"A montane wonderland, where two rivers meet"




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This protected area is reached by a 32 km gravel access road that leaves the main A1 route 3km south of Butha-Buthe.  The route passes through the village of Khabo’s and parallels the Hlotse river along a very picturesque valley until it reaches the park entrance. The Ts’ehlanyane National Park is located deep in the front range of the Malutis, with headquarters at the foot of the Holomo Pass. The reserve owes its origin to the access road to the Hlotse tunnel adit for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. This protected area lies at the junction of the Ts’ehlanyane and the Holomo rivers on the western scarp of the Front Range of the Maluti mountains.


Over 5600 hectares of extremely rugged mountain terrain is protected within this park, which includes one of the very few indigenous woodlands in Lesotho.



Some of the finest examples of Leucosidea sericea, “Ouhout”, or Che-che, woodland are preserved at the heart of this area, with a number of undergrowth plants that are unique to this woodland habitat.  On the banks of the rivers and streams are stands of berg bamboo, which besides being of significant cultural significance to the Basotho people, provide a habitat for the endangered butterfly species Metisella syrinx.


Developments at Ts’ehlanyane have focused primarily on tourism. A campsite has been built and former offices have been converted into youth hostel type accommodation with comfortable double rooms and communal ablution facilities. A day visitor area has also been created, as well as staff housing. A hiking trail to link the Ts’ehlanyane National Park with the Bokong Nature Reserve, which is on top of the mountain about 39km walking distance away, is now available, with stone hiking huts at the two end points. Pony trekking is also catered for.

A lodge site has been identified, ready for an entrepreneur to develop into a more upmarket tourism facility. This site has electricity, water and telephone connections close by and boasts spectacular views on the Maluti wilderness. It is surrounded by panoramic views of the Maluti mountains. Comprehensive ecological development and operational plans have been compiled for the national park.