Experiences

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Major Adventures for an unforgettable journey—one that I hadn’t even dared to imagine conquering. Heights have always been my Achilles’ heel, yet that fear has now been defeated, thanks to the incredible tour guide, Elois. Elois’s reassuring presence put all my apprehensions at ease.

James Burnham (left) and Joel Nix (right) visited Underberg on a dark and cold evening, in search of a Sani Pass adventure and a comfortable hotel to rest their weary bodies and feed their appetite. What struck us was their inspiring spirit of adventure.

These spirited tourists from Idaho, Utah, and Arizona (above) embarked on a journey up the intrepid Sani Pass and into Lesotho! Sunny faces and exclamations of appreciation bubbled in the group as they recalled their unique Autumn day-trip experience.

Such a proud and happy couple. Arnout and Jessica are from Belgium and came to South Africa for three weeks. Jessica didn’t know what Arnout had planned for her, but when they were at the beautiful Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga four days ago – Arnout went down on his knees and – presenting Jessica with a ring – asked for her hand in marriage!

Six happy souls from Port Elizabeth chose Major Adventures to introduce them to the epic Sani Pass that leads up the great escarpment of the south, into Lesotho.

And so we were thrilled to hear back from Trevor Hyson and his family that a good time was had by all.

Dudley and Colleen Blevins tour Sani Pass, celebrating their ascent at the highest pub

Travel 109 km with us in just over 3 minutes, and get a key-hole view of the unparalleled Sani Pass adventure into Lesotho. No other operator has the history that our business is fortunate to have. We are the only Sani Pass tour operator that has a living family legacy with the Sani Pass that dates back to 1956, and whose business has never changed ownership. Deep roots, extensive experience, rich knowledge and talented guides, make the Major Adventures experience of the Sani Pass into Lesotho – the best that money can buy.

lammergeier, (German: “lamb vulture”) (Gypaetus barbatus), lammergeier also spelled lammergeyer or lammergeir, also called bearded vulture

The Bearded Vulture, commonly known as the Lammergeier, is a resident of the Drakensberg region of South Africa. It is an endangered species and the largest of the African vultures – easily distinguishable by its black feathers and distinctive yellow head.

The history of Sani Pass in the Drakensberg Mountains is one that is steeped in adventure, danger, and excitement. It is a unique area of the world that has long captivated adventurers, both current and past.

Another happy group of Dutch tourists give us a thumbs up for their adventure through the Summer-green mountains, and up Sani Pass into Lesotho.

The summer rains have presented an abundance of streams and waterfalls for tourists to enjoy, as they wind their way up Sani Pass into Lesotho. They especially enjoyed the personality and knowledge shared by our very experienced guide – Elias.

Excitement sparkled in the eyes of Willem and Fieke who prepared themselves to buckle up for their “African massage” drive in our 4×4 Toyota Prado, and up the rocky roads and across flooded streams and up Sani Pass into Lesotho.

On their return in the afternoon, their hair was wild, but their eyes still sparkled with excitement. Enthusiastic handshakes and thanks, and they were away to continue their journey in South Africa.

The Sani Pass in the Southern Drakensberg Mountains is home to an astounding array of flora and fauna species.

With its diverse terrain, ranging from rocky escarpment to thick forest, the area provides an ideal habitat for a wide variety of life.

From striking bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), also known as the lammergeier and ossifrage, to small Duiker antelope, the range of bird and animal species that can be found in the region is unparalleled.

The timing for their visit couldn’t have been better. The Southern Drakensberg has experienced a great deal of rain over past three months, resulting in the brown landscape and mountains exploding with new shoots, grass and shrubs. So while the streams and mini waterfalls are overflowing, the day the Veneboer’s chose for their tour – was a marvellously clear and sunny day.

In the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg, outside the tiny towns of Underberg and Himeville – is the road that leads runners to the famous Sani Pass.

Breathing in the fresh mountain air, our Dutch travellers took a moment to stand amongst the mountains and appreciate the view.

Niels from the Netherlands given a private tour with our guide – Allen

The Daily Maverick published a short visual essay providing travellers and tourists with a glimpse into the ‘Kingdom in the sky’.

Mike travelled from Köln Altenkirchen Westerwald – Germany to South Africa. Part of his travels included experiencing the original 4×4 Sani Pass tour into Lesotho. Mike enjoyed the tour with a very experienced, knowledgeable and jovial guide of ours – Ellias Mofukeng.

Ms Lidy Uiterwijk Winkel and her 7 year old son – Tycho Zandbergen, summited Sani Pass and travelled into Lesotho together. Lidy and Tycho are from the Netherlands.

Yesterday one of our guides – Warren Dlamini demonstrated a level head and quick thinking.

Tiny Miss Cleo – all the way from Germany, took her parents on her first Sani Pass 4×4 tour into Lesotho today.

The group of Major Adventurer’s today were all the way from the US of A, and had such a good time in Lesotho and experiencing the 4×4 trip up the legendary Sani Pass. Donning Basotho blankets and headgear, they celebrated the end of the day together.

Freezing fun was had by all when Sonya invited her friends to celebrate her birthday with her – in Hollywood style – with a trip up Sani Pass with Major Adventures. Everyone came in theme with their own special costumes.

You can feel the energy and spirit of adventure when you speak to Gerrit and Margriet. They are from Holland and have been touring South Africa. Just look at the photos and you can see that this couple love life and adventure.