Injisuthi security

A taxi driver! That well explains the litter on the path of bread packets, tobacco packets, milk bottles,bits of torn white plastic from carry bags as well as senseless damage done to our centenary hut and dino cave. one only has to look around taxi ranks to recognise that yes this could well be damage caused by a taxi driver visiting his family across the border. Sooo sorry smugglers and here I thought you were to blame. Wonder if in is the "legit"ones who are also dropping the dagga seeds along the path which are taking root on most passes.

Hi All,

Just wanting to find out if it's safe to hike up to Mafadi with just 2 people? I understand more is better in terms of injury, for one or two to go for help and another to stay behind for support.

My concern is coming across other people as in the shepards/ basothos along the path. Is it regularly/frequently used by them? Just concerned regarding theft or harassment. Do I have anything to worry about in this area?

Thanks Kyle.

Thanks, I had planned to go with friends but most of them have pulled. I agree, looking forward to just being with my girlfriend.

Agree with Diverian.

Do expect to see some of them, there is a smugglers highway passing right in the Valley between Mafadi and Injusithu Dome, this passes below the foot (about 300m from Mafadi peak crown) before it heads inland. They are likely returning via Judge's Pass after a night out.....

Groups returning without 'merchandise' are usually more jovial and may approach you, to ask for cigarettes mostly or sweets. They are harmless and, whilst one invariably feels insecure especially when there are females in your group, the Basotho's really have no ill-intentions that way, none that I have ever heard off.

Those carrying Merchandise are usually a bit more wary and are unlikely to stop to talk to you. They remain friendly and will wave or shout greetings as they go past.

We have seen 'look-outs' riding Basotho ponies on top of Injasuthi dome, as well as Mafadi peak itself. Again nothing to be concerned about if you see these.

The descriptions above may sound like they are numerous and very frequently in sight, that is not the case, you may pass a one or two groups in a day (EDIT: unless your name is Andrew and you have been covering 90km of the escarpment...then you'll see many many more )

Enjoy it up there. If you go end of May, June or July the presence of shephards, who sometimes are more of a nagging issue, disappear (not guaranteed, but the harsher the early winter, the earlier they move lower (inland into Lesotho)).

Go enjoy it and don't stress.

Last year, I had an experience with a local directly behind Leslies Pass. The guy went to a significant amount of effort to try save my life!

The full story is as follows:
I did a day trip up Grays Pass and then ran along the escarpment to reach Mafadi in mid-late afternoon. I then turned around and set off for the long haul back to Grays Pass. By now, the entire area was decked in mist and as I passed underneath Leslies Pass, I knew this due to a GPS reading and local knowledge, but the top of the pass was not visible.

At this point, a local 1km away on the other side of the valley shouted out. I ignored him and carried on running. The local prompted set off after me and it took about 30 minutes of hard running for him to catch up to me.

I have never experienced this before, so was at first a little concerned - normally if people put in this much effort they real mean it.

In the next few minutes, I did not understand a word he said, and he understood none of mine. But, I did work out instantly what he was on about:
- It was later afternoon, misty, about to rain and the middle of winter
- I had a tiny backpack and it was obvious to anyone about that I could not survive a night in the open
- I had just overshot the only pass in the area
- he thus chased me for those 30 minutes to try point out that I had gone wrong and tried really hard to (politely I might add) get me to follow him to the top of the pass and safety

(I actually continued along the top for several hours more, and got back to the car a long time after dark)


This experience really showed me another side to the locals. We all know there have been incidents in the past, and that they are sometimes a pain. But, most of them are normal people and will mostly leave you alone. If they understood english they might hound you just for the chance for someone to talk to (it must be lonely up there). And, then sometimes there is a genuine hero out there who goes out of his way to do a good deed.

Nice story, to be honest i have only ever had positive experiences with the bBasotho. Sometimes you might not really want to interact with them, because one of the reasons to go into the mountains is to find solitude & peace and quite, but if you think of it form their perspective (365 days a year sitting on top of a mountain with not much company) its understandable they might be curious / want to have a chat

At this point, a local 1km away on the other side of the valley shouted out. I ignored him and carried on running. The local prompted set off after me and it took about 30 minutes of hard running for him to catch up to me.

WOW! That's an amazing story AndrewP! The fact that he caught up to AndrewP in only 30minutes after Andre P had a 1km head start! I didn't know it was possible to catch AndrewP once he has started running. Mindboggling One hardcore dude that

Agreed, I have also had only good interactions.