Summary

The Exploring The Mountain Kingdom photographic workshop tackles two of Lesotho's most breath-taking landscape locations and puts them together into a fantastic landscape of the mountains of Lesotho.

Lesotho is unique in many ways, but startlingly has the world's highest low point. Throughout the workshop you are at an altitude above 2000m abive sea-level. The lack of oxygen is evident in the sluggish pace our cars climb the extraordinary passes that come one after the other as we make the drive towards and past the Senqu River (the Orange River once it crosses into South Africa).
WHEN
13 - 19 March 2025
PRICE
R27,900 P/P sharing
FOCUS
ADVANCED LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP SIZE
MINIMUM 3, MAX 6
INSTRUCTOR GUEST RATIO
1:3
DURATION
6 NIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION TYPE
Tents and Chalets
NUMBER OF DESTINATIONS
2

In Detail

Exploring The Mountain Kingdom
Enormous valleys and vertiginous peaks mark the entirety of the mountainous country of Lesotho. Winding roads wend in and out of folds in the mountains and the roar of rivers at the valley bottoms is a never ending feature. In all of this, terraces of maize and barley dot the slopes while villages peak out over cliff edges. Blanket cad, and gum-booted, Basotho herders on horseback tend tend to flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. Crossing the border into Lesotho is like stepping into another world.

The Nature's Light Mountain Kingdom workshop explores two of Lesotho's most iconic locations. The first, the edge of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier National Park and World Heritage site is the fabled Sethlabathebe National Park. This is Lesotho's first national park (declared in 1970) with it's name literally meaning 'Shield of the Plateau' in Sesotho. We spend three nights on the plateau over looking the Devil's Knuckles - a prominent three peaked mountain feature - that stand on the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment.

The second location is the extraordinary Maletsunyane Falls near Semonkong in the interior of Lesotho. The 192m high waterfalls are home to the world's longest abseil (if you are interested). For photographers though, the sheer sight of the water pounding into the valley below is enough to make this is a Southern African bucket list location.

We spend two nights at the very comfortable Semonkong Lodge before heading back home.

The workshop is considered a self-drive self-camp workshop, although all meals are provided. Transport can be arranged for photographers who do not have their own four wheel drive vehicle (4x4 is absolutely essential for the Sethlabathebe leg of the trip). Travel into and out of Lesotho takes time, which is why we consider the 5 nights the shortest comfortable stay between the two locations.

Read on for more details around our Mountain Kingdom workshop.
key highlights
           Photograph:
  • ​The mirror-like reflections of the numerous tarns at Sethlabathebe Nation Park
  • The magnificent mountain landscape of Lesotho and it's interior.
  • The extraordinary Maletsunyane Falls and the massive gorge that it forms.
  • 'Found' images of some of the people we meet along the way.
  • Stars circling over the rock homes built into the mountainscape at Sethlabathebe,
           Enjoy:
  • Probably the world’s best instructor to participant ratio, maximizing your learning while on tour.
  • Having highly experienced tutors watching over your shoulder and helping you on the spot as you craft your images of the amazing Sethlabathebe Park and the extraordinary Maletsunyane Falls.
  • Spending time with like minded people in one of Africa’s most spectacular places.

           Learn about:
  • Creative Composition: The basics and beyond, such as The Element Approach, Balancing Composition etc. 
  • Basics to advanced techniques in digital landscape photography. With two instructors (depending on group size) all levels of ability can be catered for. 
  • Workflow & digital asset management. 
  • How to create awe-inspiring Astrophotography and Star-trail images. 
  • How to create panoramic images. 
  • How to create time lapses (optional).
  • Post-production using Lightroom and Photo Shop. 
    Emil regularly runs workshops and classes on Lightroom, Photo Shop layers and masking and luminosity masking. These sessions will be included in the travel itinerary for those who want to spend more time on these aspects. 
itinerary
part 1 - Sethlabathebe National Park
Day 1

Although on paper everything looks relatively close, as soon as you travel towards and into Lesotho distances seem to increase and time stretches out. Everything in Lesotho is long way from everything else. For this reason the first day is to all intents and purposes a travel day.

The group meets in 11h00 for a quick bite to eat before continuing onto the dirt farm roads that lead towards Ramatsilisos Border Post. This is a windy dirt road that climbs into the foothills of the Drakensberg and crests out on a lower outcrop of the mountains. From here we head up northwards along the spine of the mountains to the entrance of Sethlabathebe National Park.

