This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Roma.
Founded in the late nineteenth century by Catholic missionaries, Roma, Lesotho, is a centre of religious learning with three seminaries. The University of Lesotho was also established here. Roma sits in a broad valley enclosed by sandstone cliffs that make for beautiful hikes, yielding terrific views of the valley below. While the scenery isn't as dynamic as Eastern Lesotho, Roma is a very pleasant alternative to staying in the capital Maseru, some thirty-five kilometers northwest. For those not driving, public minibuses are plentiful going to Maseru every few minutes throughout the day, and southeast to Ramabanta and Semongkong.
Accommodation is much better value and more plentiful here than in Maseru and those looking for Roma, Lesotho hostel accommodation will find options here. Roma has a plethora of bed-and-breakfasts and small guesthouses, and it's well-established on both the international and domestic tourist route. As a consequence of this, all accommodation can organize a huge variety of activities here -- hiking, mountain, or quad biking; horse trekking; and fly fishing are just a few. Bird life is also prolific here with many different species than is found in the more mountainous east. There are also examples of ancient rock art -- some believed to be forty thousand years old -- left by the San people. Dinosaur footprints are also found in this region. The hostel accommodation in Roma is especially adept at organizing trips to these historic sights and putting individual backpackers together to make bigger groups and saving you money. There are also great hostel options in both Ramabanta and Semongkong, and it's possible, by four-wheel-drive vehicle only, to drive all the way through to Molumong and Mokhotlong, in the east of the country, and on to the Sani Pass.
Roma has a very gentle pace about it and it is a major agricultural area. Ox carts and hand carts are common sights on the roads and, if you're driving, watch out for chickens, cows, and goats crossing the road! There is a small commercial center with a couple of supermarkets for those wanting to self-cater and one bank with an international ATM.
Written by local enthusiast for Roma hostels
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