Depart Underberg in the morning and take in stunning views of the KwaZulu-Natal landscape as you make your way along the Sani Pass mountain road that connects to Mokhotlong in Lesotho. Stop to get breathtaking views from different locations, and at the South African Border Control and Lesotho Border Control posts. Climb to an altitude of 2,874 meters above sea level to enjoy lunch at the Sani Mountain Lodge – the highest pub in Africa. Continue to a village of the ethnic Basotho people and learn about Lesotho and its people from your experienced mountain guide. Try some traditional beer and homemade bread before you brave the drive back down the Sani Pass. Look for wildlife along the road before you arrive back in Underberg in the afternoon.

Benefit from pickup at a location of your choice in Durban, and then make your way to the historic city of Pietermaritzburg, capital of KwaZulu Natal. Take a short sightseeing tour to see the statue of Mahatma Gandhi by City Hall. Then, venture into the Drakensberg Mountains on the amazing Sani Pass into Lesotho. Travel along the 33-kilometer gravel road that straddles the sheer cliffs in a series of tight zig-zag curves. Marvel at the dramatic landscape as you head from the Sani Pass Hotel, 1,566 meters above sea level. Be amazed as your 4WD Land Rover navigates the narrow road across the border post with Lesotho. Get spectacular views of the rolling hills and endless sky. Reach the top of the Sani Pass, 3,240 meters above sea level. Enjoy a hot lunch at the highest pub in Africa, and then meet the native Basotho people in a local village to learn about their everyday lives. Make your way back down the mountain to cross the boarder back into South Africa.

With eager anticipation the tour group departs from the starting point and heads up to the highest pass in South Africa, Sani Pass. Travel through Himeville to the World Heritage Site of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, following the Mkomazana River up the scenic Sani Valley to the South African Border Post (border formalities) and the Lesotho Border. After the Lesotho border formalities at the top of Sani Pass, the group makes its way to a fully functional Basotho village to learn more about these humble people. You even get to taste their home-made bread and the local beer. To reflect on this incredible expedition, the tour then moves to the Highest Pub in Africa to enjoy a hearty lunch and cold beer. After lunch the tours makes its way back down Sani Pass, arriving in Underberg at approximately 4:00pm. make our back down the Sani Pass.

The day begins with an early morning collection in a 4×4 vehicle and travels towards the Sani Pass. Enjoy the luxury of having your own private vehicle, which allows for more space and comfort as you travel along the bumpy roads, and the freedom to decide where you’d like to go. As the altitude increases, the road becomes narrower and more treacherous, and all signs of human habitation disappear, leaving you alone in the glory of the majestic mountains. Stop and take photos at your leisure, and enjoy a selection of hot and cold beverages and freshly baked snacks as you absorb the breathtaking views. Nearing the top of the pass at 2876 m, head through border control and towards the desolate Lesotho Highlands. Visit a private homestead and immerse yourself in the local community. Learn about the culture and lifestyle of this small family. Then take a walk to learn the stories of the shepherds within their own stone dwellings. Finally, enjoy a refreshing beer at the highest pub in Southern Africa on the return journey before relaxing in the 4×4 as you marvel at more stunning scenic views.

Immerse yourself in Lesotho's culture and nature on a 4WD trip from Underberg. Explore the Sani Pass and enter the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, experiencing real Basotho life. Enjoy a picnic lunch in nature and choose between a pony trek in the foothills of the mountains or a cultural experience with a homestead visit. Head out of Underberg in your 4WD, travelling beyond the Sani Pass and heading into the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, called Makhotlong. Here, experience real Basotho life as you pass by populated villages. Summit some of the highest peaks south of Kilimanjaro in the comfort of your car. Drive through Black Mountain pass – an incredible sight sitting at 3,240 meters above sea level – it often sees snow in winter and sometimes even in summer. As you descend into the valleys below, start to see the remote villages around Mokhotlong. Stop for a picnic lunch of sandwiches, fruit, cocktail snacks, and warm drinks, including tea and coffee as you take in the surrounding mountain views. Then, choose between a pony trek in the foothills near Mokhotlong with your local guide who knows all about rural life in these mountains or an immersive culture experience, including a short hike into the heart of a local homestead to meet locals and see how they live. Finally, head back to Underberg in your 4WD.

It’s the perfect mix of nature, culture and history; enjoy Lesotho’s natural flora and fauna, driving past Lesotho’s highest peak, dive into the culture of the Basotho people in this historical trading post and take a peek into history by getting to see the beautiful old buildings that pack lots of history into this small village. Lesotho is the only country in the world that is in its entirety above 1000m in elevation, making this an experience that you cannot enjoy anywhere else in the world! This tour ticks all these boxes – nature, culture and history – all in Lesotho, all in one day. 6.30 AM We pick you up from your accommodation in Durban. 2 9.00 AM We arrive in Undeberg, grab a coffee and head up into Lesotho for the day. 3 9.00 AM We head up to the highest pass in South Africa, Sani Pass. We travel through Himeville to the World Heritage Site of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, following the Mkomazana River up the scenic Sani Valley to the South African Border Post (border formalities) and the Lesotho Border. 4 10.30 AM After the Lesotho border formalities at the top of Sani Pass, we climb even further into the Lesotho highlands, all the way to the top of the Black Mountain pass. 5 11.00 PM At the top of Black Mountain Pass we get a chance to leave our vehicle, climb a short distance to a beautiful viewpoint of Thabana Ntlenyana. 6 12.30 PM We arrive in the town of Mokhotlong and enjoy lunch together 7 1.00 PM We visit a cultural Basotho village OR go horse-rinding into the Lesotho Highlands 8 2.00 PM We make our back to Sani Pass. 9 5 PM We watch the sun go down on the top of Black Mountain Pass before making our way to overnight accommodation DAY 2 1 8.00 AM After a hearty breakfast, we join up with you again for day two’s activities. 2 8.30 AM Choose between a visit to a cultural village, a hike at the top of Sani Pass or Come back down the pass to explore the villages of Underberg and Himeville and its museum. 3 12:15 PM We arrive back in Underberg, in time for lunch, if you aren’t in a hurry we’ll choose the best spot in Underberg to have lunch together. 4 13:15 PM Head back to Durban.

