Maloti Drakensberg Route
Fish in Aliwal North

The Maloti Drakensberg Route is an exciting and innovative initiative that spans the borders between South Africa and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. It looks to increase the flow of visitors to these areas, opening up this scenic region and enriching the experiences of all who travel this way. The Route covers substantial areas of Lesotho, Eastern Cape and the Eastern Free State.

The Programme endeavours to connect the sublime spaces found throughout these two areas, while focusing on the conservation of the region's globally significant biodiversity and contributing to sustainable livelihood opportunities. Focusing on the majestic mountains, scenic towns and villages and the interesting people who inhabit them, the Maloti Drakensberg Route provides travellers with an unparalleled opportunity to experience a diversity of cultures including Basotho, English, Xhosa and Afrikaans. Accommodation along the route includes graded hotels, luxury lodges, self-catering cottages and homely B&B’s. By concentrating on nature-based tourism, the MDR initiative aims to increase awareness of the unique appeal of a region that is home to Africa's two highest waterfalls, the world's oldest clutch of dinosaur eggs, some of the world's finest conservation areas, over 3000 species of flora, birding hotspots, significant engineering achievements, as well as Southern Africa's best adventure, sporting, cultural and artistic destinations, and much, much more. The MDR snakes through one of Africa's premier alpine destinations, bringing together the area's best sites in a concerted effort to develop and protect the region and its inhabitants into the future. The MDRF is a tourism product which derives benefits from tourism to the region, while conserving natural and cultural resources for future generations. The Maloti Drakensberg Route is an exciting and innovative initiative that spans the borders between South Africa and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. In support of sustainable tourism and job creation on the Maloti Drakensberg Route, the private sector (MDR) and government agencies (MDTP) entered into a joint collaborative effort which includes both the governments of South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho. The route weaves through three provinces in South Africa and into Lesotho and takes in a magnificent assortment of irreplaceable resources; sites of cultural and spiritual significance and fragile ecosystems with exquisite biodiversity; a treasure trove of natural and cultural experiences for the adventurous traveller. Committed to conserving Africa's premiere alpine destination and its precious heritage, the MDR provides an opportunity to experience this exceptional landscape and contribute to its sustainability through eco-tourism. The month of September will prove to be an exciting one for the town of Fouriesburg in the Free State.