- Address: north of the city of Taba Tsek, Lesotho;
- Height: 3090 m above sea level;
- Area: about 1970 hectares.
The Bokong Nature Reserve is located in the territory of the Kingdom of Lesotho at an altitude of 3,090 m above sea level. It is one of the most high-mountainous reserves in Africa. It is located in the north of the kingdom near the town of Taba-Tsek in the area of the river Bokong. In the reserve itself there is a tourist center, which organizes excursions to local attractions. It is noteworthy that the tourist center itself is located on the edge of a hundred-meter cliff, from where amazing landscapes of this reserve open.
What to see?
The natural reserve of Bokong occupies about 1970 hectares and is located on the upper ridge of Mafika-Lisiu mountain. The Mafika Pass is considered the highest pass in the whole of Africa.
First of all, the territory of the reserve is remarkable for the presence of rare species of representatives of the animal world. Among the birds are the eagle-bearded Gypaetus barbatus, the bald ibises Geronticus eremita, the steppe kestler Falco naumanni and the flighty Cape Gyps coprotheres. Among the mammals are the antelopes - the Pelea capreolus and the ice rats - Myotomys sloggetti. It is noteworthy that the ice rats that live here completely changed the eating habits of the small predators of Africa, which most often prey on birds. But within the Bokong nature reserve small predators prefer hunting for these large rodents.
The main water arteries of the reserve are the rivers Bokong and Lepaqoa. The waterfall on the Lepaqoa river is another interesting place for tourists within the reserve. The height of the waterfall reaches about 100 m. The waterfall is noteworthy because in winter the waterfall freezes completely, turning into a large ice column.
The tourist center, which is located on the territory of the reserve, organizes hiking and horse tours in all significant places of this natural complex.
Dam Katze
Another notable feature of the Bokong Nature Reserve is the Katze dam. The Katze dam is the second largest dam in the whole of Africa and is considered an African miracle of the world, because the dam is supplied to areas of Africa that have no freshwater resources at all.
The dam is located at an altitude of 1993 m above sea level, a height of 185 m, a width of about 710 m, a capacity of 2.23 million cubic meters. The construction of the dam was completed in 1996, but the reservoir was filled only by 1997.
Since the construction of the dam was financed mainly by the neighboring country of Lesotho, South Africa, most of the water lines that flow from the dam lead to the territory of this state, or more precisely to the Johannesburg region, poor in water resources.
Dam Katze is striking in its size and scope. Every day on the wall of the dam and its internal premises are guided tours. The cost of such tours is about $ 1.5. Excursion groups are sent to the facility twice a day at 9:00 and 14:00. Tel. for communication with the tourist center: + 266 229 10805, +266 633 20831.
Where to stay?
The natural reserve of Bokong is removed from the capital of the kingdom of the city of Maseru at a distance of about 200 m. In order to have time to explore all the local attractions, it is better to stay in one of the two hotels located near the dam Katze.
Katse Lodge is located at Katse Village, 999 Bokong, Lesotho . The room price for standard accommodation here starts from $ 75. The hotel has free parking, free wi-fi, a restaurant, and its own tour desk, which organizes hiking, horse and water walks around the reserve, and also arranges excursions with fishing.
Hotel Orion Katse Lodge Bokong 3 * offers its guests accommodation starting at $ 40. Hotel address: Katse Village, Bokong, Lesotho. The hotel provides free parking, pool access, wi-fi, a restaurant, barbecue area and tour desk.
Also on the territory of the reserve is allowed tent placement outside the camping areas.
Quite often, a visit to the Bokong Nature Reserve is combined with a visit to the Tshehlanyane National Park, which is about 50 km away. At the same time, the Maliba Mountain Lodge hotel is located in the center of Tshehlanyane Park .
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