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Voykit pocket guide · Lesotho
Oxbow
Oxbow, Lesotho
Go for 1–2 nights if you want a high-altitude lodge with skiing (Jun–Aug) or summer hiking; skip if you only have 3–5 days and prefer Semonkong or Sani Pass.
Oxbow is a high-altitude area in northern Lesotho, known for AfriSki, one of Africa's few ski resorts, and the New Oxbow Lodge. The skiing is limited (one main slope, a beginner and an intermediate run), but the setting at 3,010 m offers hiking and mountain biking in summer. Most visitors come as a side trip from Maseru or on a northern Lesotho loop.
- Country
- Lesotho
- Local name
- Oxbow, Lesotho
- Best months
- Jun–Aug (skiing), Oct–Apr (hiking)
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (peak ski season, book ahead)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LSL
- Money
- Currency is the Lesotho loti (LSL, plural maloti), pegged 1:1 to the South African rand; rand is accepted everywhere in Lesotho.
- Daily spend
- Budget LSL 500–800 excl. bed (check) · Mid LSL 800–1,500 excl. bed (check) · High LSL 1,500+ excl. bed (check) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodacom Lesotho and Econet Telecom Lesotho are the networks; buy a SIM with your passport in Maseru.
- Emergency
- Police 123 · Ambulance 121 · Fire 122
- Plugs
- Types M · 220 V · 50 Hz · Same as South Africa; bring an adapter with large round pins.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10%.; Pony or hiking guide: M50–100 a day.; Car guard: M5–10.
- Water
- Treated in Maseru; in the mountains, drink filtered or boiled water.
- Toilets
- Flush toilets in lodges; pit latrines in villages and on hikes.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Ski lift pass (one day) | LSL 200–400 |
| Ski rental (skis, boots, poles), one day | LSL 300 |
| Meal at AfriSki restaurant | LSL 100–200 |
| Vodacom SIM card | LSL 20 |
| Vodacom data 1.7 GB | LSL 50 |
| Vodacom data 3 GB | LSL 80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MSU · Moshoeshoe I International Airport (Maseru)
- About 3 h drive to Oxbow; rental car with high clearance required
Typical fares
- Maseru → Oxbow, drive
- about 3 h, high-clearance vehicle (check)
- AfriSki ski rental, one day
- about LSL 300 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a high-clearance vehicle (4x4 recommended) to reach Oxbow from Maseru or the South African border. Once there, walking covers the lodge and ski area.
See and do
Known for
- AfriSki ski resort
- Highest restaurant in Africa (3,010 m)
- Summer hiking and mountain biking
- New Oxbow Lodge
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Maseru | Drive via A1, about 3 h | About 3 h |
| Semonkong | Drive via A1 and A2, about 4–5 h | About 5 h |
| Katse Dam | Drive via A1 and B8, about 2.5 h | About 3 h |
Sleep
- New Oxbow Lodge
- The main lodge; book ahead for ski season. Phone: +27 51 933 2247 (South Africa number).
- AfriSki accommodation
- On-site at the resort; check availability for your dates.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Lumelaloo-meh-lah |
| Thank you | Kea lebohakeh-ah leh-boh-hah |
| How much? | Ke bokae?keh boh-kah-eh |
| Yes / No | E / Cheeh / cheh |
| Where is the toilet? | Ntloana e hokae?ntloh-ah-nah eh hoh-kah-eh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Lumela ntate / mme', then wait for 'Khotso'; avoid: Asking directions without a greeting
- Handshake: Soft, sometimes with a three-part grip; avoid: Crushing grips
- Villages: Ask for the chief when visiting; avoid: Walking through fields and kraals
- Photos: Ask herders first; avoid: Initiates and ceremonies
Scams and watch-outs
- AfriSki has snow only from June to August, and off-piste snow for a fraction of that — check conditions before booking.
- No WiFi at AfriSki; buy a Vodacom SIM (20 rand, then 50 rand for 1.7 GB or 80 rand for 3 GB).
- The lodge phone number is a South Africa (+27) number; you may incur roaming charges.
- Ski equipment (skis, snowboards, mountain bikes) can be rented on site.
Oxbow is a remote mountain area; drive in daylight only, carry extra fuel and water, and check weather before setting out. The main risks are altitude (3,010 m), cold nights and livestock on the road.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Oxbow yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- AfriSki ski resort
- Highest restaurant in Africa (3,010 m)
- Summer hiking and mountain biking
- New Oxbow Lodge
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Oxbow (Lesotho), revision 5240834 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240834
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
OxbowOxbow, Lesotho
Ho aterese ena, ka kopo
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies are in Maseru; check your country's consular services before travel.
Sesotho is widely spoken; English works at lodges and AfriSki.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/oxbow-lesotho). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.