Facts

Former Name: Basutoland

Capital: Maseru (population 110 000)

Size: 30 355 sq km / 11 720 sq miles

Population: 2 035 000

Ethnic Groups: (Ba)Sotho (South Sotho), Europeans, Asians

Languages: English, Sesotho, Zulu, Xhosa

Local time: GMT +2

System: metric

Driving: On the left hand side of the road; you can use your country's driving license, if it is in English; if not, an international one is required.
 

The ‘kingdom in the sky' mainly consists of highlands with all of the territory being higher than 1 000 m / 3 280 ft above see level. It is completely surrounded by South Africa, being one out of three complete enclave countries worldwide (the other two are the Vatican and the Republic of San Marino). In the north, the Maluti Mountains dominate the terrain, whereas the Drakensberg run along its eastern border with plenty of peaks over 3 000 m / 9 840 ft (Thabana-Ntlenyana being the highest with 3 482 m / 11 424 ft). The western part, however, lies lower than the rest and hosts most of Lesotho's population.

Lesotho's climate is quite temperate in the lower regions, but can be below 0°C / 32°F with frost and snow in the mountain ranges. January and February are normally the warmest months, and the rainy season stretching from October to April. Therefore, the summer is mostly hot and wet (except for very high regions), but even in the cold, dry winter months from May to September, the sun is out most of the time. Please note that the weather in the mountains can be rather changeable, ranging from sunny to foggy, rainy and snowy, and hail and thunderstorms can appear without warning.
 

On entering, citizens of most Commonwealth countries, most European countries, and the US will be granted a free entry permit, which usually allows you to stay for 30 days. The passport needs to be valid for at least six more months upon entering and you need to have proof of a return or onward ticket as well as sufficient funds. Children ID's need to contain a picture to be accepted.
 

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions of Lesotho
 

Germany Dessauer Str. 28/29 10963 Berlin Germany .	Tel. ++49 30 257 572 0 Fax ++49 30 257 572 22 lesoembger@aol.com . .
United Kingdom 7 Chesham Place Belgravia, London SW1 8HN United Kingdom .	Tel. ++44 20 7235 5686 Fax ++44 20 7235 5023  lesotholondonhighcom@compuserve.com . .
United States 2511 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20008 United States .	Tel. ++1 202 797 5533, ++ 1 202 797 5534 . . . .

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions in Lesotho
 
 

Germany 70c Maluti Road Maseru West Lesotho Postal Address: Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, P.O. Box 75, Maseru 100, Lesotho .	Tel. ++266 324 198, ++266 313 312 Fax ++266 223 329 83 . . ..
United Kingdom Linare Rd Maseru Lesotho Postal Address: P.O. Box 521, Maseru 100, Lesotho .	Tel. ++266 2231 3961 Fax ++266 2231 0120 hcmaseru@lesoff.co.za . . .
United States 254 Kingsway Maseru Lesotho Postal Address: P.O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho .	Tel. ++266 2231 2666 Fax ++266 2231 0116 infomaseru@state.gov . . .

 

1 Loti (LSL) = 100 Lisente; plural Maloti
also South African Rand (ZAR)

The Loti is tied to the South African Rand meaning the exchange rate is fixed at 1:1. The South African Rand is used as a parallel currency in Lesotho, which saves you the trouble of exchanging if you are coming from / going to South Africa. Note that change will be given in Maloti most of the time though. Cash and travellers' cheques can only be exchanged at the Bank of Lesotho and the Standard Bank in the capital. Credit cards are not widely accepted, especially not outside Maseru. 

Banks are usually open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9.00 to 15:00, on Thursdays from 9.00 to 13.00 and on Saturdays from 8.30 / 9.00 to 10.30 / 11.00. 
 

Country code: ++266. There are no regional codes; hence, the number is added directly to the country code.
International access code from Lesotho: 00
Internet code: .ls

Other important numbers: 
Police: 123
Ambulance: 121 

For calls, you will find phone boxes as well as public calling offices in the capital and bigger towns. Internet is becoming more and more popular, but it is still expensive compared to South Africa. 

Electricity

Lesotho uses 220 V / 230 V / 50 Hz.
The plug fits a three-pin 15A socket and is the same used in South Africa.
 

Air

Moshoeshoe Airport is located 18 km / 11 miles from Maseru. South African Airways offers flights to / from Johannesburg. Please note that upon departure from Moshoeshoe Airport all passengers must pay an airport tax of 4.50 US $.

Overland

Driving

Lesotho is an enclave within South Africa, so if you enter Lesotho overland you will be coming from South Africa. The main border crossings are: 

Caledonspoort, Ficksburg Bridge, Makhaleng Bridge, Maseru Bridge, Ngoangoana Gate, Peka Bridge, Qacha's Nek Gate, Ramatseliso's Gate, Sani Pass, Sephaphos Gate, Tele Bridge, Van Rooyen's Gate. Some of these can only be accessed by 4WD. 

If you want to bring a rental car from South Africa into the country, you will need a written permission of the rental agency. Please note that upon departure you have to pay a road tax of 0.40 US $.

Bus

The Baz Bus runs between Johannesburg and Durban (and vice versa) via the Drakensberg several times a week. From the Drakensberg catch a minibus into Lesotho. Minibuses run between Maseru and Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Ladybrand respectively.

Train

There is no train connection into Lesotho, but the South African railway line Bloemfontein – Bohlokong runs along the northwestern Lesotho border (with a stop in Meqheleng).
 

Map of Lesotho

Provided map not to scale and for orientation purpose only.

Click here for larger version