Jul 2, 2024
Best tour company - Amazing tour guide Nati. Who knew exactly where to find those unexpected animals, very tasty picnic. Was totally blown away by the hospitality
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 20, 2023
Absolutely Amazing and Highly Recommended - From the start to the finish this trip was amazing! Our 6 year anniversary was unforgettable! The personal touches, card and special snacks hand made by Angie were so appreciated.
Greg is an amazing guide. I never had one moment of not feeling safe and secure with his capable driving, and there are some hair-raising turns on the pass. His knowledge of the local area and the culture kept us enthralled all day. The trip into Lesotho and having bread in a local home was pure magic. Our day was totally and utterly unforgettable and we are going to have a hard time even coming close to the experience we had with Angie and Greg for our anniversaries to come!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 27, 2023
A well organized and conducted tour that was indeed one of highlights of our 15 day journey through southern Africa - This was one of best and most spectacular tours we have taken anywhere. And we have been on tours in over 110 countries and counting. From the moment the driver/guide David met us at the hotel at the agreed upon time and opened the vehicle door to reveal flowers, chocolate, a welcome card and little token gifts on the seats where we would be sitting, we realized that this was going to be something special.
And it was indeed!
We were ushered in the vehicle with the cool, calm and reassuring baritone of the well spoken guide David, who gave us an orientation of our itinerary for the day.
The spectacular scenery of the landscape on our way from the bucolic Sani Pass Resort where we spent the night before the tour, only added to the wonder and excitement of what we would be seeing. The landscape up the mountain through the UNESCO World Heritage Drakensberg National Park towards the Sani Pass Border is a treat in itself. On our way before the South African border post we stopped at an old trading post. David explained the history of the site opened by a South African who pioneered and facilitated trade with the Besothi people of Lesotho by building a trading post close to their mountain kingdom. This saved them the journey of taking their goods miles further down the mountain to sell. It operated until about the 1980's
The crossing from the South African side was smooth and not very busy. And the journey up through the Sani Pass was just full of breath taking wonder of hair pin turns and sweeping views of multiple peaks of the Drakensberg Mountain range.
We stopped halfway up the pass where David opened up the tail gate of the 4x4 and surprised us again with a beautifully laid out spread of coffee, tea, juices and home made muffins and cookies baked by the owner Angie. We were truly not expecting this extra special touch.
Having this treat of coffee and tea and muffins and cookies surrounded by the wild flowers of the Southern Hemisphere summer and the majestic Drakensberg mountains was truly magical. Our conversations with David and his commentary about the history of the Pass and the Besotho people only added to the superlatives of this tour. His wit and sense of humor had its own special charm.
The border crossing into Lesotho at the top of the Sani Pass was just as seamless as the exit at the South African side of the border. And at the border we had the privilege of sipping a pint of beer at the fabled Sani Pass Pub billed as the highest pub in Africa. Knocking back a bottle of the local beer on the outdoors balcony of the pub with sweeping views of the Sani Pass with its picturesque hair pin turns below was definitely unique. A photogenic moment not to be missed.
After leaving the pub and border post we drove pass green mountain meadows scattered with sheep and horse-mounted Besothi shepherds in their signature blankets and baklavas minding their flocks. Another unique visual that harks you back to pictures of horsemen seen on the plains of Mongolia.
Our next stop was a small post-card pretty Besothi village that was accessible by crossing a foot bridge over a small stream. We were introduced to the villagers who entertained us with displays of some of their traditions through dance and songs. While there we met some of the horse mounted shepherds coming back from grazing their flocks.
Later we had lunch in another village consisting of fresh baked bread, stewed lamb and pap, a polenta- like maize creation that is a staple of the Besothi people and many of the peoples in Southern Africa. The bread was warm and welcomed and the food was simple yet tasty.
We were back through the Sani Pass, crossed the border back into South Africa and arrived safely back at our hotel in Himmel by about 4pm. Enough time for us to drive back to Durban before dark.
This was a well organized and conducted tour that was indeed one of highlights of our 15 day journey through southern Africa. If you are in South Africa and want to get a taste of Lesotho I could not recommend this tour highly enough. Thank you David. And thank you Angie!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 14, 2022
Amazing day, strongly recommend! - We extremely recommend Greg and Angie!! We took the extended day-trip with them and we couldn't be happier. They went beyond expectations and we had the best time exploring Lesotho. Greg is an amazing driver and really knowledgeable about everything. Everything was so easy with them. All in all 10/10 and strongly recommend for anyone wanting to visit Lesotho.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 12, 2022
Amazing experience with a wonderful guide - David is an excellent tour guide; not only does he have extensive knowledge of the region, but he is also an excellent driver (important for the sani pass) and is open and friendly. He made us feel secure and relaxed. Thank you so much for this wonderful experience! We were also happy that we could arrange a hotel pick-up, thanks for the good communication! We highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 2, 2022
Sani or bust! Bucket-list ticket. - From us both a MASSIVE thanks to Greg! What an awesome experience. We were comfortable, felt super safe and totally spoilt with Angie’s muffins & delicious biscuits, juice, a wee dram for the nerves LOL and beautiful bread baked by Alina. The visit to Alina’s homestead was so special and the information shared by Greg about the area and the people was really informative. Thank you 🦋
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 21, 2022
Incredible Experience! - Loved, loved, loved it!!! David is an amazing guide and navigated the Sani Pass switchbacks masterfully! The area is stunning and I recommend this tour highly. I will definitely reach out to this tour company when I’m back in the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 17, 2021
Two amazing days in two amazing countries - Everything about these guys was just perfect! Communication, focus on our interests, personal touches. Don’t look further - this is the best value you can get in the area. I am happy to recommend Angie and Greg! You’ll be lucky if you work with them.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 30, 2021
Highlight of our South African adventure! - I would give 6 stars if that were possible - cannot say enough about this spectacular tour, or the absolutely stellar communication, hospitality, knowledge, and kindness extended by our guide, Greg, and his wife Angie (whom we did not meet but she baked exquisite treats and arranged flowers from her garden and styled handwritten and printed notes that greeted us for the journey). The personal touches were too many to mention and Greg’s love of the places and people we visited was infectious. Truly outstanding and made us feel very safe on the pass and with the COVID conditions. Cannot imagine another tour operator would be able to match this wonderful experience. Would recommend Sani Pass Tours to anyone considering a trip up the pass and/or into Lesotho.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 19, 2021
Mountains, snow and dancing - Where to start….
Firstly we will definitely be back for a longer tour.
The day was filled with an immersive cultural experiences and Greg was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and was always providing fun facts and stories. He made traditions come alive (especially on whiskey corner)! We didn’t feel rushed at all and felt as if we could just enjoy the experience.
The tea and lunch stops were simply amazing! The attention to detail made us feel like real VIP’s.
I would highly recommend that anyone looking to do the Sani pass contact Sani and Lesotho Private Tours - Greg and Angie. If you have the time - do the extended tour it is absolutely 100% worth it (and more)!
Review provided by Tripadvisor