Malealea Lodge, Lesotho - Pony Trekking & MTB in Mohale’s Hoek

First of all, even before arriving at Malealea, we noticed the impeccable communication as Jackie advised us not to attempt the journey to Malealea that day and redirected us to another lovely guest house closer to Maseru.The road to Malealea is definitely in suboptimal condition and has its challenges - nothing I would attempt in a VW Polo, yet very manageable in a 4x4. Still, going in the dark is something I would personally like to avoid. It was great that you can download the GPS track to the lodge on their website. To us, that was immensely helpful.We came with rooftop tents and while Malealea is not per as a camp site, we were offered a range of very nice spots to choose from. Abolitions were absolutely fine, yet basic.Food was great (make sure to order dinner!and the general vibe of the place very enjoyable.The Pony Trecking was an absolutely great and unique experience. Also amazing for beginners, just do everyone involved - including the horse - a favour and trust your guide and horse, and all will be well. Believe me, I occasionally had doubts myself along the way, but I must applaud Kevin (the horsefor so skilfully navigating steep hill slopes, river crossings and heavy rains. I felt safe (and warmand would do it again in a blink of an eye.The landscape around Malealea is simply stunning and cannot be compared to anything else I’ve ever seen before. It alone is a reason to return.Thank you for this wonderful experience and hopefully see you soon!

What a lovely breakaway. We will definitely return to Malealea Lodge in the future.Delicious meals, wifi available, a pool and truly comfy huts to stay in. The final 7 km to Malealea is quite a challenge as the road is damaged by rain and not repaired.We would definitely recommend walking to the nearby waterfall with a guide. It’s an easy/moderate walk (take snacks and enough waterand can be done with a toddler in a carrier.If you can, bring some clothes/shoes with to give to the people in the village. It will definitely not go unappreciated.Mountain biking, hiking and pony rides are some of the options for the adventuresome. Bring a good book and enough snacks and drinks.Also, give tips where possible.

We loved the place

Beautiful place, great service.

The place is more of a backpackers lodge.It would be great to have a fire place for the warmth as it is very cold in winter.Great staff.Friendly service all round

One of the touristic village in the South Hemisphere with the Night view of the Galaxy 💫🌍🔥🔥🔥🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🎤

We had a fantastic stay at Malealea.We went on a 2 days poney trek with our 3 kids aged 10, 6 and 3. It was challenging but stunning. Our guides Lucky and Malealea made very effort for our trip to be amazing. There was a small misunderstanding with the booking office and we thought the food would be included but it was not. Make sure when you book to clarify this and bring your own food if needed.The lodge itself is comfortable, and very clean. It’s really nice to drive / walk / ride around the village.We also loved the choir and the band. As there are less tourists post COVID you need to ask the manager to get them to come to the lodge but it’s definitely worth it. They also hugely appreciate support from tourism!

Wonderful lodge with brilliant views for camping. Arranged a nearby village walk for us.

Beautiful oasis diep in Lesotho. Friendly heplfull staff. Excellent food.

The location entering through "gate of paradise"...Quiet in heaven, pony riding, hiking, phantastic food, welcomed by staff, nice rooms with view to the mountains, waking up by singing birds, just a dream within life

We had an amazing time there ! First, the outside area, with the view over the Maluti mountains, and the beautiful garden charmed us. Then, the staff, from the bar, to the kitchen and the guides were super friendly, and helped us during all our stay (pony trek, public transport, SIM card…). The rooms are very charming and authentic. We did a 4 days / 3 nights pony trek with our guide Malealea that we will never forget !

