Day 1: Arrival at the "Kingdom in Heaven"
Nino's arrival in Lesotho already held the first surprise: Besides the SolidarMed team, the national mountain bike team was waiting for him at the airport. A warm welcome for the champion.
The small plane from Johannesburg arrives almost on time at Moshoeshoe Airport in Maseru, capital of Lesotho. Nino Schurter is sitting in it. His mountain bike is in his luggage. He is about to step onto Lesotho ground for the first time. The ambassador will accompany the mobile clinic - a SolidarMed project - to the mountains of Mokhotlong.
«I am looking forward to visiting the remote villages and of course meeting the local people.»
Nino Schurter, SolidarMed Goodwill Ambassador
However, the ten-time world champion is not only eagerly awaited by SolidarMed at the airport in Maseru. The national mountain bike team is also very happy that the champion is visiting their small country and is arrived by their bikes to the airport. The team greeted the champion euphorically on his arrival and gave him a warm welcome. The Lesotho national dress as a gift, of course, is part of it. Nino is visibly happy about the successful surprise.
After arrival, the journey continues to Butha Buthe, one of the regions where SolidarMed is working and where the first mobile clinic has been travelling to the villages for more than two years now. But the final destination is Mokhotlong - even higher, even more remote. Many of the people would be completely cut off from primary medical care without the mobile practice. We will find out what Nino experiences there with SolidarMed's second mobile clinic on day 2 of the trip.
More insights into Nino's journey
Read in our regular articles what Nino Schurter experiences on his journey through the mountains and get an idea of the unexceptional landscape of Lesotho.
