There is something special about visiting these modern-day cave-dwellings in the heart of rural Lesotho. The village, Ha Kome, is situated about 60km from Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho, in the foothills of the majestic Maluti Mountains. During the summer months, these mountain slopes are often covered with bright-red flowers. Commonly known as red-hot pokers, these beautiful flowers provide a striking contrast to the lush green vegetation of the area, they are often planted around dwellings as its believed to ward off lightning. Here several families follow a centuries-old way of life. They actually build their homes inside the caves of the mountain slope. The front wall is insulated with a mixture of mud and cow dung. This insulation affords some protection from Lesotho’s cold winters, when the temperature can fall below the freezing point. Inside, there is a lowered spot in the floor called ifo, meaning “fireplace,” which is also used to provide some heat when it is cold. The roof, the back wall, and often the sidewalls are all formed by the rock of the cave itself. A mixture of mud and cow dung is applied to these, and it is reapplied each year. This adds color and a smoother surface to the rock. Cowhides decorate the interior and are also used as mattresses for sleeping. For Lesotho travel trips contact us now! We arrange Lesotho overland tours and our popular 3 day Lesotho Overland incorporates a visit to the Home Caves.
There is something special about visiting these modern-day cave-dwellings in the heart of rural Lesotho.
The village, Ha Kome, is situated about 60km from Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho, in the foothills of the majestic Maluti Mountains. During the summer months, these mountain slopes are often covered with bright-red flowers. Commonly known as red-hot pokers, these beautiful flowers provide a striking contrast to the lush green vegetation of the area, they are often planted around dwellings as its believed to ward off lightning.
Here several families follow a centuries-old way of life. They actually build their homes inside the caves of the mountain slope. The front wall is insulated with a mixture of mud and cow dung. This insulation affords some protection from Lesotho’s cold winters, when the temperature can fall below the freezing point. Inside, there is a lowered spot in the floor called ifo, meaning “fireplace,” which is also used to provide some heat when it is cold.
The roof, the back wall, and often the sidewalls are all formed by the rock of the cave itself. A mixture of mud and cow dung is applied to these, and it is reapplied each year. This adds color and a smoother surface to the rock. Cowhides decorate the interior and are also used as mattresses for sleeping.
For Lesotho travel trips contact us now! We arrange Lesotho overland tours and our popular 3 day Lesotho Overland incorporates a visit to the Home Caves.