A UNIQUE VENUE visited 4 times.comfort, relaxing & tranquil...It was wet arrival, so the wolf got its yearly mud bath yet it dried up pretty quick once the sun arrived. from the owner & family to the staff members on the ground, one can only feel served as Royalty.4 nights spent at the lodge was short of 2 more needed.unfortunately I was forced to leave early due to unforeseen circumstances.to get hold of a sim card & data is like buying can of coke. within 3 mins you on the grid should you REALLY require it.upon arrival I spent one full day relaxing and taking in the FRESH AIR INTO MY RUSTY LUNGS with the rain drops soaking my brains.I had a very restless night - DUE TO THE EXCITMENT of finally being here, couldnt help myself.the following morning travelled to the Botsoela Waterfalls by 4x4, certain sections of the gravel path needed the ground clearance which I was lucky to have.Since it had been raining I got to stand under the Rushing falls and have my lifetime of stress washed away, the water was warm as ever. from here I proceeded to the viewpoint which only left me breathless.the following day I completely the road trip to the river bridge before Thakabanna. breath taking, scenic, one cannot pass these beautiful views without stopping and admiring them with awe.I returned back to the lodge later and planned to visit the 4x4 sundowner drive to the Makhaleng Gorge.the guide from the village bailed on me so I decided to take the challenge on by doing it myself. till one reaches the loop the dusty road is very good, further in the XTREME 4x4 begins, Stay away with your vehicle if you dont have a pair of solid good tyres & very good ground clearance. you could leave your sump behind, rather walk the rest of the way...… unfortunately I wasnt able to see the sundowner as the clouds cramped my style.on every outing, upon my return to the lodge, that cup of coffee from the lounging area just knocked my socks off.my complaint.... the loss culture within the Kingdom itself. there is only a small portion of the kingdom who actually kept there cultural ways intact, this is what gives us visitors the urge to visit such places and remind ourselves of our roots. maybe one would call me OLD school, the influence of city life has been injected into the younger generation who have went a little over board with practicing it in a place which once upon a time A pin Drop would be heard a Mile away.Malealea Lodge will always be revisited and hopefully with my next visit, id get to bring a CAMERAMAN with me as some of the loss video footage would have been Super awesome to see.Many thanks and greetings to Michael & family, Staff members with Bob (Mabenanot forgetting the Coffee Master...…May you be well and blessed for granting us this opportunity to refresh ourselves.

I just saw the movie called Riders of the Sky. What a beautiful movie and what a beautiful place. .I cant believe you had a customer who was complaining about the internet.. That is why I would go to your place to avoid the internet.

Thank you to Management and staff for your friendliness. And always being so helpful during our stay. This far, my guests and i have always enjoyed our stay.

If you want to stay at a place where you can feel the culture and come closer to the local peaple youre right at this place.We spent two nights there and felt very welcome and warm.Of course we would come back again.Tip: Village walk and horse track

It is a very unique experience that allows you to have a glimpse about how life in Lesotho is. All the crew are very nice and helpful, and the dogs are the cutest. They have all sort of events from hikes to live presentations. It’s a place that sounds lively and very different from other tourists traps you may find along the way. It is highly recommended.

Excellent lodge, feels home away from home especially the food. Coffee bar is an amazing addition for afternoon sit around. Ample parking if you are driving. Breathtaking view of the nearby valleys and plenty of tracks to cycle on if you are a cyclist.

Really incredible holiday venue! Loved every moment of it from the hiking to the bushman paintings to the tasty Sutho food. Thank you MALEALEA!!!

A place to go back to your roots. Dont expect a 5 star or a luxury accommodation. It is basic but has everything you need. A place of interest to unwind from the tense city you might live in. Take a guided walk through the villages, try the home brewing beer, learn about the culture and walk to the Bush man paintings. The walk is moderate but not advisable for people with leg problems such as Achilles pain. You will need solid shoes. I enjoyed the challenge of that hike/ walk. Incredible to walk through the mountains and see the erosion caused over time to the landscape.

The lodge itself is a paradise for the people living in the village but not for the visitors, rooms need urgently a huge upgrade specially the bathroom. The prices you pay for everything are much more expensive then in boutique hotel in knysna and as a bar like lions head. As there is nothing more to do then a hike a horse riding and a small visit around the village you urgently need the wifi which is vey expensive and after 10 to 20 minutes you need to purchase more even though if you close all the auto updates from the settings. And yes we spoke with many people from the village fir communication but in 2029 you expect the minimum wifi for free and it is also in lesotho not expensive. I git the feeling that all the people there see the visitors as moving dollars and you can never give enough!

