The Liphofung (“place of the eland”) Historical Site includes a cave which occupies an important place in Lesotho history. It is the smallest of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) reserves, at about , but has been intensively developed. The cave is a large overhang in the Clarens sandstone, which is a typical feature of the Lesotho lowlands region. Originally used by the

San people The San peoples (also Saan), or Bushmen, are members of various Khoe, Tuu, or Kxʼa-speaking indigenous hunter-gatherer cultures that are the first cultures of Southern Africa, and whose territories span Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia ...

and other

Neolithic The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several p ...

people, the walls contain important rock art and a rich archaeological deposit of Stone Age implements lies beneath the floor. Later, King Moshoeshoe the Great used the cave as a stopover when visiting that part of the kingdom. The site is located in a tributary-stream valley of the Hololo River, off the main route from

Butha-Buthe Butha-Buthe is the capital city or camptown of the Butha-Buthe District in Lesotho. It has a population of 35,108 (2016 census). It is named for Butha-Buthe Mountain to the north of the town. The city's name means "place of deposits." Butha-But ...

to Oxbow and Mokhotlong. Access is via a concrete road which is passable for all vehicles. A visitors' centre, featuring a display of

Basotho The Sotho () people, also known as the Basuto or Basotho (), are a Bantu nation native to southern Africa. They split into different ethnic groups over time, due to regional conflicts and colonialism, which resulted in the modern Basotho, who ...

culture and San rock art has been developed, along with restrooms and a small shop. The site is a popular destination of school groups and tourists traveling to Oxbow, and light refreshments are available. Apart from the cultural and historical aspects of the site, there are also various geological features to be seen, both on-site and in the surrounding areas. Since the 'Moteng Valley is densely populated, it is a good opportunity to observe the traditional

way of life. The site was developed almost entirely by local labour and artisans; therefore, most of the development costs have been ploughed directly back into the local community. This, in turn, has led to a strong sense of ownership of the facility by the local communities. Contacts for booking 59586415 . We also have accommodationLiphofung brochure
Retrieved 2012-06-18.

References

{{Navbox prehistoric caves Archaeological sites in Lesotho