josiahphilip.com

Halele!

I just returned from an incredible excursion with my Human Growth and Development class to Lesotho. Before I went, I was looking forward to the trip, but not expecting to have such a great time.

Yesterday morning we got in the car and began to drive, we hit a dirt road. Then a road full of rocks and cracks. I have never seen a road like this! Our professor was having to dodge all of these huge rocks, so we did not pop a tire or damage the truck! The only thing I can relate this to is an Indiana Jones Adventure, professor and all! This drive is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. There were waterfalls that ran over the road and baboons hanging in the trees. This was all before we crossed the border into Sani Pass which is a sovereign territory in South Africa (The only thing I can relate it to is Washington D.C.). We were driving up the Drakeansburg mountains to a community that was 2900 meters above sea level. Once we crossed the border, we were on an even crazier rock road with the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I took over 100 pictures on just the ride up! I wish the pictures I took could capture the incredible depth and beauty that I saw, but they don’t come anywhere close.

The most beatiful view I have ever seen! This picture does not do it justice!

When we got to Lesotho, it was extremely cold. This was a remote community unlike anything you will ever see in the USA. They live in these rock buildings and wear blankets because it is so cold. This was the first experience in my life where I could not communicate with the people at all. I tried to learn phrases like Hello, My name is, and How are you; but that did not help.

Next we went on a horseback ride even further into the grassland. There is nothing there but an occasional hut. They had many sheep, goats, and chickens, but nothing else. The land was so untouched it was incredible. The beginning of the ride was not very fun, it was extremely cold and rainy, but on the way back everything cleared up and we had a great ride. We did not make it to our destination, but that did not matter. It was interesting, we were riding 7 horses and our guide was riding a horse bareback. 3 dogs from the community followed as well as two baby ponies and 1 other random horse. The horse I was using always stopped to nurse.

The terrain was unlike anything I have ever seen. In some areas where there was grass, water would just bubble out of the ground. That night we met a lady who spoke fluent English. She told us she loved it in the grasslands. She also told us that there were no hospitals, churches, clinics, or any infrastructure whatsoever in the area. If they got sick they would need to get down the mountain to the nearest town! My professor said they do not eat any vegetables. They really just live to survive. The lady was Roman Catholic, however they do not attend church.

We stayed in a backpacker’s lodge, it was nice. There was a good little restaurant/pub, they bragged that they were the Highest Pub in Africa! It was so different from anything I have ever experienced, and I loved every minute. Someday I would love to take my kids there to show them what different lives people have there.

My excursion to Lesotho was a once in a lifetime experience.