Molumong Ecolodge, Mokhotlong

Molumong Backpackers is one of many great, value, small hostels in Lesotho. At the time of our stay, it had reopened within the last few months under new management.

The Location

As it's located in the village of Molumong, about twenty kilometers from the provincial capital of Mokhotlong, the lodge is best reached by your own vehicle. For the last three hundred or so meters, you'll need a four-wheel-drive, as this is real, rural Lesotho! Molumong is also reached by minibus direct from Mokhotlong, or to the junction from Sani Pass, where you can wait for a passing vehicle or walk the last eight kilometers along a beautiful, winding gravel road.

Rooms and Bathrooms

This small place has two double rooms and one dorm, all en suite. When we arrived, the dorm had seven beds; six bunks and a single, but the owner, Noma, took one bed out as she thought it looked too cramped! (It didn't.) However, it was moved to a rondavel, which is in the process of being turned into a family room.

All the rooms are really clean and tastefully decorated. They have been refurbished over the last few months, so everything is bright and freshly painted. The mattresses in the dorm are good and the duvets are warm. Blankets are also supplied for the winter months. There are no lockers as yet, but plans are afoot to install them. The clean en suite shower and toilet has twenty-four-hour hot water from a geyser, and soap and towels are provided even for dorm guests.

Common Spaces

The common kitchen is well equipped, but there is only generator electricity here, so there's no toaster or microwave. There is a fridge and gas hobs for self-caterers. There is a small dining room and a really comfortable, bright sitting room with magazines and books. The generator is turned on for guests in the morning and evenings, but solar panels are being considered for the near future to give twenty-four-hour power off-grid. At present, there is no Wi-Fi and the phone signal is patchy. If you come in your own vehicle, there is ample space for parking on the large grounds. If coming in a two-wheel-drive, your vehicle can be securely left with a family friend near the main road.

Summary

This is a terrific place in rural Lesotho, in a very friendly village surrounded by hills providing great walks up to the hilltops and ridges for spectacular views. These ridges and slopes are populated by butterflies, wildflowers, and birds, and offer lovely walks of anything between thirty minutes to several hours. The lodge has undergone an extensive refurbishment since coming under local management, and Noma, the owner, is an excellent host and great cook. She can cook dinner if required and you'll never be short of conversation. This is our favorite place in Lesotho and we heartily recommend Molumong Lodge.