Dear Lesotho,
From the moment I crossed your borders, I knew you were different.
Every curve of your mountains whispered to me, every breeze carried secrets of a kingdom untouched by time. You held me still, stripped away my distractions, and placed me in your arms — raw, honest, and breathtakingly beautiful.
You made me trade comfort for wonder. In Ha Motjotji, I slept without electricity, wrestled with silence where the internet could not reach me, and yet I found a deeper connection than I have in any city. You gave me skies so endless they silenced my fears, sunsets that painted my soul, and mountains that cradled me in their quiet majesty.
Your people wrapped in colourful Basotho blankets taught me that identity can be woven in threads. Your horses trotting along rugged paths reminded me that simplicity is a kind of royalty. And you did more than show me beauty; you taught me courage. In your mountains, I overcame my fear and learned to ride a horse. I still remember the rhythm of hooves echoing against the valleys, the way the air tasted different as I rode higher and braver than I ever thought I could.
Lesotho, I have travelled to more than 20 countries across four continents. But none of them made me say “wow” at every turn the way you did. You are not just a place on a map you are a love I didn’t see coming. The kind that claims you and doesn’t let you go.
Forever yours,
A Traveler Who Fell in Love
Abigail Edem Hunu