Hiking for a just cause
Mompoloki Rankgate | Monday March 25, 2024 11:57
From the health-conscious to those looking for leisure, hiking has become a popular outdoor activity for many. In Botswana, almost no month can pass without a social media post advertising upcoming outdoor activities be it sponsored walks, marathons, hikes, or bird viewing.
These activities are not unique to Botswana as headline-grabbing events and adventures are also taking place across the continent. In Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, those looking for a unique adrenaline rush climb to the summit of the mountain, while others prefer outings to explore the Fish River Canyon in Namibia.
But for many daredevils and outdoor enthusiasts, the annual Moshoeshoe Walk in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho is the ultimate achievement. This March was no exception as 1,100-plus participants from all over the globe made it to the hilly adventure.
I was lucky enough to be part of the three-day walk, which has become very important in Lesotho’s tourism calendar.
The 116km event this time around came as the Basotho nation commemorated 200 years of existence. The event was hence a memorable one that could not be missed.
The walk started from Menkhoane where King Moshoeshoe was born to Thaba Bosiu where he died. Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenata Mohato Seeiso’ was the chief walker this year intending to rekindle the spirit of unity amongst Basotho.
Like the 2023 edition, a large number of outdoor lovers from Botswana embarked on the journey to Lesotho to join other trackers from all corners of the globe for the commemoration walk.
The track snakes through the breathtaking scenery of Leribe District hills and waterfalls, but the trip started in Gaborone where I joined other hikers who travelled on the Maeto Travel & Tours minibus for the plus-1,000km journey to Lesotho.
For some of us who are only used to shorter distances to places around Botswana, the 1,000km trip seems frightening as it involves long-distance road travel. However, banter in the minibus from Batswana colleagues made the trip seamless. We made it to the Tlokweng border and went through immigration without any hitches.
The next civilisation after the Kopfontein border was Zeerust, a small town in the North West Province of South Africa. As we had a long trip ahead of us, the pit stop was not long as we had to preserve collective energies ahead of the hike. Our stay there was short as we immediately headed towards the Mmabatho and Lichtenberg route which has much less traffic and is faster to get to the Free State Province.
The journey was long but we ultimately arrived in Maseru, Lesotho’s capital, and embarked on a shopping spree in Pioneer Mall before we took nearly three hours or 123.2km to reach Menkhoaneng. Apart from Afrikaans, the language mainly spoken there is Sesotho and it is not too different from Setswana.
Reality sank in as we arrived in Menkhoaneng, where we would be staying and navigating the treacherous route of the Moshoeshoe Walk. The reception from the hosts was warm as Basotho and Batswana traditionally relate well and there was no language barrier as it generally is with other groupings in Southern Africa.
The fact that the peoples of the two nations have historic relations tracing back to Sotho-Tswana migrations, is seen by the reception we got with their descendants taking the legacy forward. This warmth was to ease us into our stay there and make the hiking enjoyable, memorable, and less taxing. This is despite most trails in Lesotho amidst high mountains, unlike the ones found on the hilly landscape in Botswana.
But why the Moshoeshoe Walk?
The annual hiking event is meant for fitness fanatics who want to test their resilience and for the health-conscious to achieve their goals from burning calories to building strong muscles.
However, for the organisers, it may be more than that as seen by the economic activity of small businesses that set up their wares and traded along the hiking route.
One wonders what this cross-border walk brings to hosting countries. From my observation and conversation with the hosts, cultural exchange and support for small businesses are top of mind when hosting such events. Visitors buy from the vendors and local exhibitors also bring their artefacts for hikers to purchase souvenirs. Present at this year’s hiking activity was Jwaneng’s Desert Bush Walk organiser, Archie Ngakayagae, who spoke on the importance of supporting the King Moshoeshoe Walk. He explained that for several years now, the Jwaneng Desert Bush Walk has enjoyed a partnership with the Moshoeshoe Walk organisers.
Ngakayagae said under the deal, they market the two events through “our respective mediums of communications” and during the actual events, to expose the different cultures and also to support small businesses. The idea is also to send as many participants as possible between the two countries.
King Moshoeshoe Walk organiser, Thabo Maretlane, said they see the annual event as a unifier because it attracts hikers from different continents regardless of colour or origin.
He also stressed the importance of this walk in boosting economic activity from hotels, transport, and the food industry. It also benefits charities that receive some of the proceeds from participants.
Maretlane spoke of brotherhood between Batswana and Basotho and encouraged those who haven’t been to the walk or the country to come and explore as Basotho will do the same.
Batswana taking part in the walk this year include former Miss Botswana, Malebogo Marumoagae, who spoke of delight and joy on her first Moshoeshoe Walk expedition.
Marumoagae said despite the challenges she encountered on the way, she remained focused to complete the hike.
She is already planning for the 2025 King Moshoeshoe Walk. As I am.