The awesome Ha Kome cave houses of Lesotho’s Berea District are surely one of the most striking wonders in the country.Carved directly from the rock faces of the surrounding mountains, they can be found hiding between the valleys close to the village of Mateka.

A truly earthy and interesting look at a traditional family living in this part of Africa; the structures are still inhabited by the descendants of those who built them almost 200 years ago.

Come and meet the cave dwellers and take a tour of the on-site Ha Kome Visitors Centre, which unravels the heritage of these curious highland settlements.

All you need to know Kome Cave Lesotho

The Ha Kome Cave Village is situated in the Pulane area in the Berea district. The caves were a hideout for the Basia and one Bataung clan during the Lifaqane Wars and cannibalism. The cave is still inhabited by their descendants to this day. There are also faded San paintings in the cave which indicates that the San also occupied the cave sometime prior to their arrival albeit briefly.

The Kome Crafts and Information Office is about 500 meters up the road from the cave houses, locally made crafts including crafts from Lesotho Mountain Crafts in Teyateyaneng, 21 km from the center. You will also find a tuck shop and a small café at the center. At the Kome Crafts and Information Centre, you can have a picnic and even strike up a barbecue/braai at one of its many strands. The helpful staff at the center can help you organize pony treks around the Pulane area and even assist you with guided tours of the Kome Cave Village. Catering is available upon request. Camping is permitted but there aren’t any shower facilities.

How to get to Ha Kome cave houses Lesotho

The 60 km road from Maseru city can be accessed by a high clearance vehicle is highly recommended if you driving down to the center and sensible footwear for the trip to the cave dwellings.