Pony trekking through the Maluti Mountains
A slower way into the highlands, on sure-footed Basotho ponies, the traditional way locals still get around.
Long before 4x4s, the Basotho pony was — and in many highland villages still is — how people moved through this terrain. Bred for the mountains, they're compact, steady, and comfortable on paths a horse twice their size would refuse.
You'll ride out with a local herder leading the way, at an easy pace suited to first-time riders, following trails that link villages rather than tourist stops. It's a different rhythm to the rest of the trip — slower, quieter, more in step with the landscape.
The trails wind past highland homesteads and grazing herds, with the kind of wide-open ridge views that only show themselves once you're off the road entirely.
No riding experience is needed — the ponies are used to nervous beginners — and treks can run from a couple of hours to a full day depending on the group.