The Inspiration behind Moshoeshoe Walk to the highest order of Ramatšeatsana

Writes Sebabatso Phakisi

The annual Moshoeshoe Walk event which is at the top of the calendar for hiking enthusiasts is the brainchild of an entrepreneur and visionary, whose idea was to encapsulate the spirit of Moshoeshoeism among young and adult Basotho.

The walk has grown from humble beginnings of just forty hikers back in 2007. Sixteen years down the line, MoshoeshoeWalk now boasts more than 700 hikers coming from all corners of the world. It has become one of the most important events on Lesotho’s tourism calendar and has earned its founder, Thabo Maretlane the most prestigious national award for a civilian, ‘Officer of the Most Loyal Order of Ramatšeatsana’ – in commemoration of the King’s Birthday in July 2023.

Over the three days on which the event is held, hikers walk a total of 116 kilometres from Menkhoaneng to Thaba-Bosiu, walking and tracing the footsteps of King Moshoeshoe I, the founding father of the Basotho nation, who left Menkhoaneng, his place of birth in search of a fortress for his people. Thaba-Bosiu was Moshoeshoe’s ‘Promised Land’ where he would establish the Basotho nation – a nation like no other, going through many trials and tribulations to achieve a feat that is today, the envy of many African nations that lived in Southern Africa.

The MoshoeshoeWalk also plays a significant role in promoting the heritage of the Basotho nation. The walk teaches participants endurance and perseverance, which are the cornerstones of nation building displayed by the great King Moshoeshoe I. The walk has become a huge tourism asset with Maretlane estimating that it injects about M2.5 million into the economy over the three days.

There is an African proverb that says: “To go back to tradition is the first step forward” As Basotho also say, we have to honour those who came before us because they have shaped who we are today. This is what the annual Moshoeshoe Walk to Thaba-Bosiu is all about.

Back in the 1980s, when Thabo Maretlane was still in High School, began yearning to study the origins of the Basotho nation. His research led him to wonder why such a beautiful country like Lesotho was not getting as much exposure as it deserved. These thoughts temporarily took a back seat when he had to cross the border into South Africa after high school in search of employment in the mines like many of his peers.

But in 2007, he hosted the inaugural Moshoeshoe Walk with just 40 hikers drawn largely from his acquaintances and those who shared the same interests in getting to know the country and who had a penchant for hiking. On Good Friday, for the first two years, they walked from Menkhoaneng to Thaba-Bosiu. He later decided that the walk should coincide with Moshoeshoe’s Day, a national holiday that celebrates the day when the founder of the Basotho nation died. The walk would also be a perfect stage to showcase the actual path that Moshoeshoe and his people took for him to have created the Basotho nation as we know it today, one of the most sought-after adventure and heritage hike in the calendar of major events in the region.

Moshoeshoe set off the migration from Menkhoaneng to Thaba-Bosiu in the winter of 1824. His was a nine-day expedition covering a distance of 116 kilometres with his people travelling with all their cattle, household belongings and food. It was a journey for everyone, including the elderly, women and children. This is why the journey took nine days to the summit of Thaba-Bosiu – the hill that was believed to grow taller in the night and yet looked like an ordinary hill plateau by daybreak, but still difficult to ascend.

The modern day version of the walk covers the same track and distance to relive the journey of the founder of the Basotho nation and his followers for three days. This one gives a chance for local and international hiking enthusiasts to test their endurance, mental and physical strength as they only have themselves and their luggage to navigate the terrain to Thaba Bosiu. The walk teaches endurance and perseverance, which were the qualities of the great King Moshoeshoe I.

For the starting point, the modern day Moshoeshoe Walk starts at Menkhoaneng, exactly inside what remains of the kraal where Moshoeshoe’s cattle were kept in his compound beneath the hills. Participants climb a small hill to Malaoaneng Ha Seetsa. Then they pass Mahobong in Leribe and reach Thaba Phatsoa at sunset. The first day is 31km and it is regarded as a warm-up, with no major challenges.