Had an excellent two nights here in early July. Beautiful scenery and plenty to do if you like pony trekking, hiking or just want to chill for a few days.Lodge is not fancy and the rooms are not heated so bring warm clothes in the winter! having said that the rooms are very comfortable and there is range of accommodation to suit various budgets.Would definitely stay again.

A great place! Amazing staff and just really beautiful and great for the soul. Also the lodges are very simple but clean.

Rented a car with a friend and drove out here. Not only was the drive amazing, but once we got to the lodge we were blown away by the view. On top of that, to make things even better, the staff and accommodations were beyond great. Meals are family style, rooms are cozy and clean, and every morning when you wake up you get to see mountains all around you. I highly recommend that you visit the cave paintings. Its a long, steep, hike but well worth it. Will be back again one day.

An interesting experience in a lovely setting. Simple furnishings and amenities, more suited to people keen to explore the surroundings (paying for a guided hike or pony ride for example). Not a lot to do if it is raining heavily, we found. We had issues with front doors not closing or locking, despite changing huts twice, and sorting the issues out took much longer than it should have. Our prepaid wifi vouchers bought at the bar ran out suspiciously quickly for the amount of data usage they claimed to give us.

A very interesting place, the differences from the lodge and village are obvious walking out the front gates. Lovely grounds and though basic has everything you need. Good activities.I highly recommend the gorge walk.

An absolutely magical place. The people are very friendly.Our horse riding tour was also very nice.I really recommend visiting this lodge

Perfect location for travelers who want to Have an authentic Lesotho experience. Hiking, pony trekking and cycling are available. Guests can visit local villages too. Food is good and reasonably priced. Travelers can select from a range of accommodation options. All provide great value for money. Setting is spectacular! I spent four evenings and would love to return.

Very disappointed with the accomodation at Malealea Lodge. We stayed in the forest huts which were not worth their value. The shared kitchen was always a mess, never had enough/proper cooking utensils and animals would get into the garbage at night. For independent travellers, this lodge is overrun with tourist busses; the large crowds get loud and crowd the dining/bar area. The pony treking, hiking and guides were fantastic; they always take you out privately and want the best for you.

On arrival we received a warm welcome, and our host was very accommodating and helpful (she kindly let us use her food as there are no shops nearby). The views from the house are spectacular!

My apologies for the 3 stars earlier. Lost connection. We enjoyed our stay and Bob is a hero for helping to move my guest to a different room. Loved the views, band, songs and great trails

Very nice and cosy place with people from all over the world. Also the entertainment in the evening is great. The food is simple but ok. Also the lodges are very simple but clean. I had a nice stay

A sustainable lodge tightly integrated with the local community. Welcoming and warm staff. Home cooked meals. We lived our time here.

Basic but brilliant. Malealea is a wonderful place to visit, theres lots to do for those who want something a little bit more adventurous. Its more than a little bit special.

What an experience! The horses were great. The guide was awesome. Ill definitely bring more of my clients here. The cleanest and most well stocked campsite. The prices could be lower though

Beautiful lodge in a stunning setting. We spent three nights here relaxing, pony trekking and mountain bike riding - couldnt have asked for a better way to end our time in Lesotho. Mik was exceptionally welcoming and the staff (Melealea, Khotso & all the ladies!!were lovely. Hopefully see you all somewhere down the line!

I was sad to leave Malealea.The lodge is surrounded by typically epic Lesotho scenery- huge mountains as far as the eye can see, with clear, spectacular night skies in the colder months.I really love that the lodge owns its eco-friendly identity without apology but still making sure people are well-briefed going in. It’s electricity off at 10pm, so get your batteries charged before then!Beds are comfortable with an extra Basotho blanket in the colder months. There is a supply of clean water by the bed, space for clothes and books, with a hot (very hot!shower available.The food is ace. Especially the curries. I enjoyed that an effort was made to sit guests together to encourage socialising.The grounds have a playground for kids and all sorts of succulents and a special maze garden to explore.There’s a huge rec room for visitors and this also caters to the computer training courses run for the local community.The lodge helps run the Malealea Development Trust which does fantastic work for the local community- I’d encourage you to ask questions and get involved and learn, this is really something to see how seriously the lodge takes its responsibility to help locally. The field workers are superstars.The activities here are for the adventurous, and range from a few hours to a couple of days (!!)I really wished I could have more time here to experience how an unassuming lodge could achieve so much while being run ethically and responsibly.

