Hlotse
A northern Lesotho town with a colonial-era tower, the base for the Katse road.
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Hlotse, often called Leribe after its district, is the main town of northern Lesotho, founded as a mission station in 1876, and a stone tower built in 1879 during the Gun War survives as its most visible piece of history. It is the base for the road east to Katse and the Bokong reserve, and dinosaur footprints at Subeng are a short drive away. Wool and mohair are the district's business. The Hlotse river the town is named for runs past it towards the Caledon, and the crossing there was the reason the mission chose the spot.
What you actually see
- The 1879 tower - the stone blockhouse built during the Gun War.
- The mission foundation - the 1876 station the town grew from.
- The Katse road - the route east into the highlands from the town.
- The wool and mohair trade - the district's business.
When to go
September to April is the milder season. Winter mornings are cold. Market days bring the town to life.
Honest expectations
The tower is the only substantial historic survival and is not open. The town is workaday with limited facilities. Roads east into the highlands are long.
Nearby
Subeng is nearby, and Tsehlanyane is southeast.
What to pack for Hlotse
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.