MANY compare a career in the police service to a long walk in the mountains, hiking, walking through nature as a recreational activity.

This may be so to officers with sedentary occupations; who may not be aware that hiking is a natural exercise that promotes physical fitness, is economical and convenient, and requires no special equipment.

And because hikers can walk as far as they want, there is no physical strain unless they walk among hills or mountains.

Those organisations that encourage hiking and preserve footpaths, bridle paths and rights of way in parklands and recognised open spaces in areas of natural beauty against the encroachment of builders, local authorities, and national undertakings help hikers.

The Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) is one of these very few organisations.

The LMPS Hiking Club was established in 2019 and it is a non-profit entity joined by both police and civilians who like nature and adventure.

The club has selected Thabana-li-’mele as its home away from home and the village, according to the club, is one of the many disadvantaged communities within Lesotho. 

Each year during the national independence celebrations, the hiking club hosts members in this place in collaboration with the community for an annual hiking and camping event.

Club secretary, Thabiso Thaanyane, told Metro that in their hiking tours of Thabana-li-’mele each household is given food parcels that include maize-meal and cooking oil.

Thaanyane says the community also benefits by providing hikers with blankets, food (breakfast and dinner), bedding and means to bath.

The villagers also transport hikers’ camping gear with donkeys and horses and in that way “the community gets an opportunity to raise funds”.