Every part of Malealea Lodge lived up to my expectations. The people working there to the Lodge itself was exactly what I want out of a place. Theyre very committed in working with the community and making sure everyone benefits! The food is fantastic and the live music each night was amazing!If you make it to Malealea, Id suggest learning more about the initiatives they work on and how you may be able to help!! I hope to make it back there one day!

A fabulous getaway but I wouldnt recommend more than 2 nights for solo travellers. Scenery is gorgeous. Mike & D are wonderful hosts, they made me feel like one of the family.The pony trek to the waterfall (4hrswas adventurous and worth every minute (highly recommended!!). The guides where friendly and knowledgeable on the area.

Friendly staff in the lodge. Excellent pony trekking in unspoiled, raw nature. Overnight sleeping in African rondavels - just so as the locals do.I

Two days, great stay. Rooms clean and functional. Point trekking to waterfall was an experience, certainly sure footed. Meals prepared looked very good.

Great location, nice lodge. Fun walking and pony trekking. Relaxing, good bar, decent wifi and nice food. Relaxing coffee shop and great facilities.

A near real life of Lesotho living conditions. Pony rides was excellent. The guides were very knowledgeable, friendly & helpful.

Offers a brilliant experience of Lesotho, and supports the local community. Clean accommodation and a great variety of activities. Promotes green living and fun

Very nice, great accommodation, beautiful scenery, lots to do: horse trails, bicycle trails.Only stayed one night, food and bar prices are high though

We stayed in the camp site. It was as basic as you can get. Facilities need some maintenance. Beds at the huts are not comfortable. Solar power good for charging phones and tablets only. Solar turned on for a every short period of time. Best to come prepared and bring your own solar battery charger for convenience.

Great atmosphere within a fantastic local community. Visit the village and the Africas Gift Teaching Farm. Also take a pony trek or hire a mountain bike and guide and ride some of the trails

Had a very nice stay at he Malealea lodge. Nice atmosphere, fantastic views, and great ice coffee and carrot cake at the coffee bar on site. Id recommend the village tour which was interesting and relaxed.

Friendly and open people. The food was really good. Helpfull staff. Awesome how there were a band and choir to entertain. Also the village walk was quite interesting!!

Nice quiet place, obviously if you are looking for somewhat a quiet and peaceful holiday. The self catering chalets have adequate space and comfortable sleeping. I was a bit disappointed with the water which was not warm enough and the fact that the is no power after 22:00 but overall it was fine.

We arrived in the late afternoon without reservation. A this season, it is difficult to book because the traveler is dependent on weather conditions.Anyway we would have slept there in the car, because we were not ready to go back at night. The road is passable for all types of vehicles but at very low speed (bad condition).What luck, housing "self catering" was free. This accommodation is really nice: large dining room, 2 large bedrooms, a kitchen, a terrace and bonus sunny morning.Certainly, there is cut power at 22 PM. But is this a problem for travelers? No of course...We had not shoped before, so we went to the restaurant. The place is really warm. To enjoy your aperitif, you can choose between the terrace on which was laid a great collective brazier or so the bar where you can enjoy a game of billiards.The meal consists of a buffet that offers: a good soup, several choices of vegetables and meats. Dessert and hot rooibos allow you to end your evening ...Regarding the activities, we opted for the walk "black pool". Very good. But I also highly recommend visiting the village accompanied by a "guide". It has nothing to do with some villages tourist traps.PS: the authorities would benefit from hearing the people of Malealea and their petition for the road to be redone !!