My two week trip through Southern Africa was winding down. I had one more day to try to climb Thabana, return my QQ and get on my flight back to China. So I drove to the bottom of Sani Pass and parked the car. Having heard stories of the rough road conditions I knew my little chariot had no chance. I had a good start when I caught a ride with a police truck going up the pass. But he stopped at the border. After passing immigration I started walking. I thought I would catch another ride but I got all the way to the top of the Pass before any traffic passed me. From the immigration checkpoint on the Lesotho side I got a ride about 12 kilometers that might have saved me 3 km of walking. I made good time across the plateau as there is very little elevation gain after Sani Pass. I got back to the road and quickly got a ride back down to my car. Fortunately. If I would have walked down the hill I would have been hard pressed to make it before the border closed and would have been totally exhausted on the return trip to Johannesburg.
ghaznavid - Feb 2, 2018 8:52 am Date Climbed: Apr 23, 2012
Climbed it 5 times to date!Climbed it in snow and mist, very cold that day!
I have since climbed it on 3 different Grand Traverses, plus on a weekend trip from Vergelegen.
atavist - May 23, 2016 11:46 am
Lesotho HPMy two week trip through Southern Africa was winding down. I had one more day to try to climb Thabana, return my QQ and get on my flight back to China. So I drove to the bottom of Sani Pass and parked the car. Having heard stories of the rough road conditions I knew my little chariot had no chance. I had a good start when I caught a ride with a police truck going up the pass. But he stopped at the border. After passing immigration I started walking. I thought I would catch another ride but I got all the way to the top of the Pass before any traffic passed me. From the immigration checkpoint on the Lesotho side I got a ride about 12 kilometers that might have saved me 3 km of walking. I made good time across the plateau as there is very little elevation gain after Sani Pass. I got back to the road and quickly got a ride back down to my car. Fortunately. If I would have walked down the hill I would have been hard pressed to make it before the border closed and would have been totally exhausted on the return trip to Johannesburg.
WouterB - Feb 21, 2011 8:38 am
Climbed it while teaching in South AfricaTravelled around South Africa quite a bit when I was doing an internship in the University. Loved Lesotho and Drakensberg.