Africa-Press – Lesotho. In the remote countryside of Lesotho, a kingdom in southern Africa, time stretches wide between long treks on horse or donkey back and hours of herding cattle along mountain ranges.
Mounted on his donkey, Matekoa Libe rides along the steep, rocky paths. His long legs slapping against his donkey’s flanks as it lopes forwards.
“I’m going to the village (to get) gas,” said the smiling 18-year-old as he stops to speak to AFP, holding a grey cooking gas cylinder placed next to him on the donkey’s back.
He pulls a woollen hat over his head and hurriedly ties his shoelaces, and he sets off again, waving a coloured pompom at the end of a stick.
Then he descends from the heights of Thaba Bosigo, about 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the capital Maseru.
This is the cradle of the Sothos, the main ethnic group in the constitutional monarchy of 2.2 million people.
The sandstone plateau, which rises slightly over 1,800 metres, served as a refuge for Sotho pastoralists from the onslaught of European settlers and Zulu warriors from neighbouring South Africa in the early 19th century.
Completely surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho is the largest of only three enclaved states in the world, far bigger than San Marino and the Vatican City, both of which are within Italy.
– Straw hats and cannabis –
Lesotho is also one of the highest countries in the world, with more than 80 percent of the country sitting 1,800 metres (5,900 feet) above sea level.
But in the Belgium-sized country, the most convenient and commonly used off-road transport are horses and donkeys.
Road infrastructure is still limited in Lesotho, one of the poorest countries in the world, with just three main roads linking Maseru to the rest of the country.
In the central highlands, nature remains untouched. Scattered in dotted lines, men draped in traditional blankets herd sheep and horned cows.
Motifs on the warm and bright woollen blankets are loaded with meaning, from celebrating life and nationality, to fertility and royalty, or peace, love and courage.
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