TOURISM ATTRACTIONS IN LESOTHO KATSE DAM

The title descibes the tourism attractions found in Lesotho such as waterfalls like Maletsunyane falls which is a highest drop and the mountains like Thabana Ntlenyane. There also parks namely Sehlabathebe National park and Ts'ehlanyane National park etc where there are so many activities that can attract tourists.

1. TOURISM ATTRACTIONS KINGDOM OF LESOTHO Name : Makata Nkarabeng Juliet

2. BRIEF INTRODUCTION Basutoland gained independence on the 4th October 1966 from the United Kingdom and it was renamed the kingdom of Lesotho . This is a small, mountainous , landlocked country surrounded by its much larger neighbor, South Africa.

3. Lesotho is a home to the beautiful Maletsunyane falls, the tallest single drop waterfalls in Southern Africa where one can enjoy trekking in the breathtaking of Maloti Mountains. The waterfall is located in Semonkong. WATERFALLS

4. THE PLACE WHERE MALETSUNYANE ERFALL IS LOCATED Semonkong is the place situated in the Highlands of Lesotho in Maseru district. It once served as hideout for outlaws and this day untamed and remote atmosphere. The name of this village means the "place of smoke” which derives from Maletsunyane falls. This waterfall creates ”smoke” because it is the highest drop in Southern Africa.

5. SEMONKONG There are so many activities that can be done in Semonkong thus include: Hiking, biking trials, Maletsunyane falls, pony-trekking trials and trout fishing hence tourism attractions.

6. This is a waterfall is located in Mafeteng district. The water falls perpendicular or very steep descent of the water of the stream. It is one of the waterfalls in Lesotho and it has an elevation of 2225 meters. Ketane falls is situated close to the helmets Ha Hlalele and Khubetsoana Sekolong. KETANE WATERFALLS

7. MOUNTAINS Lesotho has the maloti mountains which are part of the Drakensburg range. This mountain range is known for its towering peaks including Thabana Ntlenyane and Thaba-Putsoa (at 3482 meters) which is the highest point in Lesotho. The maloti mountains offer amazing hiking opportunities and stunning views of the rugged landscape which attracts tourist.

8. MOUNTAIN AT NIGHT This mountain was named Thaba-Bosiu. It is a historical site and cultural landma r k in Lesotho. It is a sandstone plateau located about 25km east of Maseru the capital town of L esotho. Thaba-Bosiu served as a stronghold of king Moshoeshoe 1, the founder of Basotho Nation and it was instrumental in the resistance against colonial invasion in the 19 th century. Today, it is a national monument and a popular tourist attraction with museum and various historical sites that provide insight into the history of Lesotho and Basotho people

9. THABA-BOSIU It is therefore one of the tourism attractions for several reasons such as : HISTORY: As a national monument. The story of Moshoeshoe1.The resistance against the colonial invaders. SCENIC VIEWS: Beauty and the uniqueness offered by the sandstone plateau to the countryside.

10. PARKS SEHLABATHEBE NATIONAL PARK This park is located the Southern part of Lesotho in Qacha’sNek district. It is a home to a variety of world life, including blesbok, eland, baboons and various bird species. The park is known for its rugged scenery, including the Drakensberg escarpment and sandstone formations. Sehlabathebe was also designated as a UNESCO world heritage site for its cultural significance it contains many historical and archaeological sites, including rock art that dates back thousand of years.

11. TS'EHLANYANE NATIONAL PARK Ts'ehlanyane National Park is located in Leribe district in the North eastern part of Lesotho. It is known for its rugged terrain, which includes sandstone, cliffs, waterfalls and the beautiful oxbow lake. The park is also a home to several plant species, such as Afromontane forest and the endemic spiral aloe, as well as wildlife like eland, baboons and various bird species. The park provides excellent opportunities for hiking, rock climbing and wildlife viewing. Therefore it is a tourism attraction in Lesotho.

12. AFRISKI Afriski is a popular resort located in the Maloti Mountains of Lesotho, near the southern African border. It is the only ski resort in sub-Saharan Africa and it offers skiing and snowboarding opportunities for both beginners and advanced riders. The resort is open from June to September, during the Southern Hemisphere's winters months and offers various slopes and ski lifts. In addition to skiing, Afriski also offers other activities like hiking, mountain biking and abseiling. It's a great destination for winter sports enthusiasts and adventure seekers, so the resort attracts so many tourists.

13. CONCLUSION Tourism is very important to everyone in that: when one tours, they explore some new places, get information and interact with other people. Like it has been stated above, in Lesotho here there are so many places that attract tourist such as waterfalls, mountains, parks etc.

14. REFERENCES “ The history of Basotho: An African Epic” By M.L Roth “The history of Lesotho” By M.C.B Crabtree www.mindat.org/feature-932795.html www.lesotho-info.co.za