TN Preparation

Despite the excitement about my Thabana Ntlenyana (TN) trip, I was also anxious of what to expect as a first time camper with strangers (that later became friends).

Parenting is so much like a hike. A steep unmarked trail taken by many enthusiasts to carry our offspring from the time they land on earth right through to adulthood. This is a journey filled with lots of documented and undocumented adventures, first time experiences and discoveries, frustrations here and there and a time of bonding along the way.

Much like the 4 x 4 crew and CHC at large, we undertook to discover places of peace, serenity and contentment. Places to revel in the many beautiful spiral, green and hilly views of the highlands.

As an appointed guardian and mom to the the Gucci’s, I appreciate and are aware that for anything to happen, we’ve got to plan and prepare (as it’s said; fail to plan and plan to fail), but hey we all know that many atimes we jump into the parenting pool with no real plan. We grab our tents and backpacks (life) and add on to the load leading to fatigue and blisters.

Not this time! For this journey, I planned and sought council from my avid hiker friend Mosela Molefe to ensure I am well prepared for Thabana Ntlenyane.

She helped me put together the essential list and the type of tent and sleeping bag to purchase. I was ready. Mind you I learned on the go how to pack the backpack…don’t we all.

Set with my list I went to different places to get the stuff and comparing prices here and there to ensure I don’t exceed my budget.

I got most of the things and called her to clock in and discuss my buys.

Excited about my nice sexy night wear that I just bought for this trip, she laughed and told me it’s always comfort over fashion. I should rather get a onesie or sleep in thermal leggings/tights and use them as base layer during the day.

The rationale was that I choose lightweight, comfort and durability over fashion. - I was traumatized.

You see, I was once dumped over sleeping in a Tshirt many moons ago and since then I refuse to lay in bed with freebie T-shirt’s and sloppy pants. Needless to say I abandoned my sexy night wear.

I packed really light and rolled my clothes to create more space to fit into my 50l back pack.

In getting to know my camp gear, I opened up my sleeping bag and laid in it. That thing felt light. I was not convinced. Went back to Cape Union Mart, but a different branch from the one I bought it, to return it because I wasn’t going to be cheated with a sleeping bag and needed a different insight. When I got to the shop I told the shop assistant that I was returning the sleeping bag as it is light and not suitable for my trip… little did I know that I got the rolls Royce of a sleeping bag. The return never happened.

With the tent,I explained my trip and weather to the assistant, he suggested a two sleeper suitable for the Drakensburg/Lesotho conditions. I didn’t bother to open it up when I arrived at home until the very first day I used it.

Arriving at Masobasoba camp site, we picked the best spots behind the rondavels. Ntate Mokoallo helped us pitch our tents. Everything was new to me and exciting and easy.

However I had imagined the tent to comfortably house two people, but man this thing was only fit for me and my backpack. I mean I crawled in and out of it but hey it kept me intact through the rain and wind.

The talks about altitude got me worried a bit as I briefly diced with my own mortality.

I prayed and stayed on course and had great fun even committing to 3 hikes with the Lesotho crew in the new year.

With the small hikes that I take , 2022 will end with me being a backpacker of note…

This is what Mosela and Kholu advised me and it worked magic.

~ Not to compromise on Camping mattress- shopped for the thin most comfortable mattress. I felt like a Queen in a Castle and I know it’s never going to pick up dust in the garage..

~ To bless myself with dinner at Sani Lodge, we didn’t do the much raved about dinner but enjoyed the most beautiful coffee at the highest pub in Africa.

~ Pack light. I mastered this one! She said the only time it feels cold is at night when you are not moving. (I was so warm and comfortable despite the lightness. I forgot I was in the wilderness, my Royce rolls sleeping bag was magic)

~ Leave behind anything cotton - they are heavy and take time to dry out.

Essentials;

~To pack a first aid kit in case of an emergency. I am happy I never got to use it. I came out without injuries, bug bites, scrapes or cuts. Not even a mosquito bite.

~ Headlamp. Helped me navigate my cosy little nest (tent). and walks in the night.

~Battery bank - I didn’t want to miss out on the beautiful pictures and ofcourse getting in touch with loved ones whilst away.

Clothing;

~Comfortable underwear

~Comfortable ankled hiking boots. Her tip on the shoes was to wear well broken-in walking boots for support through the day’s hike (I understand one of her friends lost four toenails from wearing boots that she hadn’t worn enough before the hike).

In addition to that I packed flip flops for after the hike. The breather your feet feels is like a treat of soft serve on a hot day.

~Fleece Top

~Down Jacket

~Dry Quick T-shirts

~Water proof and Windproof Rain coat with at least 3000 - 5000mha - Oh did I listen or even remember the specs, I got a slick white rain coat that didn’t sustain me, by the end of the hike, I was soaking wet.

Food;

I was advised to carry food I enjoy and walk past the hikers meals at the shops. I listened. I had bananas, carrots, crackers noodles and tuna sachets biltong and nuts.

Easy Oats was for breakfast. There were meals served at the camp including the most amazing pork chops heartening after a long cold hike.

My snacks included nuts, biltong, dried fruits, ginger biscuits and jelly babies.

I surely didn’t forget to reward myself with a good cuppa coffee and ofcourse some good red wine after a grueling day that saw us getting lost in the fog and crossing rivers in the cold.

Discovering New Corners;

The amazing people that I traveled with Ntate Mokoallo (who helped us pitch the tent and drove us all the way from Maseru to Mokhotlon), Princess Di (seasoned hiker and foodie, Mogherl eats so clean I am inspired and I have been drinking more water and snacking on carrots since I met her), Mme MaLikhabiso (yes I met a new mom- her other Likhabiso is a boy, a gentle soul that is full of life), Advocate Mapule (Maps). All of whom I now call friends. They were so welcoming and kind enough to share the meals and experiences with me. We had great intimate conversations along the way.

Explored the country together and stopped along the way for pictures. Our stops included AfriSki for a some drinks, Letse’ng (the girl needed some inspiration with the rock to wear second time around), Malibamatso river (I had only read about it), Oxbow and Sani Pass.

Each route, each mountain, each river, each path were different beautiful worlds for me. The greenery and landscapes were beyond my imagination. The wonderful corners and villages away from the usual view of the city. I noticed the tranquility of the highlands that I had not seen. The mountains were beautiful and made a pattern that only God can explain. The roads were swirling around the mountains and valleys it felt like a dream and I was really pleased that I took this step to explore an over night hike in Lesotho.

In the brief words of Scar from the Lion King “Be prepared…”

I am a runner and I did a lot of walking prior to the trip. Walking is tougher than running, so I needed to prepare for this hike, both mentally and physically.

You really don’t have to be an Olympian to do Thabana Ntlenyana, but atleast be active and fitter than your average couch potato. I had loads of FUN.

It’s a Wondrous Wednesday ;-)

Plan and Prepare for it.

Likha~(Biso)