Lesotho 🇱🇸 visit

 

Lesotho 🇱🇸 , known as the "Kingdom in the Sky" for its elevation, it boasts striking scenery with tall peaks and valleys. 

 A mountainous country with a temperate, alpine climate and the highest low point of any country in the world (lowest point 1400m above sea level.)

Basothos culture is reflected in symbols like the traditional Mokorotlo hat and their Wool blankets.

The economy relies heavily on agriculture and textile manufacturing. The garment industry, which exports significantly to the U.S., has made Lesotho the "denim capital of Africa". 

Founded by Moshoeshoe I in the 19th century and remained independent until becoming a British protectorate before its independence in 1966. It is a constitutional monarchy with King Letsie III as the monarch and a Prime Minister leading the government. 

Interesting facts:

It is one of the three sovereign enclaves in the world, similar to San Marino and Vatican City. 

The Letseng diamond mine, though producing few stones, yields diamonds with the highest dollar value per carat globally. 

The national motto is "Peace, Rain, Prosperity" in Sesotho. 

Total Size: 30,355 square km About the size of Brandenburg in Germany 🇩🇪 

General Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Geographical High Point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Drakensberg hiking at Golden Gate NP

Hiking in Golden Gate National Park in the Drakensberg 🇿🇦 with a lovely group from Germany 🇩🇪 

Wonderful! 🇿🇦👣⛰️🎉

The Drakensberg Mountains are a dramatic, towering mountain range forming the eastern portion of Southern Africa's Great Escarpment, located on the border between South Africa and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Named "mountains of the dragon," they are also known as the uKhahlamba or "barrier of spears". 

This UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, is a transnational property, recognized for both its natural beauty and the 4,000-year-old San rock art. 

Famed for its spectacular natural scenery, significant biodiversity, historical rock art by the San people, and role as a crucial water source for the region.

Table Mountain & Lionshead

Table Mountain 

Two nights 🌙 ✨️ Three magical days 👣

Day 1 Hike 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️up beautiful Orangekloof. Evening enjoy a delicious dinner 😋 and enjoy sunset 🌞✨️🌙🍹

Day 2 Explore the mountain ⛰️! Early morning run around the dams.🏃🏻🏃🏻‍♀️ Followed by a scrumptious breakfast 😋 🍳🍎 After which we explored Tranquility Cracks, the dive board etc. 👣👣 Afternoon relax 📘☕️ Evening time at the fire 🔥 and a delicious braai 😋🥩🧀🍢

Day 3 Tasty Breakfast 😋 ☕️🍉🍌after which we hike down Skeleton Gorge 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️

Absolutely amazing!

Lionshead sunset  🌞 🌙  ✨️ hike 🚶‍♂️ 🚶‍♀️ with a lovely Swiss 🇨🇭 couple. Wonderful! 🇿🇦👣⛰️🎉 Privileged!

Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 5 Ireland Family Time 🥳 🇮🇪

Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 5 (1) Family time Dublin City Tour 🥳   🇮🇪

Very interesting city walking tour with Yellow Umbrella 🌂 Very interesting. Learned a lot about Irish history and culture & Dublin city. Thoroughly enjoyed it

 Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 5 (2) Family time Dalkey Lobster Festival 🦞 🥳   🇮🇪 

We went to the renowned Dalkey Lobster Festival🦞 (before the rugby 🏉) with the kids and some of their friends. It was a feast and loads of fun 😋🍻🦞 

Dalkey  is a picturesque coastal town in south Dublin. A very popular yearly festival of

culinary indulgence, live music, street entertainment, and artisan exhibits, all before the children go back to school.

Castle street was transformed into “Cuisine de Dalkey” as all of the eateries up cooked festival favourites. Everything from lobster rolls, mussels, crab claws, oysters, paella, seafood chowder and fish n’ chips were on the menu. The Tramyard Village had market stalls everything from vintage clothing to art, jewellery, artisan products and everything in between. The Dalkey Town Hall showcased fine art and craft fair.🇮🇪 🎉

Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 5 (3)  Family time Royale canal Greenway 🥳   🇮🇪  

We cycled 🚲160km mostly along the Royal Canal Greenway from Dublin to Longford 🇮🇪 to visit dear friends, Chris & Marthie Potgieter. We had a wondeful time together 🥳 🎉 🎈 🤗 It was special!

The Greenway runs along the towpath of the Royal Canal which was constructed between Dublin and Longford at the turn of the 18th century to connect the River Liffey to the River Shannon.

Check out my ride on Strava: https://strava.app.link/Wnzro0dIzWb

Check out my ride on Komoot:
https://www.komoot.com/tour/2527662998?ref=aso

Europe 🇪🇺 2025 Part 5 (4)  Family time at Johnnie Fox's Pub & Restaurant

We went to Johnnie Fox's Pub & Restaurant the last night to say good bye to the kids  🤗 Dublin & Ireland 🇮🇪. It was a great time and a wondeful last evening together🥳🎉. 

Johnnie Fox's Pub & Restaurant is one of the oldest pubs in Ireland, Established in 1798.  Renowned for being the highest pub in the country.  Nestled in the peaceful township of Glencullen and surrounded by the beautiful serenity of the Dublin Mountains.

Traditional music sessions are as much alive today as they were in the past. It is indeed something that Johnnie Fox's Pub & Restaurant has been famous for with sessions popping up ad hoc, as they say.

Storytellers are often around here during cold winter days and evenings sitting by the open turf fires in the pub. The live entertainment has been a trade mark at Johnnie Fox's and it continues to this day, all be it in a more structured way now with the availability of one of our many house bands or singers, or with the world renowned Johnnie Fox's dancers.