color photograph by Thom Pierce

The Horsemen of Semonkong A photography project by Thom Pierce

In the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, the region of Semonkong sits at 2,275 meters above sea level in the Drakensberg mountains. The area is made up of many small villages, most of which are inaccessible by car and nestled high up in the mountains without electricity and mains water.

Travel time from these villages to Semonkong, the nearest town, can be up to 4 hours and so the journey is often taken by horse. The routes are also used by the younger herd boys who move their livestock between pastures, covering great distances on their daily work routine.

Over an eight days period in May 2016, Thom Pierce journeyed up into the mountains, along the well trodden paths to photograph the horsemen, herders and commuters of Semonkong.

– Discover more of Thom’s work here

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