01-Sep-2002 -- Continued from 29S 28E.

After staying the night at the Lodge at Katse, we got up early for probably the toughest part of the trip - crossing the Drakensberg to Sehlabathebe and the Confluence at 30S 29E. We found some petrol at Thaba-Tseka. Up to Sehonghong the path road was reasonable, but after that it deteriorated rapidly, and we travelled most of the day in low range 4x4 through rivers and gorges and up unbelievable mountain passes.

Eventually the last basalt escarpment is crossed at 2900 m and one descends down to a sandstone plateau and the Sehlabathebe game reserve. By this time we were running late, as the border at Ramatseliso's Gate closes at four in the afternoon. The road passes just a few hundred meters from the Confluence. We drove part of the way cross-country and then left the vehicles and jogged the rest of the way. We took the photographs at half past three and then raced back up the hill to the vehicles.

Luckily the last bit of dirt road was in excellent condition and we drove through the Lesotho post and into the South African border post just as the guard was lowering the South African flag. He obligingly rebooted his computers to enter in our details. While we were waiting, the policeman guarding the Lesotho side of the border arrived and requested that we return to the Lesotho side of the border to complete the formalities there. That done we descended down yet another 4x4 only pass to Matatiele and Kokstad in the Transkei (actually Griqualand East and part of Kwazulu-Natal) where we spent the night, as it was too late to proceed further.

Continued at 31S 29E.

The border with South Africa is running about 690 m SE of the Confluence.