Ramabanta Trading Post

It has been a long year. Amidst the stress, frustration and the spoonful of pandemic loneliness, I decided to go on a little trip to a small village about an hour outside of Maseru’s city centre. Ramabanta is beautiful, it’s mostly mountains and valleys, the air is crisp and the people are friendly. The guest house we stayed at is the homely and well-kept Ramabanta Trading Post (not to be confused with Roma Trading Post, since they are in the same vicinity – I cannot take responsibility if you book the wrong place). This quaint, quiet village with beautiful valleys and fabulous adventures is definitely worth the visit.

The chalets are spacious and I appreciate that they charge per person rather than a set price for the entire chalet. The one we stayed in is a five-sleeper, with a main ensuite bedroom and an attic bedroom with three beds. The thatched roof and stone design gives that cozy feel that’s supposed to accompany a mountain retreat. There was a small fireplace that warmed up the entire living area and the groundsman did a wonderful job at keeping us well-stocked with firewood. We were visited by a cold front the week of our trip so the fire burned the entire time.

The activities are organised by the lodge management but facilitated by the community so take cash/Mpesa for that. It’s always so inspiring when tourist attractions empower the local community. The horses we rode during our stay belonged to the small council of horse-owners in the community and the lodge keeps none of the proceeds. All the money we paid went straight to the owners the horses. The guides who took us on the hikes also kept all the money paid for those activities. It’s important to note that Lesotho’s tourism sector is small and any development we want to see is going to have to come from people traveling the country and supporting as many people along the chain as possible, right down to the hiking guides.

My favourite memory about this trip is how I felt like I was truly away. It was so quiet and remote that I forgot that just an hour away, work and electricity bills were awaiting me. Time felt like it was moving slower, I relaxed and lived my life in ‘pause mode’ for a few days. It wasn’t a very long stay but it made a massive impact. I’m definitely going to go back in Summer. The lodge uses a generator, so the power goes off from 10pm to 7am and then again from 9am to 5pm. It’s not ideal if you have intentions of working from home during the day but if you’re looking to switch off and be fully present, it’s the perfect place. Luckily, the water uses a gas heating system so it was always hot. You can choose between self-catering chalets or arrange meals with the kitchen, they are very flexible. We braai’ed every night because they have braai facilities. I would recommend buying charcoal, there is a general store in the village should you require anything

Details:

• Telephone details: 00266 53230295 or 00266 58442309
• Email: tradingpostram@leo.co.ls
• DO NOT confuse it with Roma Trading Post
• Take some cash for extra firewood, tips and activities (Mpesa works too)
• Have an amazing time, this place is really special.