Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Side profile of the bomb prototype.
Petwood Hotel Bouncing Bomb
RAF Harrington
RAF Harrington
The Beaux-arts interior with Pool layout still visible.
Écomusée du fier monde
Village du Livre de Fontenoy-la-Joûte
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Echo Park Time Travel Mart.
Atlas Obscura Presents: Traveling Back in Time for Coconut Cake With The Sporkful
about 11 hours ago
One of the PATH’s many entrances.
A Supposedly Boring Mall I Might Actually Visit Again
1 day ago
People paddling in their wooden canoes on one of the lakes near the Allagash Waterway in the north woods in Maine
The Allagash Abductions: This State Park’s Most Famous Visitors ... Are Aliens?
2 days ago
The rocky Revere Beach coast in Revere, Massachusetts, just outside Boston.
Which Places With Bad Raps Are Actually Worth Visiting?
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Lesotho Ha Kome Cave Dwellings
AO Edited

Ha Kome Cave Dwellings

An 18th-century hideout became a permanent and ongoing residence for one Lesotho tribe.

Lesotho

Added By
James
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  Amada44
  Amada44
  jamesvachowski / Atlas Obscura User
  jamesvachowski / Atlas Obscura User
  jamesvachowski / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The cliff overhangs of Ha Kome are a series of cave dwellings an hour's drive from Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. While their exact history is unknown, the current inhabitants are descended from Basia tribesmen and women who first made the overhang home in the late 1800s. 

The Mefcane ("the Crushing") was a period of intense socio-political unrest during the 1820s and 30s throughout southern Africa, defined by widespread drought, forced migration, and inter-tribal warfare. To flee the ongoing violence, the Basia began using the overhang as a hideout at some point in the late 1800s, though trademark cave paintings indicate San Bushmen dwelt here even earlier. 

In time, the Basia came to build homes out of mud, which have been continuously occupied since then. Today, several families who live in these dwellings welcome visitors into their homes.

Related Tags

Tribes War Houses Cave Paintings Caves Africa

Know Before You Go

Ha Kome is easy enough to find using Google Maps, but you'll need a vehicle with a high clearance to make it down the dirt road.  Stop in at the Visitor's Center, and a friendly guide will hop in to show you the way.

Community Contributors

Added By

jamesvachowski

Edited By

lukefater

  • lukefater

Published

February 22, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.britannica.com/event/Mfecane
  • https://www.visitlesotho.travel/things-to-do/kome-cave-dwelling-p680051
Ha Kome Cave Dwellings
Lesotho
-29.244438, 27.866938
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Ha Baroana Cave Paintings

Metolong, Lesotho

miles away

Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village

Motloang, Lesotho

miles away

Lion Rock Mountain

Maseru, Lesotho

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Lesotho

Lesotho

Africa

Places 7

Nearby Places

Ha Baroana Cave Paintings

Metolong, Lesotho

miles away

Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village

Motloang, Lesotho

miles away

Lion Rock Mountain

Maseru, Lesotho

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Lesotho

Lesotho

Africa

Places 7

Related Places

  • Bontoc, Philippines

    Ganga Caves

    These caves are full of coffins, but we can't say who the bodies belong to.

  • Norton, Massachusetts

    King Philip's Cave

    Ghostly specters are said to haunt this secluded cave where a famed Wampanoag leader spent the final days of his life.

  • Alcoy, Spain

    La Sarga Cave Paintings

    These 7,000-year-old cave paintings depict life in Neolithic Spain.

  • A massive seated Buddha is carved into a rock face.

    Tianshui, China

    Bingling Temple

    A hidden Buddhist gem accessible only by boat.

  • Domrémy-la-Pucelle, France

    Birthplace of Joan of Arc

    The woman who helped save 15th-century France was born in this humble home.

  • Ha Baroana

    Metolong, Lesotho

    Ha Baroana Cave Paintings

    The walls of this sandstone outcropping are covered with 2,000-year-old artwork.

  • Notre-Dame of Bangui Cathedral

    Bangui, Central African Republic

    Notre-Dame of Bangui Cathedral

    Amidst political unrest, this Roman Catholic Cathedral has helped organize peace talks.

  • Walmer Castle

    Walmer, England

    Walmer Castle and Gardens

    This curious Tudor-era castle was once home to Napoleon's greatest adversary, the Duke of Wellington.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.