Silverback Carbon Storm 29er

Morija Circular MTB Trail (Closest City/Town: Morija - Lesotho)

Lesotho - Central Lesotho

Morija Circular MTB Trail

CLOSEST TOWN > Morija

TRAIL DESTINATION > Morija Lesotho

DISTANCE > 56km

GRADING > Moderate

VIDEOS > Check out some video shots of the trail.....

Morija

OVERVIEW

The Morija MTB trail is the route of an annual event called the Morija MTB Challenge. Founded in 2010 it is a young event that has managed to attract many local riders from Lesotho as well as regional riders from KZN and the Freestate. In 2011 the Morija MTB Challenge constituted the prologue stage of the inaugural Lesotho Sky Event This is also the route for the proloque stage of the Lesotho Sky(www.lesothosky.com) stage race.

Morija is one of Lesotho’s most important historical and cultural sites, known as the Selibeng sa Thut — the Well-Spring of Learning. It was the site of the first French Protestant mission in Lesotho, founded in 1833. Morija is not only the cultural hub of Lesotho but also offers many other activities than just mountain biking, bring your beloved ones along for an adventure weekend…

On your bike

It is a circular route around Morija and a nice (very scenic) moderate ride for riders new to Lesotho. The first 15km are mostly single track with some moderate rocky sections where less experienced riders will probably prefer to push their ride for some few 100m or so. The of the route is a mix of jeeptrack and gravel road with a nice single track ending for the last 4km.

Off the bike

We can recommend staying at the Morija Guest House with views over the entire village www.morijaguesthouses.com. Camping facilities available. It is situated literally where the last kms of single track end.

As the oldest town in Lesotho (having been founded in 1833 by pioneer French Protestant missionaries), Morija boasts many historical buildings, including the Morija Museum and Archives, which is the national museum of Lesotho. Although small, it is well laid out with some very interesting exhibits covering history, ethnography, palaeontology and the future of Lesotho. It will give one a good overview of the country. The museum provides a clear insight into the Kingdom’s history from Moshoeshoe I. There are also some priceless prehistoric finds and fossils. The curator, Stephen Gill, is extremely helpful and friendly. There are also many interesting publications on sale.

Morija also has a small conference centre - Mophato oa Morija, and a craft centre. Other things of interest in Morija is the oldest house in the country, the oldest church which was built in the 1850's and the oldest printing works in the country which is more than a hundred years old.

CONTACT:

Telephone: +27 72 545 9032

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.lesothosky.com and www.morijaguesthouses.com

GPS: 29°37′47.0″S 27°30′48.0″E

Weather: {weather Maseru, Lesotho}

FAST FACTS

GRADING:

Moderate

DURATION:

2-4 Hours

CONFIGURATION :

Circular route around Morija

START POINT:

Morija

TERRAIN:

Single track, jeep track and gravel road

MAP:

Availible on mtbroutes or www.lesothosky.com

CELL RECEPTION:

xxx

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Public riding free

FACILITIES:

Camping facilities

BEWARE OF:

Be aware of potential border queues especially Friday afternoon/evening. Friday morning/early Saturday best times for crossing.

HOW TO GET THERE

Border crossings at Maseru (Ladybrand) and Wepener.

From Maseru border, take right at first robot (A10) and right again towards Mafeteng/ Airport (A10). Follow A10 road until the end junction approx. 15km. Then take right onto A2. Go past the airport approx. 30km to MORIJA.

From Wepener continue into Mafeteng. Take left onto A2 towards Maseru for 40km to MORIJA

 


BEST TIME OF YEAR

xxx

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