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exploring the maloti drakensberg route the maloti drakensberg experience see travel map inside this flap❯❯❯ the maloti drakensberg experience the maloti drakensberg experience …the person who practices ecotourism has the opportunity of immersing him or herself in nature in a way that most people cannot enjoy in their routine, urban existences. This person “will eventually acquire a consciousness and knowledge of the natural environment, together with its cultural aspects, that will convert him or her into somebody keenly involved in conservation issues… héctor ceballos-lascuráin internationally renowned ecotourism expert” travel tips for the maloti drakensberg region Eastern Cape Tourism Board +27 (0)43 701 9600 www.ectb.co.za, [email protected] lesotho south africa Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife currency Maloti (M), divided into 100 lisente (cents), have currency The Rand (R) is divided into 100 cents. Most +27 (0)33 845 1999 an equivalent value to South African rand which are used traveller’s cheques are accepted at banks and at some shops www.kznwildlife.com; [email protected] interchangeably in Lesotho. Note that Maloti are not accepted and hotels. Major credit cards are accepted in most towns. Free State Tourism Authority in South Africa in place of rand. banks All towns will have at least one bank. Open Mon to Fri: +27 (0)51 411 4300 Traveller’s cheques and major credit cards are generally 09h00–15h30, Sat: 09h00–11h00. Autobanks (or ATMs) are www.dteea.fs.gov.za accepted in Maseru. All foreign currency exchange should be found in most towns and operate on a 24-hour basis. Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) conducted in Maseru. language South Africa has 11 offi cial languages. Most people +266 22 312 238 banks There are three commercial banks – Standard Bank, can speak some English. www.ltdc.org.ls; [email protected] NedBank and Lesotho Bank – offering exchange services telephones All towns have modern telephone services. Tourism KwaZulu-Natal in their Maseru branches. Open Weekdays (excl Wed): Cellular reception is good in most towns and coverage +27 (0)31 366 7500 08h30–15h30, Wed: 08h30–13h00, Sat: 08h30–11h00. extends to many rural areas. Roaming agreements exist www.zulu.org.za; [email protected] or language The offi cial languages are Sesotho and English. Many with international mobile phone companies. To call within South African National Parks Basotho can speak English. South Africa dial the three digit area code (starting with a 0) +27 (0)12 426 5000 telephones Services are available in main towns. Automatic followed by the number. To reach an international number www.sanparks.com trunk services operate between Lesotho and South Africa. dial 00 followed by the country code. South Africa’s country Satellite connections are also available to some countries. code is +27 weather Generally sunny, with cold, dry winters Cell phone roaming is available for South African visitors, but postal services Post services are available in most towns. and hot, wet summers. In high-lying areas not yet with other countries. Cellular reception is good in the Open Mon to Fri: 08h30–16h30, Sat: 08h00–11h30. Some temperatures fl uctuate enormously, even in lowlands. International numbers from Lesotho are dialed with close for lunch from 13:00–14:00. Numerous courier services summer. Snow has been recorded in every 00 followed by the country code. Lesotho’s code is +266. are also available. month of the year. Winters (May to July) can be postal services Post offi ces are open Mon to Fri 08h00–16h30, air travel The national airline is South African Airways (SAA) extremely cold and snowy. Summer (December Sat 08h00–12h00. (website: www.fl ysaa.com). Many other airlines operate in to February) can get very hot. Summer and spring air travel SA Air Link (Tel +266 22 350 418/9) fl ies between South Africa and offer frequent fl ights from all over the world. are characterized by frequent thunder storms. Moshoeshoe I International Airport (Maseru) and OR Tambo OR Tambo International Airport (in Johannesburg) is the main International Airport (Johannesburg). Sun–Fri: 3 fl ights a day; South African airport; connect to Moshoeshoe I International standard time The whole region is 2 hours ahead of Sat: 4 fl ights. Lesotho also has 27 airstrips. Airport in Lesotho, or to Durban, Bloemfontein or East London, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +2). road travel Most of the gravel roads are in good condition. The among others. extreme topography does mean that most roads, especially in road travel South African roads are mostly tarred, and public holidays the highlands, have sharp bends and steep hills, resulting in generally in good condition. Rural roads may require caution. New Year’s Day 1 Jan slower than anticipated progress. petrol and diesel Petrol and diesel are available in most South Moshoeshoe’s Day (Lesotho) 11 Mar car hire There are