Tsehlanyane

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Back in March, we had the opportunity to attend a “career fair” of sorts organized by Peace Corps volunteers for local youth groups and held at Tsehlanyane National Park. We hit the road early, travelling with two of Kathy’s co-workers and their children. Along the way, we enjoyed the typical Lesotho grandeur., including the small lake on the outskirts of Maseru:

Magnificent valleys and mountain ranges:

Villages, homes, and bluffs:

As we approached Tsehlanyane, the road ran alongside a river and through a magical valley:

Before attending the fair, we stopped at Maliba Lodge, which is located within the park. I certainly hope we return and try staying there. I am willing to bet the hiking trails are glorious:

The fair was held just down the valley from the Lodge and lacked nothing in terms of the view:

And the content of the event was engaging enough that even a casual observer like me found it fascinating. Employers holding informational conversations with youth from the area included a women’s law association, the Lesotho Red Cross, the police and the Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF). Kathy and I had a particularly engrossing conversation with two Basotho police officers, who described to us the problem Lesotho has with the marijuana trade (called dagga here), both in terms of local use and the sale of domestically grown dagga across the border into South Africa.

Here, you can see some of the participants and organizers outside the venue, talking between sessions:

The trip back from Tsehlanyane was, of course, eye-catching too: