Mountain Bike Trails in Malealea, Lesotho
Welcome to Malealea, a secluded valley surrounded by mountains and filled with an expansive network of footpaths carved into the mountains over decades of horse riding and hiking.
These footpaths are the perfect canvas to create mountain bike trails, some sections are best left as they were found. Enjoying a natural trail often with a mixture of dirt and stone slabs.
Other times sections of the trail get modified to make it safer, more sustainable and more enjoyable for everyone.
Every ride is filled with amazing views and the joyful Basotho culture, be ready to have children cheering you on and running beside you trying to keep up.
Malealea Valley Trails is not a sterilized trail network, it is a fix of much-needed adventure.
These footpaths are the perfect canvas to create mountain bike trails, some sections are best left as they were found. Enjoying a natural trail often with a mixture of dirt and stone slabs.
Other times sections of the trail get modified to make it safer, more sustainable and more enjoyable for everyone.
Every ride is filled with amazing views and the joyful Basotho culture, be ready to have children cheering you on and running beside you trying to keep up.
Malealea Valley Trails is not a sterilized trail network, it is a fix of much-needed adventure.
Trails for anyone and everyone
Whether you are into long-distance XC loops or big mountain (enduro) riding, we have it all.
We have routes for a family gravel road ride and routes for the guys and girls that feel like pedalling to the moon.
Every RAW Adventures route and trail has a description in the Trailforks app to help the rider decide.
To help you sort through all the possible rides we have made categories.
The categories are 1: Adventure 2: Loops & 3: Gravel-venture.
Adventure routes are left almost 100% natural, there will be bushwacking, hike n' bikes. We form adventure routes by taking pre-existing footpaths and piecing them together to form an epic day out. If you decide to go on an adventure ride, be ready for everything. Pack enough water, pack spares for your spares and don't forget the sunscreen.
We have routes for a family gravel road ride and routes for the guys and girls that feel like pedalling to the moon.
Every RAW Adventures route and trail has a description in the Trailforks app to help the rider decide.
To help you sort through all the possible rides we have made categories.
The categories are 1: Adventure 2: Loops & 3: Gravel-venture.
Adventure routes are left almost 100% natural, there will be bushwacking, hike n' bikes. We form adventure routes by taking pre-existing footpaths and piecing them together to form an epic day out. If you decide to go on an adventure ride, be ready for everything. Pack enough water, pack spares for your spares and don't forget the sunscreen.
Explore our trail network
Enjoy the freedom
All our trails and routes are on Trailforks. This means that anyone can download the GPS file or use the Trailforks mobile app, so no guides are needed. You can go on some of the most insane rides ever all on your own!
We want anybody to be able to come to Malealea, pay the trail fee and go for a ride straight away. No one should ever have to "book" a guide to show them around. Part of the fun is exploring and getting a little lost.
We want anybody to be able to come to Malealea, pay the trail fee and go for a ride straight away. No one should ever have to "book" a guide to show them around. Part of the fun is exploring and getting a little lost.
Everything you need to know
Pay to rideRAW Lesotho is a small trail organization, we spend a lot of time mapping trails to allow anyone to ride with a GPS. We also want to improve the existing footpaths. The footpaths are ok as is, but a little time and effort go a long way to making it more fun to ride. All we ask is a small daily fee of R100. This is payable at any one of the "RAW Adventures pay boxes". You can find a pay point on the Trailforks map. At the "pay box," you will also find an indemnity form. It can get wild out there, every person is responsible for their own safety.
We have no way of knowing whether someone paid to ride or just skipped the fee. But we know that anyone that rides a mountain bike is already an amazing person, so we simply trust that the daily fee will be paid. DirectionsWe recommend using either Maseru Bridge or Van Rooyens Gate border gate to enter Lesotho unless you plan on stopping in other locations in Lesotho.
From there Malealea is a 2-hour drive with most of it being on asphalt, the last 5km to the Malealea Lodge is on a gravel road. The Malealea Lodge website has great directions that can be found here. |
AccommodationMalealea is a little far for a day trip, it is completely possible to do a day trip however.
Most riders will spend the night at the Malealea Lodge, which is perfectly located to enjoy all the trails. We recommend using this lodge. Visit the lodges website by clicking here. RecommendedBe prepared: Lesotho is a vast landscape and the trails here in Malealea can take you far away from any roads or support, please make sure you carry enough water and nutrition.
Please pack all the needed spares and tools to fix minor mechanicals and punctures. Oh, and be sure to try the local "makoenya's" (fat cakes) and chips. |