car and 4x4 rental companies based in African towns. Human Rights Day (SA) 21 Mar Maseru, including Avis, Budget and Imperial. driving licences International driving permits are recognized Good Friday Variable driving licences International driving permits are recognized in South Africa. Driving licences from most countries are also Easter Monday Variable in Lesotho. Driving licences issued in most countries are also valid for up to twelve months. They should be printed in Ascension Day (Lesotho) Variable valid, up to a period of 6 months. They should be printed in English, or accompanied by a certifi ed translation. Africa/Hero’s Day (Lesotho) 25 May English, or accompanied by a certifi ed translation. car hire To hire a car, travellers must have held a valid driving Freedom Day (SA) 27 Apr petrol and diesel Petrol and diesel are available in larger license for fi ve years. Most airports offer car hire facilities. Worker’s Day 1 May towns. It is advisable to fi ll up when you see a pump, rather National contact numbers for some of the main car rental Youth Day (SA) 16 Jun than waiting until your tank is nearly empty. companies are: Avis: +27 (0)861 021 111, Budget: King’s Birthday (Lesotho) 17 Jul taxis There are a number of private taxi companies operating +27 (0)861 016 622, Hertz: +27 (0)861 600 136, Imperial Car National Women’s Day (SA) 9 Aug in Maseru. Contact the Lesotho Tourism Development Rental: +27 (0)861 131 000, Europcar: +27 (0)860 011 344 Heritage Day (SA) 24 Sep Corporation (LTDC) for more information. visa requirements All foreign visitors are required to carry a Independence Day (Lesotho) 4 Oct visa requirements Non-citizens must carry a passport. Visas are passport. Visas are required unless your country has a visa Christmas Day 25 Dec required unless your country has a visa abolition agreement abolition agreement with South Africa. Please contact your Boxing/Family Day (Lesotho/SA) 26 Dec with Lesotho (contact your Lesotho Embassy). Upon entering nearest South African Embassy. the country you will be granted a one-month stay. Extensions police +27 10111 can be applied for at the Immigration Offi ce in Maseru hospitals Medical facilities are good in urban areas, but more +266 22 323 771. limited elsewhere. Many doctors and hospitals require police Headquarters in Maseru +266 5888 1010 immediate cash payment. Comprehensive health insurance hospitals Q Elizabeth II (Maseru): +266 22 312 501, Maseru is recommended. A leafl et on health precautions is available Private: +266 22 313 260, Leribe: +266 22 400 305, Paray from the South African High Commission. (Thaba Tseka): +266 22 900 256, Mohale Dam Private: +266 22 936 228, Katse Dam Private: +266 22 910 348 exploring the maloti drakensberg route the maloti drakensberg experience the maloti drakensberg experience the maloti and drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and South Africa contain exploring the maloti drakensberg route irreplaceable resources: unique but fragile ecosystems that host a high concentration of First Edition Copyright © 2007 Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project endemic plant species; places of cultural signifi cance; and important wetland systems that are a vital source of freshwater. These features, together with the extremely appealing scenery, give these mountains the potential to become an internationally preferred nature- and culture-based tourism destination. publishers Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project, www.maloti.org PO Box 1362, Howick, 3290 Jive Media, www.jivemedia.co.za PO Box 22106, Mayor’s Walk, 3208 foreword All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission of the publishers. Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this publication and information is believed to be accurate at It was against this backdrop that South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho launched the time of going to print, no liability can be accepted by the publishers for any errors or omissions. Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Project (MDTP) in 2003, The production of this book was made possible through the use of grant funding from the Global Environmental Facility and the Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project. fulfi lling the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two countries in 2001. The project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the World Bank, has the ISBN 978-0-620-38148-2 conservation of the globally signifi cant biodiversity and cultural heritage of this region as its main objective. Linked to the conservation effort is promoting the sustainable contributors mdtp specialists Brent Corcoran, Elna de Beer, Duncan Heard, Tsepo Lepono, utilization of the many economic opportunities – especially tourism – arising from the Richard Lechmere-Oertel, Thato Parrow, Roger Uys wealth of natural and cultural resources of the region.
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