Nicknamed ‘Kingdom in the Sky’ this small mountainous country is known for its natural beauty and high passes. The entire country sits above 1 000 m and in many areas hardy ponies are the only mode of transport for the friendly Basotho people. Lofty mountains and spectacular waterfalls make Lesotho a nature lover’s destination. Lesotho offers wonderful hiking, pony trekking, skiing & snowboarding opportunities and the more adventurous can abseil down the Maletsunyane Waterfall. This 205 m line is noted in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest commercially operated single-drop abseil in the world. Lesotho is also a paradise to adventurous overlanders who love to travel off the beaten track. Sani Pass is said to be one of the steepest passes in the world and therefore a bucket-list pass amongst overlanders. At the top of the pass is a waterhole for weary travellers - the highest pub in Africa! Katse Dam is the centre piece of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project which supplies hydro-power for Lesotho and water for South Africa. This spectacular dam with its 185 m high curving wall is well worth a visit. One of the most important cultural and historical sites in Lesotho is the Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village. Here, King Moshoeshoe established a mountaintop fortress in 1824 to keep his people safe during the Difaqane, a series of wars between 1815 and 1840. This is also the site of royal graves and rock paintings. Although the tourism sector is not highly sophisticated, this is a very hospitable destination and travellers who know the country keep returning to its magnificent splendour. For some reason Lesotho is an underrated travel destination, even though it is easily accessible from South Africa.