Prince Harry is currently visiting Lesotho and South Africa on behalf of his Sentebale charity, a cause that is close to his heart.Sentebale was founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to help the country's vulnerable children and means 'forget me not' in Sesotho, the language spoken in Lesotho, and was deliberately chosen in memory of both of the princes' late mother.
Known as Southern Africa's 'kingdom in the sky', this beautiful, mountainous country is nestled in the middle of South Africa and makes for a fascinating travel detour from its larger neighbour during the local summer months of November to March.One of only three remaining intact kingdoms in Africa, Lesotho holds its heavenly title as it's tucked within massive mountain ranges, totally bordered by South Africa and several majestic snow-capped mountains. It offers superb mountain scenery, a proud traditional people, endless hiking trails, and the chance to explore remote areas on Basotho ponies.
Semongkong, or The Place of Smoke, is the extremely remote village 8,000ft high that Prince Harry and older brother Prince William entered on horseback in 2010, receiving a grand traditional ceremony from the locals. Here you can explore the incredibly rugged mountainous region with breathtaking scenery and stop at traditional Basotho villages on ponies.Abseiling, hiking and horseback riding are top on the agenda in this incredible and vast area of wild countryside. Visit the mighty Maletsunyane Falls – where Harry visited in 2004 – to see one of the highest single dropping waterfalls in Africa, which creates a haze of smoke as the water plummets 186 metres into a spectacular gorge. It is from this smoke that Semonkong gets its name, The Place of Smoke. After a spot of adventure tourism gather with the local community to watch the local monthly horse races.
Enjoy high and stunning vistas from atop the Sani Pass. One of South Africa's best kept secrets, this world heritage site sits high on the Drakensberg escarpment on the border between South Africa and Lesotho, at 2874 metres above sea level. Stay in a chalet to stargaze at night and take in the breathtaking landscapes by day.From here you can visit the Basotho Cultural Village in the Free State of South Africa, which lies between the Vaal River in the north and the Orange River in the south. Nestled at the foot of huge sandstone mountains, this idyllic corner of the world was mentioned in Nelson Mandela's autobiography Long Walk to Freedom: "The Free State landscape gladdens my heart, no matter what my mood. When I am here I feel that nothing can shut me in, that my thoughts can roam as far as the horizons."
Harry, 28, will visit Sentebale projects in the region, followed by public engagements in the Maseru district of Lesotho, before travelling to Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend the Sentebale Gala Dinner.
