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Maliba Lodge, Lesotho – a romantic and honeymoon getaway

8/1/2019

6 Comments

 
Romantic mountain getaway and honeymoon destination, Lesotho
By Roxanne Reid
Lesotho is an inspiring destination full of soaring mountains and rushing waterfalls. I love it for its scenery and people, its fascinating history (think Moshoeshoe’s visionary leadership) and its Basotho culture (think ponies, blankets and conical hats). Now there’s another reason: a romantic and honeymoon getaway at Maliba Lodge, Lesotho.

​If Lesotho is the Kingdom in the Sky, then Maliba Lodge is a Destination in the Sky because it snuggles among the mountains of the Ts’ehlanyane National Park in the north of the country, where altitudes reach over 3000m. Maliba Mountain Lodge is the only five-star lodge in Lesotho, and the sister three-star self-catering Maliba River Lodge just down the road is also inside the park.
Lesotho accommodation: Maliba Lodge among the mountains of Tsehlanyane National Park
The romantic five-star Maliba Mountain Lodge
When you think about Lesotho accommodation or lodges in Lesotho, you may not realise that Maliba Mountain Lodge presents a wonderful opportunity for honeymooners and anyone hankering after a romantic getaway from South Africa, especially from Gauteng or the Free State. Clarens – a popular romantic destination in its own right – is just 30km from the Lesotho border at Caledonspoort, and from the border to Maliba took us only 45 minutes to drive. Maliba is 4.5 hours away from Johannesburg.

So read on, all you romantics, and find out why you should visit.
Maliba River Lodge, Lesotho
The three-star self-catering Maliba River Lodge
To get to Maliba via Caledonspoort and Butha Buthe, you’ll drive through village after sprawling village. Once you enter the gate into the Ts’ehlanyane National Park, though, it’s all pristine and unspoilt nature where you can drench your senses in mountain views and look forward to activities like pony trekking, hiking, birding and relaxing.

The main area
Walk across a bridge over a pool to reach the lodge’s main reception areas, where you’ll find two comfy lounges, a secret balcony upstairs, tables set under umbrellas on the patio for breakfast and lunch, a walkway to a wooden deck with a fire pit that’s perfect for sundowners with a view. 
Lodges in Lesotho: Maliba Lodge
Bridge over a pond at the main reception area
Lesotho accommodation: Maliba Lodge
Basotho style with a modern twist
Throw in a few stone sculptures, some truly creative wooden sculptures, highly polished tables made of tree trunks and paintings of Basotho scenes, and you have a setting fit for a queen. ​
Five-star Maliba Lodge
The downstairs lounge
Basotho style at Maliba Lodge in Tsehlanyane National Park
The upstairs lounge
The mountain chalets
But perhaps the most beautiful part of the lodge is your mountain chalet. Styled on the traditional Basotho hut – a rondavel of stone walls with a thatched roof – it has been reinvented and given a modern twist with a dressed stone wall inside, a thatch roof that isn’t perfectly circular and conical but gently wavy to echo the mountains beyond.
Maliba Lodge: romantic getaway and Lesotho honeymoon destination
Cosy fireplace for romantic winters
​You’ll find two cosy armchairs around a fireplace stacked with wood for cold winters’ nights. Even when we visited in November, the air was cool at this altitude. Built-in couches, a romantic four-poster bed, two double glass doors to the patio with its sun loungers, and carved double doors to the bathroom all add to its distinctive style. 
Places to visit in Lesotho: Maliba Mountain Lodge
Not much more romantic than a big four-poster bed
​From the patio you can walk down wooden steps to a private deck below the chalet for a wraparound view of grassed hills, che-che trees and the river below. Reed screens between the huts give privacy, as if they’re separate homesteads – a touch that’s especially appealing to anyone looking for an exclusive romantic getaway or honeymoon destination. 
Lodges in Lesotho: Maliba Lodge
Relax in privacy on the patio of your chalet
Things to do at Maliba Lodge
  • Lesotho is ideal pony trekking territory, so saddle up one of those trademark Basotho ponies, known for their stamina and sure-footedness even on steep mountains. A guide will take you to explore the narrow bridle paths for fabulous views of the mountains and streams surrounding the lodge. Simon Khanyela took us to a rock pool and waterfall, past some eland browsing on a mountainside. On the way back, the hardy horses climbed a very steep hill without breaking stride. 
Things to do at Maliba Lodge: pony trekking Lesotho
  • Go hiking along trails into the mountains, to pools and waterfalls. Admire the trees in what is the largest che-che (Leucosidea sericea, old wood, ouhout) woodland in Lesotho, the birds, the views and surround-sound nature. You may even spot small animals like duiker or signs of porcupines. There are ten day-trails around the lodge, from easy 3km walks to more challenging and longer trails of around 13km. For safety reasons, tell reception where you’re going and how long you expect to be.
Hiking at Maliba Lodge in Tsehlanyane National Park
  • Ask to have breakfast on your private deck below your chalet. Or simply take your early morning coffee down the steps to the deck so you can admire the layered folds of mountains, watch sunlight play among the trees, listen to the early morning news of birds like redwing starling, wagtail and batis.
Romantic Lesotho destinations: Maliba Lodge
  • ​Visit one of the local villages for a community tour of about two hours. Get a hint of what everyday life is like for the locals, many of whom wear their Basotho blankets and hats with pride. Visit a stone-and-thatch rondavel, a sangoma (traditional healer), a shebeen (pub), community centre, school or church.
  • Enjoy sundowners on the deck below the patio of the main building, with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains.
Lodges in Lesotho: Maliba Lodge
  • If you enjoy birding, keep your binos handy on your hikes or when you’re relaxing at your chalet. You may spot species like mountain pipit, malachite sunbird, pintailed whydah, orange-breasted rockjumper or even bearded vulture (lammergeier) soaring over the mountaintops.
  • Visit the spa in a tent under shady che-che trees for a facial or massage. We enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing couples’ massage with Hilda and Barbara. It left us feeling on top of the world especially after a bum-numbing, back-crunching pony trek earlier in the day (can you tell I’m a novice rider?). 
Maliba Mountain Lodge and Spa, Lesotho
Barbara (left) and Hilda gave us a relaxing couples' massage
  • Take a tour to see the Tsikoane Cave and dinosaur footprints – after all, Lesotho even has a dinosaur named after it (Lesothosaurus, a 1m lizard from the late Triassic-early Jurassic period). Walk in the 150-million-year-old footsteps of these ancient animals as a guide tells you about them and how the footprints became fossilised. The full tour takes about six hours, including time for a 2km hike to see the footprints.
  • Enjoy a romantic bath by candle light, complete with aromatic bath salts. Great for easing away the muscle tension of a day spent pony trekking or hiking through the park. Wrap up in the towelling gowns, slip on the white slippers and drink champagne by the fire. (Like much of Southern Africa, Lesotho was suffering from drought when we visited in late 2018 so because we’re eco-conscious travellers we didn’t actually fill the bath with water, just set the scene for the photo. We showered instead.)
Romantic Lesotho accommodation: Maliba Lodge
The bath - candlelight at night or with a view of trees and mountains by day
  • Are you keen to put your 4x4 through its low-range paces on some 4x4 trails? Ask at reception about some of the trails in the Maliba area of Ts’ehlanyane National Park. Don’t drive off the tracks and make sure you have proper recovery equipment in case you get stuck.
  • Take a walk around the garden next to the huts at Maliba Mountain Lodge to enjoy some of the local plants. If you’re a plant lover, the info plaques will enhance your experience.
  • Have dinner in the restaurant or lunch on the patio. We enjoyed oxtail, Highland trout and cheesecake in the evening and toasted sarmies and stirfry at lunch time. Just don’t be in a hurry; order quickly because this is slow food so there will be lots of time to have a drink and relax before your meal arrives from the kitchen.
Maliba Lodge Lesotho: the verandah
  • In winter, drink red wine or hot chocolate around the fire in your chalet, as romantic a spot as you could hope for.
  • If you’re a keen long distance runner, visit Maliba in late November to participate in the Lesotho Ultra Trail. This annual 38km or 50km high-altitude route winds through a park of great natural beauty, challenging you with world-class mountain running – an excellent new notch on your marathon belt.
Staff at Maliba Mountain Lodge, Lesotho
Maliba Lodge staff pose in front of a portrait of Moshoeshoe I, the nation's founder. From left: Polo, Nthaby, Hilda, Tanki, Grace and Kananelo
Note: I was a guest of Maliba Mountain Lodge for two nights, but was given free rein to write what I chose. I paid for all travel costs, meals and drinks.

