The 56th edition of the legendary Roof of Africa Hard Enduro, staged from 19–22 November 2025, once again affirmed Lesotho’s reputation as the ultimate destination for extreme adventure. Set against the dramatic mountain backdrops of the Kingdom in the Sky, the iconic event delivered a powerful combination of endurance sport, cultural celebration, and global unity.
Elevating the event to historic heights, the 2025 Roof of Africa proudly hosted the Grand Finale of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Hard Enduro World Championship, firmly placing Lesotho on the international motorsport stage. More than 400 elite riders from 15 countries including Australia, Germany, China, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zimbabwe took on Lesotho’s challenging terrain, renowned for pushing even the world’s best beyond their limits. Held under the theme “Where Champions Conquer the Kingdom in the Sky,” the race celebrated world-class competition while shining a limelight on upcoming Basotho talent across the Silver, Bronze, and Iron categories.
Celebrations were officially opened by the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Hon. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, who led a pulsating Mass Parade through the streets of Maseru while driving an antique 4×4 vehicle, transforming the capital city into a thrilling showcase of colour, culture, and motorsport pride. Riders captivated spectators in their striking racing regalia, while vintage 4×4 antique racing vehicles proudly decorated with the flags of Lesotho and South Africa added a sentimental and symbolic flair to the procession.
Ululations and cheers from the crowd echoed along the street of Maseru as riders and sponsoring companies united to deliver a spectacular display. Making its debut at the Roof of Africa Hard Enduro, the Mass Parade emerged as a standout and unforgettable highlight of this year’s edition.
The Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) proudly sponsored 13 Basotho riders with branded T-shirts, strengthening its commitment to nurturing local talent while positioning riders as tourism ambassadors and strengthening the Corporation’s visibility.
The racing tourney unfolded over demanding stages centered at Ha Lebamang, where competitors covered distances of up to 180 kilometres per day. Riders showcased extraordinary skill, resilience, and determination as they navigated Lesotho’s demanding mountain trails. Thursday, 20 November 2025, marked the official Time Trial stage, with riders starting and finishing at Ha Lebamang a location now known with endurance and hard rocks. The vigor continued on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 November, delivering adrenaline-fuelled racing, technical challenges, and unforgettable moments that cemented the Roof of Africa as a spotlight on Lesotho’s adventure sports calendar.
Beyond the racecourse, Ha Lebamang came alive as an energetic cultural hub. Community members utilized economic opportunities by leasing horses to visitors and also sell food, while live entertainment, traditional music and breathtaking herd boys’ performances created a captivating atmosphere. This rich blend of sport, culture, and community engagement fascinated both local and international audiences, truly demonstrating the authentic spirit of the Roof of Africa.
The prestigious awards ceremony, hosted on Saturday, 22 November 2025, at Avani Lesotho, celebrated excellence and exceptional performances across all categories. James Moore emerged as the overall Gold category champion, with Mani Lettenbichler (RSA) and Billy Bolt (UK) securing second and third places respectively.
In the Silver category, Grant Burton Durham of South Africa claimed top honours, followed by fellow South Africans Brandon Swanepoel and Matthew Burger. The Bronze category podium was dominated by South African riders Stiran Van Den Heener, Geoff Patterson, and Jamie Wilson.
Adding a proud national highlight, Mosotho rider Sechaba Chabeli delivered an impressive ninth-place finish in the Bronze category, proudly flying the Lesotho flag and underlining the growing promise and competitiveness of local talent on the global stage.
Since its inception in 1967, the Roof of Africa has evolved into a premier adventure tourism event and a powerful economic driver for Lesotho. Supported by LTDC, the Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture, and organized by the Lesotho Off-Road Association (LORA) in partnership with Protouch Global (PTG), the 2025 edition stood out for its improved coordination, international-standard execution, strong sponsor engagement, and robust government support across security, immigration, medical, and rescue services.
Reflecting on the event’s success, LORA Director Mr. Likotsi Lemeke described the 2025 edition as a momentous improvement from 2024. He attributed the seamless collaboration between LORA and PTG for the successful hosting of a World Championship stage and highlighted strong coordination in route finding and marking, effective community mobilization, improved sponsor engagement, and inclusive government support. This included publicity support from LTDC through press conferences, television and radio interviews, as well as assistance from the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police, Immigration, National Security and Defense, and well-coordinated medical and rescue services.
In line with its commitment to community upliftment and social responsibility, event organizer Mr. Phakisa Mokhesi emphasized the importance of giving back to the host community following the race. As part of this initiative, four volunteer dentists from Spain were invited to provide free dental services including cleanings and tooth extractions to residents of Ha Lebamang and nearby Setibing villages. The team also conducted oral hygiene education sessions for local children, promoting long-term health and well-being.
“The outreach programme saw the distribution of toothbrushes, pencils, and coloured pencils, along with the donation of shoes to underprivileged children based on their individual needs, while some adults in the community also received T-shirts” stated the Director. This initiative highlighted the event’s strong social impact and reaffirmed its commitment as a Champion of community development beyond sport and tourism.
In an interview, Bronze category rider Sechaba Chabeli attributed his ninth-place finish to resilience and perseverance, despite limited preparation time due to injury. He expressed his ambition to compete in the Gold category but cited lack of sponsorship as a major hurdle, appealing to the private sector to support his dream of representing Lesotho internationally.
Community members from Ha Lebamang highlighted the event’s positive socio-economic impact, highlighting how income from food sales and horse-riding services directly benefited them, and expressed their eagerness to host the event again in the future.
Commenting on the broader tourism impact, LTDC Public Relations Manager Mr. Molapo Matela emphasized that signature events such as the Roof of Africa play a crucial role in stimulating the national economy. He revealed that the 2025 edition generated an estimated M8,710,693.00 through accommodation, shopping, food, and beverage expenditure a 74% growth compared to the previous year. Mr. Matela added that LTDC’s continued support is driven by the event’s proven ability to create direct and indirect economic opportunities across the tourism value chain, with accommodation establishments in and around Maseru typically fully booked during the event period.
The 2025 Roof of Africa once again proved why it is regarded as one of Africa’s most iconic extreme sports events celebrating endurance, empowering communities, boosting tourism, and proudly showcasing Lesotho to the world.
