Sani Pass Pub - The highest pub in Africa
Posted by: NevaP
S 29° 35.087 E 029° 17.297
35J E 721642 N 6725036
This friendly pub, in the Sani Pass Chalet at the top of a four wheel drive road, sits at an altitude of 2874 meters.
Waymark Code: WM4MYX
Location: Lesotho
Date Posted: 09/08/2008
Views: 32
The independent Kingdom of Lesotho sits on a high plateau entirely surrounded by South Africa. From the south there is only one access route, a four-wheel drive road which follows a former pack mule track ascending 4225 feet in 13 miles.
Driver/guides call the lowest section of the road "The Freeway". After clearing the South Africa customs house you come to a section called "The African Massage"
Soon you reach the "OH MY GOD!" section which has about a dozen very tight switch backs and a nice drop off at the side.
At the top of the pass the road crosses the border into Lesotho and arrives at a small village where the Sani Top Chalet offers overnight accommodations and provides food and drink for guests and day-trippers in the rustic Sani Pass Pub which, located at 9429 feet, has the distinction of being the highest pub in Africa.
Your first view of the Chalet is from the road just before crossing the border station.
You pass the village and arrive at the parking lot full of assorted four wheelers.
At any time of year it may be cold up here. The pub offers a varied menu including some fine soups and currys. The full bar offers an interesting local beer but on a winter day the mulled wine is highly recommended.
The bar
The lounge area with tourists dressed appropriately for high altitudes in early July in the southern hemisphere.
Lunch: Soup, Curry, Mulled Wine, Beer and wonderful fresh baked bread.