The Bokong Nature Reserve is a reserve located in Lesotho . It contains Afro-alpine wetlands at the sources of the Bokong and Lepaqoa rivers, plus montane grassland and patches of heathland boulder beds, both of which are regular haunts for Vaal rhebuck . The reserve's highlight, however, is the Lepaqoa Waterfall , which freezes in winter to form a column of ice.
18-611: The reserve's entrance is next to the visitors' centre, signposted left off the highway beyond the Mafika Lisiu Pass . Perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Lepaqoa Valley , the visitor centre has a picnic site and interpretative trail to the top of the Lepaqoa Falls, as well as guides and horses for hire. There is also a two- to three-day hike along the alpine plateau to Ts'ehlanyane National Park to
36-428: A number of rare undergrowth plants that are unique to this woodland habitat. Here indigenous "ouhout" ( Leucosidea ) trees of significant size are preserved. The park has an altitude ranging from 1,940 to 3,112 metres (6,365 to 10,210 ft) and is considered mostly sub-alpine . The diversity of habitat types is exceptionally wide and derived from the large altitudinal range that the park has. Bird species found in
54-802: A series of wars between the Basotho and the Boers of the Orange Free State . In 1868 Basutoland (as it was then known) became a British protectorate . Except for a period of annexation to the Cape Colony from 1871 to 1884, it remained in this status until independence was achieved as the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966. The border between Basutoland and the Orange Free State was defined in the 1869 Convention of Aliwal North . This border
72-636: Is a National Park in Lesotho . It is located in the Maloti Mountains in Leribe District, and is part of the larger Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area . This Lesotho northern park protects a high-altitude, 2,600-metre (8,500 ft) patch of rugged wilderness, including one of Lesotho’s only stands of indigenous forest with a number of rare undergrowth plants that are unique to this woodland habitat. The name "Ts'ehlanyane"
90-697: Is located deep in the northern range of the Maloti Mountains at the foot of the Holomo Pass and only about 45 minutes on tarred road from the South African border post of Caledonspoort , 15 minutes drive from the popular Free State town of Clarens and about 4 hours from O. R. Tambo International Airport ). A 32-kilometre (20 mi) tarred access road leaves the main A1 route 8 km (5.0 mi) south of Butha-Buthe . The route passes through
108-540: Is the local common name for the berg bamboo ( Thamnocalamus tessellatus ), from which the river and park take their name. It is fitting that the park should bear the name of this Drakensberg endemic plant, as it may be the most important refuge for this plant in the entire Maloti-Drakensberg mountain range. This proclaimed protected pristine area lies at the junction of the Ts'ehlanyane and the Holomo rivers. It owes its origin to
126-754: The Drakensberg mountains, the Orange River , the Makhaleng River , and a series of hills joining the Makhaleng back to the Caledon. The Basotho people formed a distinct polity in the 1820s under Moshoeshoe I , the first Paramount Chief . At that time Basotho territory included much of what is now the Free State province of South Africa. This territory was lost in the 1850s and 1860s in
144-700: The Watersheds of the Orange River and the St. John's River to the source of the Tees ; down the centre of the river to its junction with the Orange River, and down the centre of the latter river to its junction with the Cornetspruit. Cornetspruit, St. John's River and Tees River are now known as Makhaleng River, Umzimvubu River and Tele River respectively. Olifantsbeen, Langeberg and Jammerberg are mountains in
162-707: The Orange River, and the Orange to its confluence with the Makhaleng River. From this confluence the border runs up the Makhaleng River to a point west of Mohale's Hoek , and then along a series of hills and straight-line segments to meet the Caledon River north of Wepener . The border then follows the Caledon River, past the Lesotho capital of Maseru and the South African town of Ficksburg , all
180-570: The access road to the "Mamohale tunnel" (May 1991), which was the first adit drive for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project . This adit covers 22 km (14 mi) from the source at Katse Dam to the As River outfall near Clarens, Free State . This Lesotho northern park protects a high-altitude, 2,600-metre (8,500 ft) patch of rugged wilderness, including one of Lesotho's few stands of indigenous forest with
198-710: The area between the Makhaleng and the Caledon. Starting at Mont-aux-Sources , the border runs along the drainage divide between the basin of the Orange River (which flows to the Atlantic Ocean) and the various rivers flowing off the Drakensberg to the Indian Ocean. It follows this watershed as far as the source of the Tele River near Ben Macdhui ; from there it follows the Tele to its confluence with
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#1732791133611216-434: The area include: Ferns and fern allies Underneath shade of cheche forest, an abundance of ferns occur: Polystichum spp. and Cheilanthes quadripinnata . Pteris cretica in damp places often near boulders. In exposed areas on rocky mountain slopes, typical poikylohydrous species evident like the resurrection fern and Cheilanthes eckloniana . Selaginella spp. expected on exposed rock surfaces. The park
234-473: The north. Camping is possible throughout the reserve, and there are also two stone-and-thatch rondavels close to the falls. Bokong is a picturesque hiker-friendly reserve at altitudes of 2800 to 3200 metres. This Lesotho location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Africa protected areas related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Ts%27ehlanyane National Park Ts'ehlanyane National Park
252-489: The park include: Wild flowers and shrubs recorded at Ts'ehlanyane National Park on the Matsa-Mararo route via Lets'a-le-ts'o and the lower bridle path (4 × 4 track) that leads to Holomo Pass ( * = exotic) Indigenous trees as seen at the campsite, on the lower Lets'a-le-ts'o path en route to Matsa-Mararo falls and the lower bridle path (4x4 track) that leads to Holomo Pass Other trees expected to occur in
270-467: The southern point of Langeberg , along the top of Langeberg to its north-western extremity; from thence to the eastern point of Jammerberg ; along the top of Jammerberg to its north-western extremity; from thence by a prolongation of the same, to the Caledon River ; along the centre of the Caledon River to the heads of the Orange River at the Mont aux Sources ; thence westward along the Drakensberg , between
288-464: The village of Khabo and parallels the Hlotse river along the Holomo valley until it reaches the park entrance gate. Lesotho%E2%80%93South Africa border The border between Lesotho and South Africa is 909 kilometres (565 mi) long and forms a complete loop, as Lesotho is an enclave entirely surrounded by South Africa . The border follows the Caledon River , the drainage divide of
306-479: The way to the source of the river, marked by a beacon at Quaneka Neck. From this beacon it follows the drainage divide between the Orange River and Vaal River basins to Mont-aux-Sources. All ten districts of Lesotho touch the border, as do three provinces of South Africa : the Free State , KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape . The official border crossings are described in the following table, which
324-501: Was confirmed, and the border with the Cape Colony and Natal Colony defined, by High Commissioner's notice of 13 May 1870, as amended by Government Notice No. 74 of 6 November 1871. In this notice the boundaries of "British Basutoland" were described as being: From the junction of the Cornetspruit with the Orange River , along the centre of the former to the point nearest to Olifantsbeen ; from that point, by Olifantsbeen, to
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