The Sani Pass

GATEWAY TO A KINGDOM

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.