Day two becomes the real test of endurance and sheer staying power covering a distance of 56 kilometres. Starting at 0400hrs, just before the break of dawn. Participants start the walk that is known to be challenging and a test of character, walking in mountainous terrains past Ha-Tobolela towards Lipetu Pass, which is where the cannibals ambushed, killed and ate Moshoeshoes’s grandfather, Peete during the journey to Thaba-Bosiu. The treacherous terrain also crosses three main rivers and the hikers eventually set camp at Malimong. Usually arriving late in the night.

Day three covers the last stretch, which is another 29 kilometres passing through the Kome Caves into Sefikeng, Thupa Kubu and into Ha Nchela pass overlooking Qiloane into Thaba Bosiu, where the first party arrives in the late afternoon. Hikers are usually presented with certificates amid the jubilation of all and sundry.

Queen ‘Masenate Bereng Seeiso has been one of the eminent persons who have devoted themselves to partake in the walk. She has done the entire three day walk several times and used the event as part of her fundraising initiatives for the Hlokomela Banana Foundation, of which she is the patron. His Majesty King Letsie III has also participated in the walk as well to relive his ancestor’s journey. In the 2023 edition of the walk, Prime Minister Sam Matekane and the Minister of Tourism Mokhethi Shelile also graced the walk with their presence.

Other prominent figures from other countries have also attended the walk including celebrities like South African actor, Fana Mokoena, who speaks highly of it. Moshoeshoe Walk has also attracted people from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eswatini, the UK and Germany among others.

Along the route, hikers go past many villages and the walk brings with it a good season for the village economies to thrive. It has become customary for Basotho living along the route to sell traditional food and snacks along the way. Villagers also sell walking sticks and even provide horse riding for hikers who want the experience of the Basotho ponies’ saddle as they cover the distance.

The founder of the walk estimates that the village economy makes hundreds of thousands of Maloti in the three days, which makes a big difference in communities that live on less than a Dollar per day. At the national scale, Maretlane estimates that the hospitality industry makes an average of M2.5 million in the three days through the provision of hospitality services including the sale of handicrafts for tourists.

The walk has over the years not only helped Basotho relive the legacy of King Moshoeshoe I by bringing droves of tourists into Lesotho, but it has also contributed significantly to social responsibility projects for communities along the route. It has resulted in the building of schools, clinics and bridges in the remote villages of the country through the support of sponsors. The walk has contributed handsomely to charitable courses, by providing school shoes and clothing to vulnerable children. These gestures are in keeping with Moshoeshoe’s ideology of always striving to serve rather than being served.

It is for these initiatives that Maretlane was awarded the prestigious national award for a civilian, “Officer of the Most Loyal Order of Ramatšeatsana” in celebration of the King’s Birthday in July 2023. The citation of the award reads; “His Majesty King Letsie III by the grace of God, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Lesotho is pleased by these presents to appoint Mr. Thabo Maretlane Officer of the Most Loyal Order of Ramats’eatsana in recognition of the tremendous work through organizing the annual Moshoeshoe walk from Menkhoaneng to Thaba-Bosiu. The walk that aims to rekindle the spirit and of unity amongst Basotho nation and the international community, in honour of the founder of Basotho, Morena Moshoeshoe I”.

On receiving the award, Maretlane said the honour came as a surprise which made him realise that what he does as his passion was being recognised. The award came with a big responsibility to grow the event and make it more popular to promote heritage and boost the tourism sector, which will help Basotho to be financially independent, he said.

Building up to the 2024 edition when Lesotho will be celebrating  200 years since the formation of the Basotho nation, a lot is already being done behind the curtains. The organisers have started collaborations with the Department of Arts and Culture in the Free State in South Africa. Plans are afoot to bring high ranking officials from Eswatini as well as the Lozwi people from Zambia to attend. There will be the Bana Ba Thari Lifestyle Festival hosted on 3 March 2024 and a series of events a week before the start of the Walk from 7 to 9 March 2024. The walk continues to enjoy extensive coverage from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in South Africa and other major media houses. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BCC) is also expected to cover the 2024 edition.