Popular: South Africa · Cape Town · OR Tambo · Dolphin Bay · Lesotho
Indigenous Forest and Wool Country in Lesotho's North
Leribe District: History & Culture
Leribe District spreads across Lesotho’s northern lowlands and mountains, named for the French Protestant mission that François Coillard founded here in 1859. Its capital, Hlotse, grew from a British mission station in 1876 into the country’s main northern trading town, known today for the Leribe Craft Centre’s wool and mohair work. The district’s high country protects Ts’ehlanyane National Park, one of Lesotho’s few stands of indigenous forest, reached by a tarred road roughly 45 minutes from the South African border at Caledonspoort. A 39km trail links the park to Bokong Nature Reserve further east.
Heritage & Landmarks
Indigenous forest reserve, 1,940–3,112m, home to Maliba Lodge
An important refuge for this plant across the whole Maloti-Drakensberg range
Wool and mohair handicrafts in Hlotse, the district's market town
Founded 1876 by Reverend John Widdicombe, near an 1859 French Protestant mission
Where to Stay
Maliba Mountain Lodge, Ts’ehlanyane National Park, Leribe District Excellent 4.5/5 ecolodge inside Ts’ehlanyane National Park, Leribe District. Mountain Lodge rooms, River Lodge houses, Riverside Huts and Economy rooms. From R1,193/night (2026 lodge rates, checked 16 Oct 2026). Property Details Type: Ecolodge — Lesotho’s first 5-star property Guest Rating: 4.5/5 (Google, 396 reviews) Price Range: R1,193...
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