A first

I’d never driven a vehicle up Sani Pass – experienced it a few times as a passenger and even walked it a couple of years ago in just over 2.5 hours – and couldn’t wait to experience the thrill in my Jimny. Well, it turned in to more than a Sani Pass adventure anyone could have bargained for.

Road trip

With the day off from work on Friday, we departed mid-morning for Mkomazana Mountain Cottages where we spent two nights enjoying a log fire and freshly baked scones (best scones ever tasted) brought to us first thing on both mornings – the closest accommodation before San Pass, about 3kms on dirt road after the Sani Pass Hotel.

Replenish

At Himeville Arms we relished a late lunch and took pleasure in stretching our legs after almost a 2.5 hours drive. If only we’d driven 500m past Himeville Arms where we discovered a quaint café with outdoor seating – it appeared new and fresh and worth a visit, which we did the following day for lunch. Definitely worth it and even offered traditional home-style cooking such as bobotie.

Rustic yet comfortable

Upon dumping our luggage and the other vehicle at the self-catering Stone House (3 bedroom that sleeps 6), I drove us (three adults in a Jimny) 10kms of rough off-road to the border post and then another 8kms up the winding Sani Pass, up the ladders at the top of the pass, the last km rises 900m. Watch out for your ears popping and the slow taxis chugging up with a full load of passengers.

How dare you

Descending traffic is to give way to ascending traffic and a man in a fat Range Rover parked to the side at the last ladder, the steepest section to wait for us to pass. Mr Rover’s mouth widened from laughter and could not take his bulging eyes, his mouth opened wide from laughing uncontrollably, off us. Now, Mr Rover, was this due to…

• A woman driver grinning while whizzing up the pass
• A woman driver grinning while driving a Jimny whizzing up the pass
• A whizzing Jimny with 3 adults
• A private joke

Expectations

I must admit I expected more of a challenge, and to get stuck at least once. While enjoying drinks at the Highest Pub In Africa (2874m) the mist rolled in, hiding the blue sky and accompanied with a sudden drop in temperature. Our queue to leave, and unbeknown to us, the real adventure to begin.

You’re arrested

At Lesotho’s border post I returned with the three passports for an exit stamp. It took longer than the previous visit and a bit of commotion in their native Sesotho, a language I did not understand, caused me to wonder. Eventually one looked up, flapping two passports in the air and asked where the owners were. In the car, I told him. “Bring here.”

Pay up

To cut a long story short and bypass the extreme surprise, to say the least – the passports were expired. The owners arrested. Pay up or spend the night in a holding cell until in a position to produce valid passports… No further comment required on this subject!

Always a moral

By now I’m sure you’ve worked out the moral of this story…

Check you have valid passports before landing in a foreign country, and don’t expect the first border point, of your own country, to check dates and not let you through in the first place.

To tar or not to tar

Get yourself up Sani Pass before they tar the road and the thrill is even less.

Tranquility reigns

Don’t miss out on a perfect setting for a picnic at Kenmo Lake. The best time to visit the lake is in autumn when the leaves have changed to red and orange with a golden carpet sprayed among the green grass.