Help with Sani Pass

[GarethHAllen]

Morning, I am going to be in the Drakensberg over Christmas and thinking of going up Sani.

My main concern is crossing borders because of Covid protocol. I don't want to unnecessarily put our kids through Covid tests for a day trip. So do you go through border control at the bottom or at the top? Or is SA side at the bottom and Lesotho side at the top?

All I want to do it go up, have a drink and something to eat at the lodge up top (if they have those facilities) and come down again.

I did go up with my parents when I was about 8 years old so can't remember how it works.

[jelo]

ZA border post is at the bottom.
Lesotho side at the top.

You need to go through both border controls to get to Sani Top.

[JohanMaree]

Just read an article somewhere over the weekend that the border posts are open and no Covid issues in place.

Enjoy the ride and take a gluvine at the "Highest Pub in Africa". Not really the highest but so what!

[Andrepb]

Enjoy the trip.

Just a “heads up” can get quite cold at the top even in December........ couple of years back on one of my trips up the pass it was >30 C at the bottom, bright sunshine, and near freezing at the summit.....so go prepared.

[cornel1610]

Sani Pass tours posted on 10th of Nov that you can do a quick Covid test at the Lesotho border post side. Cost is R170 each.

https://www.facebook.com/28456701505...4121879094833/

You have to go through the Lesotho border post to get to the pub.

[Wandering_Soul]

I went up about 2 weeks ago.

At the time they insisted on a covid test to cross into Leshoto/Back into SA.

However you could happily drive up to the border and come back down without a test, which is what we did. Pass is in good condition and a pleasure to drive.

[dickr]

I went up about 2 weeks ago.

At the time they insisted on a covid test to cross into Leshoto/Back into SA.

However you could happily drive up to the border and come back down without a test, which is what we did. Pass is in good condition and a pleasure to drive.

Did you still need to have your passports even though you were not going into Lesotho

[Wandering_Soul]

Did you still need to have your passports even though you were not going into Lesotho

Yes.

[jelo]

Did you still need to have your passports even though you were not going into Lesotho

you may not pass through a border post without a valid passport

As mentioned several times already: the ZA border post is at the BOTTOM, the Lesotho one is at the TOP, the Sani Top motel is INSIDE Lesotho

https://www.google.co.za/maps/dir/Sa...29.6029875!3e0

[DiscoJan]

Valid passport and PCR covid test is needed at Sani and other border posts. They do now allow entry if test result is within the 14 days validity. Those quick tests are not yet in place.

[Estee]

you may not pass through a border post without a valid passport

As mentioned several times already: the ZA border post is at the BOTTOM, the Lesotho one is at the TOP, the Sani Top motel is INSIDE Lesotho

https://www.google.co.za/maps/dir/Sa...29.6029875!3e0

The border itself is at the top. People mistake the gap between the SA and Lesotho posts as being No-Mans Land when in fact it is still RSA.

It was said that the dining room of the Chalet is in Lesotho and the lounge and deck is in RSA. I was able to get through the SA post on one trip but too late to make the Lesotho post. They allowed us to walk to the Chalet but I had to leave my vehicle on the RSA side of the border post where we toasted the same border officials from the lounge area and they in the dining/pub area

Easier than getting into Croatia in the early 1990s, but thats another story

[jelo]

The border itself is at the top. People mistake the gap between the SA and Lesotho posts as being No-Mans Land when in fact it is still RSA.

It was said that the dining room of the Chalet is in Lesotho and the lounge and deck is in RSA. I was able to get through the SA post on one trip but too late to make the Lesotho post. They allowed us to walk to the Chalet but I had to leave my vehicle on the RSA side of the border post where we toasted the same border officials from the lounge area and they in the dining/pub area

Easier than getting into Croatia in the early 1990s, but thats another story

Interesting: so the border officials let you go all the way up to the Lesotho post without a passport?

[IcePick88]

Interesting: so the border officials let you go all the way up to the Lesotho post without a passport?

If you look at the border of Lesotho, yes. that piece of land is still in SA. BUT, there is one road up to the Lesotho border, so if everyone passing the border post say "I'm just going up the road and coming back", criminals could use this tactic to sneak into Lesotho without "leaving" SA...

[jelo]

If you look at the border of Lesotho, yes. that piece of land is still in SA. BUT, there is one road up to the Lesotho border, so if everyone passing the border post say "I'm just going up the road and coming back", criminals could use this tactic to sneak into Lesotho without "leaving" SA...

I'm well aware of the road, I've been up and down several times.

My question: Does the SAPS and border officials at the SOUTH AFRICA GATE allow you through WITHOUT A PASSPORT?

Because I think you'd be arrested if you drove straight through, but maybe I'm just wrong.

[IcePick88]

I'm well aware of the road, I've been up and down several times.

My question: Does the SAPS and border officials at the SOUTH AFRICA GATE allow you through WITHOUT A PASSPORT?

Because I think you'd be arrested if you drove straight through, but maybe I'm just wrong.

Uhm no.

Because there is only one road, you need to provide a password, because where else are you going if you going up Sani Pass?

[jelo]

Uhm no.

Because there is only one road, you need to provide a password, because where else are you going if you going up Sani Pass?

a password? interesting

[IcePick88]

a password? interesting

I'm in IT. When the fingers start typing pass, the brain's autocomplete kicks in.

Passport.

[PRA]

edit - too slow.

[jelo]

OK - so what's the password?

and is there a secret handshake?

[IcePick88]

OK - so what's the password?

8 characters. It includes a number and one special character.