About New Oxbow Lodge

Oxbow Lodge came into being when two brothers with friends, were exploring the Lesotho Mountains.  They were caught in a snowstorm, and pitched up tents in the oxbow area.

The name OXBOW, comes from the shape of a mountain nearby that resembles the bow of an ox, and also the river nearby that flows in an oxbow.

As these brothers and their friends were outdoor enthusiasts, they came back again to the same spot and made a camp, starting the oxbow campsite.
Since then, in 1971, two young men from the U.K. got involved and built A-frame structures.
The ownership changed many times.

The road to oxbow was very bad, and resembled more of a donkey trail than a road.  A four-wheel drive was a necessity, and it took a whole day’s journey from Butha-Buthe to Oxbow.  The old road can still be seen going to Oxbow on the other side of the mountain.

In 1978, the existing owners, Costa & Irene, took over the Lodge. 
August of 1981, the Lodge was completely destroyed by run-away fires, as it was built entirely with their own hands, from timber and thatch.

Thus, the name NEW Oxbow Lodge came into being, when the owner started to re-build the Lodge.  All building material, infact everything at the Lodge was transported up solely by two Nissan four-wheel drive pick-ups over the years.

Only in 1991, was a new road built and tarred, making a trip from Butha-Buthe to Oxbow possible in just under an hours drive. Oxbow is very popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Relaxation comes very easily with the sound of the flowing waterfall and river.


The altitude of 2700mm results in an extreme and bracing climate. The alpine cold ensures snow in winter, and on occasion, in summer. The lowest recorded temperature has been -27 degree Celsius, where everything froze, from water pipes, to the water in the toilet cistern.

Lesotho is one of a few places in Africa were snow skiing is possible. Snow is not just a “winter” time occurrence, as snow has fallen as early as the 1st of January, and has even fallen at Christmas time.

Log fires at the lodge run the whole year round.  The weather in the Lesotho Kingdom is very unpredictable, and a person should always be prepared for the unexpected.

The lodge has a little curio / tuck shop which sells a variety of products. Local craftswomen bring their beaded jewellery to the lodge to sell. A selection of clothing with the "New Oxbow Lodge" brand name is for sale, from caps, beanie hats, t-shirts, scarves, gloves to thermal underwear. There is also good selection of sweets, chips, biltong, dried fruit, nuts, torches, batteries, stickers, general medicine etc.