Lesotho
Africa · Maseru · LS
Lesotho is the mountain kingdom of southern Africa, the high, landlocked country entirely surrounded by the territory of South Africa that rises into the dramatic highlands of the Drakensberg and the Maluti ranges. The country, with the highest low point of any nation of the world and a capital that sits at one of the greatest altitudes on the continent, is the land of the basotho horsemen, the wool and the water, where the ponies, the passes and the villages of the round thatched huts dot the green alpine valleys. The fortress mountain of the Thaba Bosiu, the birthplace of the nation where the founder and his people held out against the invaders, and the great dam of the Katse with its highland scheme anchor the history and the modern ambition of the kingdom. The hiking, the pony trekking and the winter snow of the high peaks give the country its extraordinary, un-African mountain character.
Overview
Lesotho is a country in Africa. Its capital is Maseru and the international dialling code is +266. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include English and Sesotho. Local currency is the Loti (LSL). We also list 1 city in Lesotho: Maseru.
The Peaks of the High Range and the Trails of the Drakensberg
The peaks of the Maloti range, the high ridge of the mountains of the country that carries the border with South Africa along the top of the great escarpment, hold the highest summit of the whole region and the enormous alpine views of the southern continent. The highest peak of the country, the Thabana of the Ntlenyana, rises above the valley of the Sani at over three thousand four hundred metres, and the hike of its ridge and the walks of the high crest give the hiker the rare experience of the real mountains of the African subcontinent. The lava formations of the escarpment, the ponies grazing on the high pastures, the waterfalls and the tarns of the upper valleys and the clean cold air of the altitude make the high trails of the kingdom the great outdoor experience of the region.
The Pass of the Sani and the Road of the Border
The pass of the Sani, the steep, rough road of the border that climbs from the South African side of the KwaZulu to the top of the high escarpment, is one of the most dramatic mountain routes of the whole continent. The winding gravel of the pass, climbing the successive terraces of the mountain with the hairpins and the sheer drops of the road, commands the spectacular views over the border valley and the peaks of the upper plateau, and the driving or the guided day trips of the pass are the classic excursion of the region. The border post and the pub of the summit at nearly three thousand metres are the highest of their kind in Africa, and the plateau of the Mokhotlong and the villages of the highland district beyond the pass, with their ponies and their cold, clear valleys, begin the wild interior of the kingdom.
The Fortress of the Thaba Bosiu and the Founding of the Nation
The mountain of the Thaba Bosiu, the flat-topped fortress of the sandstone rock that rises from the plains of the north, is the sacred birthplace of the nation, the stronghold where the founder of the country and his followers gathered the fractured peoples of the region into the new kingdom. The mountain, with its sheer walls and its single difficult approaches, was never taken by the enemies who besieged it, and the caves, the ruins of the villages and the tomb of the founder on its summit preserve the founding story of the nation. The guided tours of the mountain, the walks of the plateau with the guide of the heritage, and the views over the surrounding plains give the visitor the deep sense of the history and the stubborn independence of the little kingdom.
The Ponies of the Basotho and the Rides of the Highlands
The basotho pony, the small, sure-footed horse of the mountains that has carried the people of the highlands for two centuries, is the beloved partner of the rural life and the great companion of the visitors of the kingdom. The pony treks of the highlands, the multi-day rides that follow the old trails of the mountains between the villages, the passes and the shepherd encampments, are the classic way to see the remote valleys of the country, and the tradition of the horsemen, who train the ponies to obey the whistles of the riders, gives the crossing of the high peaks its unforgettable character. The accommodation of the trek, from the simple lodges of the villages to the overnight stops in the round thatched houses, completes the deep experience of the basotho horseland.
The Dam of the Katse and the Water of the Highlands
The great dam of the Katse, the enormous concrete wall that the highland project raised across the gorge of the Malibamatso in the mountains of the interior, is the centrepiece of the ambitious scheme that exports the water of the highlands to the thirsty industries of South Africa. The dam, among the largest of its kind in the region, holds the deep turquoise reservoir of the valley and is reached by the winding mountain road and the spectacular viewing points of its surroundings, and the guided tours of the dam wall and the operations give the insight into the engineering of the water project. The resettled villages and the compensation programmes of the scheme, the fish of the reservoir and the angling of the highland water complete the picture of the modern kingdom.
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- Capital
- Maseru
- Currency
- Loti (LSL)
- Languages
- English, Sesotho
- Calling code
- +266
- Internet TLD
- ls
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Lesotho.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Lesotho?
Maseru is the capital of Lesotho, and the country sits in Africa.
What currency is used in Lesotho?
You pay with Loti (LSL) in Lesotho. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Lesotho?
The languages we list for Lesotho are English and Sesotho. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Lesotho?
The dialling code for Lesotho is +266 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Lesotho do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Lesotho: Maseru (capital).