Semonkong Lodge

Semongkong Lodge Hotel accommodation in Lesotho

Description

In South Africa's deep gold mines, smoke in the tunnels after the dynamite blasts is referred to as "semoko". The mighty Maletsunyane falls creates a similar haze of smoke as the water drops 200 meters into a spectacular gorge. It is from this smoke that Semonkong - The Place of Smoke - got its name. In 1990, the Halse family who has been in Lesotho for five generations took over Semonkong Lodge from the Frasers Trading Company. They have been running and developing it ever since. Jonathan & Armelle are your hosts in Semonkong while Verney & Elspet run the booking office in Ficksburg. The accommodation, built of stone and thatch, offers just the right balance between civilisation and rustic elegance: electricity, hot showers, roaring fireplaces, and not a telephone in sight. The fully licensed pub and restaurant, complete with pool table, provide a popular meeting place for both locals and guests. The restaurant serves home-cooked meals & also caters for vegetarians. With Semonkong Village just a stone's throw away, Semonkong Lodge is always bustling with activity as the Basotho people go about their daily lives. The balcony outside the bar area offers a fascinating view not only of the river but also the Basotho in their straw hats and blankets as they trot gracefully by on their ponies, followed by scuttling sheep, dogs, goats and donkeys. They are constantly transporting food and supplies which includes large amounts of beer from Semonkong to their villages, which are sometimes days away. Semonkong Lodge offers you a glimpse of life in the Kingdom in the Sky. There is something refreshing and enchanting about the Basotho people. Their culture is one of friendliness and openness. It is customary and polite to greet all whom you pass. It is only once you go out into the mountains, be it on horseback or by foot that you begin to understand how their culture developed. It is impossible to explain how very human you feel in the middle of the mountains; the sight of another person becomes a chance for communication. You cannot help but greet any stranger you pass in the midst of this mountain paradise. Khotso, Pula, Nala. (Peace, Rain, Prosperity).