Sani Mountain Escape

The drive up Sani Pass was absolutely incredible — truly a must-do experience! Unfortunately, the pub at the top was a big letdown. The staff were unfriendly and unhelpful. Still, the pass itself makes the trip completely worthwhile — just don’t expect much from the pub.

What a fantastic location to have a beer - at the highest pub in Africa! However the food and service are just not up to standard. It’s a great pity as this seems to be a result of no competition around the top of Sani Pass. When we went up on 17 June 2025, it was the usual level of busy for the pub and we were a group of 10. After paying the R100 per person, which goes as a credit against your spend, we placed our orders. Most of the food appeared shortly except the 1 margarita pizza! After asking the waitress several times and receiving several conflicting answers it turned out that they had supposedly run out of their frozen bases. When I walked over to the pizza oven place lo and behold there were two margaritas but were reserved for other people. The extremely rude pizza baker refused to allocate them to us as he claimed he never received our order. When asked to speak to the manager she eventually appeared and immediately said it’s not her problem and she is not interested in solving what was effectively our problem! When we went up again recently we made sure not to visit this place that rips you off! My suggestion have a beer or two if you have to use the facilities but get a meal elsewhere or carry your own food!

Sani Mountain Escape is in a prime location—I would give it 10 stars for that alone if I could. Unfortunately, the rest of our experience was extremely disappointing. First, we were told we needed to pay R200 for entrance (for two adults) and were given two tickets. However, we were not informed that these were redeemable vouchers for use at the restaurant or bar. We only found out after we had settled the bill and were leaving. No one offered us a refund, so we felt cheated. Second, the place was filthy. It felt more like a shebeen than “the highest pub in Africa.” There were dirty dishes and empty bottles everywhere you looked... It felt like the Sani Mountain Escape staff was overwhelmed by all the demand and couldn't cope (9 August afternoon). Third, the service was incredibly poor. We waited 45 minutes for just two coffees and one beer. For the prices they charge, we expected far better service. In the end, we decided not to eat there at all. This place has tremendous potential, but it is very poorly managed. If things remain unchanged, I wouldn't recommend to visit this place. There are far better places in Southern Drakensberg area.

One of the most scenic border crossings in Southern Africa. The rugged drive up to the Lesotho border post is not for the faint-hearted. At the top, there's the iconic highest pub in Africa! It was a bit too early to grab a drink…Welp, but the chilly weather was perfect to try the Basotho Stew. If you are cold, remember there’s always some seats near the fireplace.

I recently took a road trip in my Hilux 4x4 from Cape Town up the legendary Sani Pass, with the goal of finally seeing Lesotho. What I discovered at Sani Mountain Escape was far more than just a stopover – it was the highlight of the journey. Nestled at the very top of the legendary Sani Pass, this lodge combines comfort and authenticity with some of the most breathtaking views I’ve ever seen. My room was warm and inviting, complete with quality bedding, a crackling little fireplace, and thoughtful touches like hot water bottles waiting at bedtime. Meals at the restaurant were a delight, and the staff’s genuine friendliness made me feel right at home. A special mention goes to Tsepo, who went out of his way to show me around and share his passion for this remarkable place. Lesotho is such an underrated destination for South Africans, and Sani Mountain Escape is the perfect way to experience it.

Excellent place. However your day buffet lunch staff is rude and welcoming. Walk 50m to your pub and the staff is phenominal. Perhaps retrain your staff in the buffet room and youd get a full 5 star. Pricing at the venue is also great.

Total rip off, just a novelty place to visit food is not good and over priced. I paid R400 to enter for the 4 of us and was given a R400 voucher which you can redeem in the pub/restaurant. They where out of pizza, didn't have any wraps and no other beers except Maluti (which is really good) but a rip of at R60 a can. I ended up buying a chicken burger that tasted like fish🙃 lol...for a R175. Just my honest opinion....don't waste your time and money.

What a disappointment. If only the service and food matched the views. Food was horribly overpriced with delusions of mediocrity - I've had better meals at boarding school! Their pizzas are also sub-standard - they use frozen pizza bases, for goodness sake! Any self-respecting pizzeria makes their own bases. While I thought that R160 for a bony, chicken curry was poor value, my sympathies went out to the poor suckers I met in the parking lot, who were part of a tourist group who had to pay R220 for the same meal. Added to that, they took 45 minutes to deliver a sloppy Mac 'n cheese to kids. I guess this is the result of no competition. Go for a drink and the view, but save your money for a decent meal in Himeville or Underberg.