Spectacular Lesotho

See Sani Pass, Katse Dam, Maletsunyane Falls and Thaba Bosiu on a sixday, guided self-drive tour with go! Drive & Camp Tours, in conjunction with Bhejane 4x4 Adventures.

DAY 1

Our adventure starts in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands town of Himeville, where we meet at the Stone House Café. For the rest of the day we do the awe-inspiring drive up Sani Pass. After clearing customs on the South African side, we have a picnic lunch and then make our way up the pass, with more than enough time to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. Our accommodation for the night is the cosy Sani Mountain Lodge. It feels like you’re literally on top of the world at this lodge, which is built on the edge of the Drakensberg and affords breathtaking views into KwaZulu-Natal.

DAY 2

Our route to Katse Dam takes us along the highest roads in Southern Africa. We cross the Senqu River, which becomes the Orange River when it enters South Africa. The houses that we stay in at Katse overlook the dam. We relax tonight with dinner in the restaurant.

DAY 3

After a big breakfast, we do a guided tour of the Katse Dam wall and learn more about the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. We spend the rest of the day driving a circular route around the dam, with a picnic lunch on the way, and return to our accommodation in the late afternoon.

DAY 4

Today we traverse mountain passes such as the God Help Me and Blue Mountain passes. We get a glimpse of the Mohale Dam, which is also part of the Highlands Water Project. In the late afternoon we arrive in the small town of Ramabanta, where we stay over at the Trading Post Lodge for the next two nights and are spoilt with homemade food.

DAY 5

We take it easy today. We’ll visit Maletsunyane Falls at Semonkong, where the water drops 192 m down a cliff, have a picnic lunch, and return to the lodge to relax for the afternoon. There are some lovely walks in the area, and you can go horse riding.

DAY 6

After our last big breakfast together, we make our way towards Maseru. We drive around Thaba Bosiu before we say our goodbyes at the visitor centre near Maseru Bridge Border Post, and then everyone goes their own way.

Battery facts

We sought some advice from an expert regarding battery maintenance. Reinhardt Avenant, manager of Battery Pro in Bellville, answered the call.

Are batteries damaged when you jump-start your car? “Not necessarily, provided the donor battery is the same size or stronger than the dead battery. Connect the two batteries, red (+) to red. Start up the engine of the donor vehicle, and connect the black (-) jump lead. Start up the dead vehicle, and disconnect the donor battery immediately – black jumper lead first, followed by red. Never ever jump-start a bigger battery with a smaller one.” How long can my car be parked before the battery dies? “Two to three weeks, because there’s always something that draws current. A vehicle’s immobiliser and your car’s clock are the usual suspects. If you disconnect one of the battery’s terminals, the charge in a healthy battery can last up to a year.” What is the typical lifespan of a battery? “Batteries last between three and eight years, but we’ve encountered batteries that were first replaced after 10 years. On the other side of the spectrum, we’ve had cases where a customer ruins a battery in a single day.” How do I get the most out of my battery? “Keep an eye on the battery’s water level. The plates must never poke out above the water level. Also, check your vehicle’s alternator regularly. This is very important. A healthy alternator generates 13,8–14,2 V. Less than that, and it will leave you in the lurch at some point. “Never forget to turn your car’s lights off. It’s harmful if a battery runs down because of this. It’s bad enough if it’s happened once; but after a second or third time, you might as well throw the battery away. “When you remove a battery, store it in a cool, dry place. In our workshop we’ve found that batteries left on the cold concrete floor discharge a lot quicker than those displayed on the wooden shelves next to the cash register. “Don’t just drive short distances; do a drive that lasts a few hours. If you commute to work daily, you need to head out of town over weekends.” How do I test a battery? “An ordinary multimeter will indicate if a battery is losing its charge more quickly than it should. In our workshop we have specialised load meters that also determine the battery’s Ampère hours, and this is a much better indication of a battery’s general health.” Will a battery short out if it gets wet? “No. You can drive through deep rivers that totally submerge the battery, and nothing will happen – provided you keep the engine running, and the power flow isn’t interrupted. If you stall the engine though, you’ll find that the starter doesn’t work particularly well under water.”