Sani Pass Tours

Sani Pass Tours

Description

Once, the Sani Pass was a rough mule trail descending the Eastern Highlands of old Basutoland into Natal. Tough drovers brought wool and mohair down the Pass on donkeys and mules to be exchanged for blankets, clothing and maize meal, the essentials for life in a remote, impoverished country. And a young man had a dream ? of operating a motor vehicle service up this fantastic Pass, using the 4-wheel drive vehicles he had seen on service in World War II. His name was David Alexander and he founded this Company in 1955. It has operated on the Sani Pass ever since.

SANI PASS TOUR

The SANI PASS - the only road link between KwaZulu-Natal and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. A 4x4 adventure into a different world - the land of the People of the Blanket. Starting at 1540m above sea level you will follow the deep valley incised by the Mkhomazana River to breast the summit at 2873m - with almost 1000m climbed in the last 8km of your trip in our 4x4 vehicles.
In SUMMER waterfalls cascade and tumble into the river below. The green slopes that sweep upward to the base of towering basalt cliffs are dotted with the colour of our great variety of flowers and the roadside is lined with flowers. Our vast floral variety, in number of species and their traditional uses, will earn this region the coveted WORLD HERITAGE SITE status. Our knowledgeable and keen guides have introduced botanists and horticulturists from all over the world to this floral wealth.
In WINTER under a cloudless sky iced falls sparkle next to the hairpin bends. This is our dry season when the early afternoon sun burnishes the dry veld to a rich gold. And there is the ever-present promise of snow.
And along the way our registered Tour Guides will tell you of the history of the SANI PASS - of the long-gone San people who lived and hunted here until they, too, were hunted out. Of the days of long trains of mules that plied this twisting track. And if names like Ground Woodpecker, Orangebreasted Rockjumper (shown here), Drakensberg Siskin, Gurney's Sugarbird, Bearded Vulture, Mountain pipit, strike a response in you, then you will know that this is an important site for avid birdwatchers.

ROCK ART TOUR

The first flush of dawn lights the sky in the east. It is still dark in the cave but the diminutive hunter stirs. In an instant he is awake, fully alert. Stepping over the women and children still asleep around the now dead embers of the fire, he moves into the pale light. He picks up his bow, a quiver of arrows and his bag made of an eland's stomach.

When they return - it may be in only two or three days time if they have to follow the spoor of an antelope wounded by their poisoned arrows until it finally drops - there will be celebration and a feast of meat. And music and clapping and the fire throwing the moving shadows of the little dancers tall on the sandstone walls.

Let us tell you something of the lives of these vanished people. Let us take you back ... to the people whose story is the beginning of Africa … through the mists of time.

We'll guide you on a day or overnight hike to San Rock Art sites and an ancient "smithy" where they fashioned their stone implements. And their lives and legends will unfold as you stand in awe of these great, long-vanished artists who painted the scenes of hunt, of celebration, of their beliefs, on the walls of caves and overhangs

THIS IS A SELF-HELP INITIATIVE SPONSORED BY SANI PASS TOURS.
GUIDES ARE TRAINED AND ACCREDITED BY NATURE CONSERVATION SERVICES.

LESOTHO TOURS

Extended Tours into Lesotho – Tailor made – Price on request

The basis of this tour will travel up Sani Pass through the northern area of Lesotho with a stopover at Oxbow Lodge. The trip will then continue through the lowlands at Butha Buthe and Leribe for excellent mohair crafts. Onto Katse Dam – the Lesotho Highlands water project which supplies water to Johannesburg and Pretoria – an awesome engineering feat, including a tour in the dam wall. From Katse we travel through magnificent mountain areas through Thaba Tseka to Sani Top Chalet for overnight. Sani Top is the highest pub in Africa and has a special ambience. The next day return to Himeville/Underberg via the Sani Pass. Optional extentions to Thaba Bosiu and/or Malealea.

Some interesting facts on Lesotho:

• It covers an area about the size of Belgium
  
• It is regarded by the UN as one of the poorest nations in the world
  
• It is known as the Roof of Africa
  
• It is totally surrounded by South Africa
  
• The whole country is above 1000 meters and no other country in the world can make this claim, including Nepal.

QUAD BIKE TOURS

Option 1: A 4x4/quad combo tour where we meet at Sani Pass tours office in Underberg, taking a picturesque tour up Sani in 4x4 vehicles, once at the top, we do a quad tour from the pub. Either the Sani River trail on quads, 90min (R820/p for both 4x4 and quad tour) or Saddle tour on quads, 60min (R720/p for both 4x4 and quad tour). After the tour we enjoy lunch and traverse Sani pass in 4x4 to be back in Underberg by approx 3 - 4pm.

Option 2: Lesotho overnight at the Highest Pub in Africa. A guided 4x4 tour from Underberg up to Sani Top Chalet, both the Sani River (18km) and Saddle tour (12km) on quads, overnight at Sani Top and then back to Himeville in 4x4's. All meals, quads, 4x4 tour, guide and accommodation included. R1900/p for the full overnight package. Contact us for the full itinerary.

A few notes:

• Group size, min 2 and max 8 people at a time
• No experience required as we provide tuition and training
• Passengers are welcome on quads at a discounted rate
• Age limit is 16 as riders on quads, passengers from 6 years and up
• We supply helmets and gloves for the quad tour

Contact Details Murray Cairns +27 (0) 33 7011 064 +27 (0) 33 701 2631 +27 (0) 72 703 4586 Enquire now View Rates View Directions