Lesotho flag

Lesotho

History

Moshoeshoe I gathered communities at Thaba Bosiu during the Difaqane upheavals.
Basutoland became a British protectorate at Moshoeshoe's request.
Independence came on 4 October as the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Military rule interrupted parliamentary government.
The Highlands Water Project began exporting water to South Africa.
Africa thumbnailPart ofAfricaMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalMaseru
Population2.1M
Area30k km2
CurrencyLesotho loti

Short facts

RegionSouthern Africa
LanguageEnglish, Sotho
Time zoneSAST (UTC+2)
Drives onLeft

Worth seeing

  • Sani Pass: A steep mountain road climbing to about 2,870 m at the border.
  • Thaba Bosiu: The plateau stronghold where the Basotho nation was founded.
  • Maletsunyane Falls: A single drop of some 190 m near Semonkong.

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Planning questions

What is Lesotho known for?Sani Pass, Thaba Bosiu, Maletsunyane Falls.
What is the capital?Maseru.
Which language is useful?English, Sotho.
When is the national day?4 October.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Use Maseru as the first planning anchor for Lesotho, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.