane Falls Abseil: weeks ahead
- Pony Trek to Maletsunyane Falls: a few days ahead
- Ketane Falls: weeks ahead
- Maletsunyane Falls Gorge Hike: a few days ahead
- Maletsunyane River: a few days ahead
- Mountain Biking from Semonkong Lodge: a few days ahead
- Book Semonkong Lodge first for school holidays, Easter and festive dates, because it is effectively the only lodge in town.
- Book the abseil at the same time as the room, because it needs a training day, the falls day and a weather buffer.
- Book multi day pony treks ahead so ponies, packhorses and village hosts can be arranged.
Is Semonkong safe?
- Crime is common, including armed robbery and carjacking; do not walk alone in isolated areas or after dark, drive in daylight where possible, and be careful near border crossings and road junctions.
- Carry insurance that explicitly covers abseiling, pony trekking and medical evacuation, and bring all prescription medication with you.
Semonkong travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Do not repeat 204 metres as the falls height: the falls are listed at 192 metres and 204 metres is the abseil.
- Do not arrive expecting a choice of hotels or restaurants: Semonkong is a one lodge town with no luxury tier.
- Do not attempt a flooded lodge ford, a swollen gorge route or the mountain road at speed after dark.
Getting around Semonkong: public transport and more
- Maseru to Semonkong is about 130 kilometres and a 3 hour drive on a now tarred main road, then rough gravel down to the lodge.
- Fill up with fuel before leaving Maseru or Qacha's Nek and do not plan on buying fuel in Semonkong town.
- A daily bus and minibus taxis run from Maseru, but they are slow, leave when full and are best used in daylight.
Who Semonkong suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Semonkong your trip
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