Matebeng pass and sethlabethebe

[coffeeman1981]

Hi guys.

im travelling from Sani pass up Matebeng pass then onto sethlabathebi.

has anyone driven the pass recently.
how’s the condition.

Also. Can you still camp at sehlabathebi. At the old camp site

thanks

[Ericl]

A very valid question and following this with keen interest.

I haven't been up there in some 20 years, but went up there regularly before that. I really loved the area and the trails. Your enquiry has sparked many distant memories indeed.

[Gavin49]

Hi guys.

im travelling from Sani pass up Matebeng pass then onto sethlabathebi.

has anyone driven the pass recently.
how’s the condition.

Also. Can you still camp at sehlabathebi. At the old camp site

thanks

Following with keen interest. I have been unable to unearth any recent news.

[Ian.McM]

Contact Phillip Rawlins (Details from the Resthaven Guesthouse FB page). He knows Lesotho, especially the southern portion, better than the locals.

And if you are thinking of staying over in Matat it is a wonderful choice of guesthouse.

[Chris8d]

Unfortunately I've got some not so good news.

After the heavy rains up there in Dec 2019/Jan2020 Matabeng is just about impassable with a vehicle, the condition is most probably worst than Baboon Pass at the moment.

The last guys that I know of who went over the pass was Adventure Riders on bikes, not with adventure bikes but using Enduro bikes, and they battled to cross the pass.

How much time have you set aside to do the Sani to Sehlabathebe part, it makes for a long day of driving even on a good day and good roads.

With the new road that has been build the Matabeng Pass will most probably not be used again and no one will fix it, certainly not the Western side of the pass, there is no reason to do so.
It is much easier using the new road from Bob Phillips to Ramatsediso.

In saying all of that, a few of us will be doing the Matabeng Pass in Feb 2023, I'm sure we will have plenty good info about the pass after that

[Chris8d]

Contact Phillip Rawlins (Details from the Resthaven Guesthouse FB page). He knows Lesotho, especially the southern portion, better than the locals.

And if you are thinking of staying over in Matat it is a wonderful choice of guesthouse.

Yes, awesome guy Phil and great Guesthouse, I will recommend it too.

[Gavin49]

Hi guys.

im travelling from Sani pass up Matebeng pass then onto sethlabathebi.

has anyone driven the pass recently.
how’s the condition.

Also. Can you still camp at sehlabathebi. At the old camp site

thanks

Did you do the trip? If so, how was Matebeng Pass. Thanks.

[Souty]

Did you do the trip? If so, how was Matebeng Pass. Thanks.

Hi. Apologies for the late reply.

We didn’t manage to even attempt the pass because of the rain.

Other than that we stayed at sethlabathebe which was great. We chose to stay at the old camp but be aware it is run down with no toilets.
But the site cannot be beaten.

We did the hike to the falls which was really amazing.

[Gavin49]

Hi. Apologies for the late reply.

We didn’t manage to even attempt the pass because of the rain.

Other than that we stayed at sethlabathebe which was great. We chose to stay at the old camp but be aware it is run down with no toilets.
But the site cannot be beaten.

We did the hike to the falls which was really amazing.

Thanks for your reply.
In February 2023 I was invited to join Chris8d. Read his trip report with pictures of Matebeng Pass and Sehlabthebe. Rained most of the time, but what a wonderful trip with great people.
Traveling Lesotho from #35.

[ctong]

Hi all

For anyone interested as of the first week of July (2023) the pass is in fairly good condition for what it is. Any stock 4x4 with with low range and a locker should drive it without much hassle. It looks like someone put in a fair amount of time into clearing rocks where the rivers cross the road and in the switchbacks.

I can see that the rain could change it fairly quickly though.

It's a long slow and bumpy slog but hands down the most impressive "gravel" road pass I've driven.

[SimonV]

Has anyone done Matebeng Pass recently?
Planning on camping at Bob Phillips from 29-31 Dec then going over Matebeng Pass and to Sehlabathebe for 3.nights.

We did Sehlabathebe to Bob Phillips via the new road in April this year but it will be a great adventure if we.can go over.

[Chris8d]

I would spend one night at BP just to get a early start on the pass in the morning.

There really isn't much there, rather go spend the extra nights in Sethlanethebe so much more to do and see there.

[Chris8d]

Has anyone done Matebeng Pass recently?
Planning on camping at Bob Phillips from 29-31 Dec then going over Matebeng Pass and to Sehlabathebe for 3.nights.

We did Sehlabathebe to Bob Phillips via the new road in April this year but it will be a great adventure if we.can go over.

Did you go on this trip Simon?

[mudgrubber]

Did you go on this trip Simon?

There is a YT video I saw yesterday but a few months old that included Matabeng Pass with 4x4's. Rough but doable. Gravel Travels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUT8hRTw0Uo&t=447s

[Chris8d]

Thanks.

Not really interested in the pass, just wanted to know how it went and if he enjoyed it.

[SimonV]

Apologies for the delayed response.
We did not go over the pass, as we were advised not to buy a couple that had come from Sehlabathebe side of the pass, took them 9hrs.
The amount of rain we had in a 48hr period just lent itself to something going wrong.
We spent 3 good days at Bob Phillips and then 2 very wet days at Sehlabathebe.

[Chris8d]

Awesome photo's Simon.

Did you camp at the stream ,where photo 2 was taken, while in Sethlabethebe?

[SimonV]

Awesome photo's Simon.

Did you camp at the stream ,where photo 2 was taken, while in Sethlabethebe?

Yes correct, we camped there Easter last year as well.
But the rain was unbelievable, but then later that evening a star show like no other.

[Mcw]

Hi


We were at Bob Phillips in December 2023 the 27th ,it was very wet ,we went to look at Matebeng ,but decided to skip the pass
looked really rough and we were only one vehicle

went to Sehlabathebe National Park long way round ,140 km took 9.5 hrs ,really beautiful trip ,but roads were also vey wet ,and two bridges washed away ,had to cross the rivers

Martin

[Chris8d]

That sounds about right Martin

Glad you enjoyed it.