Teyateyaneng

Teyateyaneng, usually shortened to TY, is the main town of the Berea district and has become the country's weaving centre: several workshops there spin and weave mohair from the angora goats kept in the highlands into tapestries and rugs, worked on upright looms with designs drawn from Basotho life and from the landscape. The workshops sell directly and visitors can watch the looms. The name means place of quick sands, after the river that runs past the town, and the workshops sit close to it on the road north out of Maseru.

Background

The town takes its name from the two rivers that flank it, the Tebe-tebe to the north and the Teja-tejana to the south, both feeding the Mohokare, or Caledon, which marks the western border with South Africa. Both carry so much sand that crossing them means sinking feet, which is where the meaning place of quick sands comes from. The name came from the southern river and later shifted to its present form, perhaps under British influence once the country became a Protectorate in the late 1800s. Teyateyaneng lies at 1693 metres, about 184 km east of Bloemfontein, and in 2005 it had 75,115 inhabitants.

Source: Wikipedia, "Teyateyaneng"

What you'll find

• The mohair tapestries - the woven work the town is known for across the region.
• The upright looms - the frames the weavers work on in the open workshops.
• The angora connection - the goats kept in the highlands that supply the fibre.
• The workshop sales - the pieces sold directly where they are made.

When to go

September to April is the milder season. Workshops keep weekday hours. Weekends are quieter and some close.

Before you go

Workshops close at weekends and hours are irregular. Large pieces are expensive and awkward to carry. The town itself has little else for visitors.

Nearby

Maseru is south, and Hlotse is north.

Key facts