Like it? Pin this image! ​
Looking for a romantic getaway or honeymoon destination? Try Maliba Lodge in Lesotho’s Tsehlanyane National Park. Find out things to do at Maliba Lodge and what makes this five-star Lesotho accommodation one of the best romantic lodges in Lesotho. Lesotho destinations, places to visit in Lesotho. #Lesotho #africantravel
Looking for a romantic getaway or honeymoon destination? Try Maliba Lodge in Lesotho’s Tsehlanyane National Park. Find out things to do at Maliba Lodge and what makes this five-star Lesotho accommodation one of the best romantic lodges in Lesotho. Lesotho destinations, places to visit in Lesotho. #Lesotho #africantravel
You may also enjoy
​18 things to do in Lesotho, Southern Africa
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Semonkong Lodge: how to fall in love with Lesotho
​Golden Gate Highlands National Park: the ultimate guide

Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
6 Comments
Kelsey Çetin link
12/1/2019 10:20:45 am

This place and all the activities there look incredible. I love the architecture and that breakfast patio looks inviting, too!

Reply
Roxanne Reid link
21/1/2019 12:56:58 pm

Indeed. Kelsey, it's well worth a visit whether you want to do all the activities or simply to veg out and chill in beautiful surroundings.

Reply
Michelle
12/1/2019 10:37:49 am

Oh my this is absolute romantic perfection! Definitely saving it for my next trip to South Africa. Didn't realise it's so close to SA when I initially read it was in Lesotho - what wonderful news!

Reply
Roxanne Reid
21/1/2019 01:00:43 pm

Ah Michelle, I'm sure you'll love it. Few people outside Africa know about Lesotho, but it's a special little patch of heaven.

Reply
Thamie
18/5/2019 07:15:58 pm

I need a Qoutation for the 24 July to the 28 for a couple

Reply
Roxanne Reid
18/5/2019 07:44:03 pm

I'm not an agent or booking service, just a writer who wrote about my own experience. I suggest you follow the link in the blog above to Maliba Lodge or google it to enquire about reservations.

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    I'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel.
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