Mountains all around

Driving into Lesotho at its western border crossing at the capital city of Maseru, one sees mountains rise up on every horizon. Many of the hills are cone shaped like the country's noted straw hats.

Setting a eastward path we drove an hour into the mountains, crossing three passes 7,500-8,600 feet in elevation. Individual dwellings and small villages with gardens and fields dot the hillsides.

Sandstone cliffs rose majestically around us as life went on as usual. We passed many people walking, riding donkeys and horses, selling produce, working in fields and transporting goods along the road.

In the fifth photo men are cutting sandstone blocks from the mountainside. Stone fenceposts from an early era are still in place around fields and sandstone carvings are available from craftsmen along the roads.