Sehlabathebe National Park
| Sehlabathebe National Park | |
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IUCN category II (national park)
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Grasslands of Sehlabathebe National Park. December 2008.
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 Map of Lesotho
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| Location | Qacha's Nek District, Lesotho |
| Nearest city | Sehlabathebe |
| Coordinates | 29°53′56″S 29°07′16″E / 29.899°S 29.121°ECoordinates: 29°53′56″S 29°07′16″E / 29.899°S 29.121°E |
| Area | 69.5 km2 (26.8 sq mi) |
| Established | 1969 |
The Sehlabathebe National Park is located in the Maloti Mountains in Qacha's Nek District, Lesotho, and is part of the larger Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site. Home to both striking biological diversity as well as important cultural heritage, the park was first established on May 8, 1969. The landscape is dominated by grassland of various types. The larger ecosystem as a whole performs invaluable functions including providing freshwater to Lesotho, South Africa and Namibia.
The Park, Lesotho’s first national park, and second largest, is remote, rugged and beautiful, and getting there is always a worthwhile adventure, especially if you’re into wilderness, seclusion and fishing. Sehlabathebe means the “Shield of the Plateau”, mirroring the rolling grasslands, wild flowers and silence provide a sense of complete isolation.
Situated in the south-east corner of Lesotho, at an average elevation of some 2,400 metres above sea level access could be challenging as it is rather remote.
By horseback or on foot
This is the way locals do. Access from the Bushman's Nek pass, near Underberg KwaZulu-Natal. Khotso Horse Trails are currently the only tour operator providing this service on horseback, though the pass is accessible to all on foot.
By vehicle
A road accessible with 4X4 vehicles lead to the park from the town Thaba-Tseka 122 km to the north passing the Matabeng mountain pass. The approximate travel time is 12 hours. Another road accessible with 4X4 vehicles lead to the park from the west and passes the Ramatselitso border crossing (36 km / 4 hours) with South Africa as well as the Qachas Nek border crossing (106 km / 12 hours).
Accommodation is available in the Heritage Lodge that has been build during 2013. Various rooms are available for self catering some with on-suite bathrooms. Electricity is not necessarily available at the lodge. Camping nearby the old Jonathan Lodge is also possible. Accommodation is available near the park at a number of locations in the nearby settlements of Sehlabathebe, and Mavuka.
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Wikipedia