The Sani Pass is regarded by some as having the most spectacular views in South Africa. Originally a bridle path, it has become a ‘bucket list’ experience that is not to be missed. Walls of sandstone, cascading rivers, and hair-raising bends are just some of the highlights as your 4x4 vehicle takes you through the Barrier of Spears and into the Kingdom of Lesotho.  Visit a living Basotho village and meet its people for a true cultural experience. The highest pub in Africa welcomes you with a hearty lunch and refreshments before your journey back down the pass to Underberg. 

Pack your passport and head up into the Mountain Kingdom for the day. At 3,240 meters (10,630 feet) above sea level, Lesotho can get a tad icy so wrap yourself up in an authentic Basotho blanket, which is yours for the day. You'll be taught how the blanket is tied and worn. After pickup from Durban or other available locations in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, make your first stop at Himeville, at the base of the mountains. Here, climb into a rugged 4x4 and meet your specialist Basotho guide who knows the Sani Pass like the back of his hand. Then, embark on the steep climb up the scenic and daunting Sani Pass as you make your way towards Lesotho. Get your passport stamped at the border and head into no-mans-land which connects South Africa to Lesotho. Keep your camera on standby as you don’t want to miss a chance to capture these dramatic vistas. If you’re lucky, you may even score an eland sighting. Elands are believed to be mystical animals that were revered by the San or bushman people of Southern Africa. Once you enter Lesotho, your guide will introduce you to a Basotho village where you have the opportunity to try traditional bread and beer. Tip: the bread goes wonderfully well with the soup of the day at the pub nearby. Tick another thing off your bucket list by enjoying lunch at Africa’s highest pub (own cost). Later, it'll be time to head back the mountain for your drive back to eThekwini/Durban for drop-off at your accommodation.

The Sani Pass (2874m) is the only vehicle route over the Drakensberg escarpment and into the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. It is a spectacular 4x4 track twisting and snaking its way through the rocky cliffs to the top of the world. Before the 1950's, it was a trail for pack animals to carry goods through to the isolated town of Mokhotlong in Eastern Lesotho. Now, the road carries 4x4 vehicles, though the odd donkey and horse can still be seen plodding slowly up the steep route. Crossing the border at the top of the pass, one enters not only another country, but another world. Our popular day tour gives an all-round experience of Lesotho via the famous Sani Pass. This 4x4 former mule track cutting through the Drakensberg cliffs with a gradient of 1:5 on the 180degree switchback bends. Hear tales of the pioneering of the route and see wildflowers, wildlife and birds inhabiting the sheer slopes. Crossing into Lesotho, we visit a household in a small shepherd’s village and respectfully engage with the Basotho people to learn about their remarkable lives at this altitude. We enjoy a traditional lunch, followed by a visit to the shearing shed to view sheep and angora goat shearing (by hand) in season. We then ascend Black Mountain Pass (3240m), second highest road pass in Lesotho with 360-degree panoramic views where it is likely we will meet shepherds dressed traditionally in blankets. These fascinating people spend the summer months in the highlands tending flocks of sheep and goats. Take a walk to a viewpoint where on a clear day, one can see Thabana Ntlenyana, the highest point in Southern Africa at 3482m before returning via a pitstop for a drink at the highest pub in Africa. What makes Us Different: Guides: Our experienced guides are all knowledgeable and passionate about the Sani Pass and Lesotho. Vehicles: We use mainly 9 seater closed in Landrovers. This is the vehicle which pioneered the Sani Pass. The emphasis is on adventures and experiences on not on comfort. Pricing is numbers dependent, with cheaper prices once the group size on the tour is 3 or more. It makes sense for individuals to join existing tours if possible. Community Tourism: Experience responsible tourism in action! Your tour price includes a contribution to the Sani Top Basotho community. Our ground-breaking approach to grass-roots tourism means that your tour price directly benefits a wide segment of the local community, preserving cultural dignity and ensuring Fair remuneration for services rendered. “Sani Lodge is the Silver Award Winner of African Responsible Tourism Award for Poverty Reduction 2018. Drakensberg Adventures has made a major contribution to local livelihoods and poverty reduction over many years. By involving Basotho stakeholders, they have created opportunities for communities to proudly showcase their unique cultural practices, engaging with guests in an authentic manner, thereby earning their respect. They are the future of tourism in Africa". ~ Judges

Immerse yourself in nature as you traverse a premium Big 5 private game reserve in an open safari vehicle 4x4. Bring on the big cats! Our Big 5 Bucketlist Safari is designed to give you the best chance of seeing Africa’s iconic Big 5 on a day tour within KwaZulu Natal. Enter into a premier reserve and meet your armed ranger who knows the reserve like the back of his hand. Kick it off with a 3 hour morning safari. Your ranger will track predators and big game while keeping tabs on sightings throughout the reserve to ensure that you are in the right place at the right time. This reserve only permits travellers staying at their luxury lodges to traverse the park, unless you’re with us of course. Time to stop to enjoy your packed lunch (excluded) at a scenic spot on the reserve. Discuss conservation and get a deeper understanding of Africa’s wildlife and ecology. After lunch you’ll jump back into the game drive vehicle and explore more of the reserve. Embark on another 3 hour game drive in a different part of the reserve. At approximately 15h30 we will depart the reserve and head back to Durban.