Qiloane Pinnacle

Qiloane is a sandstone pinnacle rising beside Thaba Bosiu east of Maseru, a cone with a narrow point on top, and the mokorotlo, the conical Basotho hat that appears on the national flag and on the country's number plates, is generally said to be modelled on its shape. It is seen from the Thaba Bosiu plateau, where Moshoeshoe I established the stronghold from which the nation was built.

The landscape

• The pinnacle - the sandstone cone with its narrow point.
• The hat connection - the mokorotlo said to be drawn from its shape.
• The Thaba Bosiu view - the pinnacle seen from the historic plateau.
• The national symbol - the form that appears on the flag and the number plates.

When to go

September to April is the milder season. Late afternoon light shows the profile best. Winter mornings are cold and frosty.

What to expect

The pinnacle is looked at rather than climbed; the summit is not an accessible walk. There is no interpretation at the base. It is normally combined with Thaba Bosiu.

Nearby

Thaba Bosiu is beside it, and Maseru is west.