Maletsunyane Falls Abseil

The Maletsunyane Falls abseil takes you down the basalt cliff beside the 192-metre waterfall near Semonkong in Lesotho, one of the longest commercially operated single-drop abseils in the world at more than 200 metres. You need no previous experience, only a head for heights and a willingness to step backwards off the edge.

What happens on the day

After a briefing and practice on a small cliff, you are clipped into the rope at the top of the gorge. The first metres are the hardest; then the rock face drops away and you descend slowly with the falls roaring beside you and the spray drifting across. At the bottom there is a steep walk back up the gorge, or you can arrange a horse.

Safety

The abseil is run by trained staff with backup ropes. Weather can stop operations, so allow a spare day in Semonkong. Operators set limits for age and weight, which we confirm when booking.

Not an abseiler?

Walk or ride a Basotho pony to the rim for the view, or hike down to the bottom of the gorge. The village of Semonkong itself, with its blanket-wrapped horsemen, is worth the trip.

Where it fits

Stay at Semonkong Lodge, which runs the abseil. Combine Lesotho with the Tugela Falls hike across the border in the Drakensberg; see our Lesotho guide.

Read our Maletsunyane Falls guide and check the month-by-month water levels before you book.

Seasons, age limits and operating days are set by the operators and can change; check them when you book.