A long day of driving (much of it on rough dirt roads and finishing off on a dirt track where 4x4 is essential) leads us to a comfortable camping site on the end of a marsh at the very top of the mountains. We set camp and settle in to the area for a few days of landscape photography.

Day 2

​An early morning start has us walking the short 1km to the edge of the escarpment where we can watch the sunrise. The viewpoint we aim for overlooks the 'Devil's Knuckles' peaks which are perfectly reflected in the still water of the numerous tarns in the area.

Once the sun is up, we return for a leisurely breakfast. The morning is spent scouting the various boulder formations and overhang homesteads that litter the escarpment top. The goal is to search out some compositions for the afternoon and evening shoot. The moon is also waxing and gives excellent opportunity to photograph the night sky, which is on the cards weather permitting.


Day 3

A dawn shoot is followed by a decent rest as the evening would have been a long one photographing the stars. The third day follows a similar pattern to day two, allowing photographers the opportunity to photograph the changing weather and light. We do another evening shoot weather permitting.

Part 2 - Semonkong and the Maletsunyane Falls
 Day 4


After our first lie-in (two nights of photographing the stars means that a decent nap is definitely a good idea), we pack up camp and start the long journey across the southern portion of Lesotho to Semonkong. This is a long drive that takes the better part of 8 hours on the road, despite only being around 200km in length (the road is currently under new construction so it is possible that the travel times will improve in 2024).

If we manage to get to Semonkong in time, we dash out to the extraordinary Maletsunyane Waterfall for sunset. This is a bumpy 30 minute drive from the lodge to the viewpoint. From here we can watch the light as it slides over the western mountains and bathes falls in a warm glow.

A drive back in the dark to the comfortable embrace of Semonkong Lodge and a round of Maluti beer at the homely restaurant attached to the Lodge.


Day 5

We head off at dawn again, this time back along the road we traveled on the previous day. The goal is to view one of lesser known waterfalls and the deep gorge as it strikes southwards. The edges of the ravines are often filled with yellow flowers this time of year, making for some extraordinary colour in the images.

A packed breakfast at the falls is followed by a gentle walk back through villages to Semonkong Lodge. We do this as it allows for fantastic opportunities to photograph village life - something that is difficult to do from a vehicle. We have a local guide along to help with the language in order to be able to create some images. 

Once back there is time for a rest followed by some editing sessions. After lunch we head back again to the viewpoint over Maletsunyane Falls.


Day 6

We head out for an alternative view site of the Maletsunyane Gorge in the early morning. This doesn't require quite as early a start as the previous morning, but allows for some excellent views of the gorge.

After breakfast there is the option to either walk to the base of the gorge, or do a guided walk through Semonkong Village. For the adventurous there is also the option to abseil down the side of the Maletsunyane Waterfall - this is the world's highest commercially operated abseil and is an extraordinary experience.

Day 7

As mentioned at the beginning; everything in Lesotho is a long way from anywhere else. This means that the last day is essentially a travel day getting back to Durban (or other cities if photographers have joined us from other locales). A decent breakfast allows us ample time to trundle on down the winding roads along the Senqu River and back to Quacha's Nek, from where we reenter South Africa.

dates
Current dates for this workshop are the 13th to the 19th March 2025
price
R27 900 per person Minimum 2 participants, maximum 6 participants.
(If under 4 participants, only one photographic leader will conduct the tour) 
Single Supplement: R2200 - subject to availability 
​

Guided Tour Includes:
  • All Lodging (based upon sharing)
  • All meals though - out the course of the trip.
  • Local tips for guides and for restaurants
  • Photography guidance by two professional photographers and an assistant
  • All tuition including teaching material and hand-outs
  • All entrance fees and photography permits
  • All tolls and parking fees
  • Transport if required (additional charge)

Guided Tour Excludes:
  • Airfares to and from Durban International Airport and transfer to the Drakensberg - We can arrange transport for an additional fee.
  • Transport in 4x4 to and in Lesotho (this is considered a 'self-drive' trip, BUT transport can be arranged if participants do not have their own 4x4 vehicle).
  • Single room supplement (R2,200.00)
  • Non-meal time snacks if purchased on route
  • Possible extra excursions/activities and/or additional days
  • Travel insurances (mandatory!)
  • Photographic gear rental (if required)

The Nature's Light Terms and Conditions apply to your booking with us. For more information see: 
Nature's Light Terms and Conditions