Lesotho Safari Tours & Holidays
Lesotho, a high-altitude, landlocked kingdom encircled by South Africa, is crisscrossed by a network of rivers and mountain ranges including the 3,482m-high peak of Thabana Ntlenyana. On the Thaba Bosiu plateau, near Lesotho’s capital, Maseru, are ruins dating from the 19th-century reign of King Moshoeshoe I. Thaba Bosiu overlooks iconic Mount Qiloane, an enduring symbol of the nation’s Basotho people.
Although Lesotho is a relatively small country, it is home to a wide range of tourist attractions that show both the historical and cultural side of this Southern country and the tourist attractions.
How to get to Lesotho for Lesotho safaris
The only international service to Lesotho is a thrice-daily SA Airlink return flight between Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport and Moshoeshoe I International Airport (IATA code MSU), which lies about 18km southeast of the capital Maseru. The flight takes about one hour in either direction.
Passport, Visa, and entry requirements for Lesotho
Provides a traveller temporary entry into the country as a visitor. Tourist visas are issued for leisure travel only. Guests are not permitted to engage in any sanctioned or paid business activities while visiting the Kingdom of Lesotho on a tourist visa.
The health sector of Lesotho
Health care services in Lesotho are delivered primarily by the government and the Christian Health Association of Lesotho. Access to health services is difficult for many people, especially in rural areas. The country’s health system is challenged by the relentless increase of the burden of the disease brought about by HIV/AIDS and a lack of expertise and human resources. Serious emergencies are often referred to as neighboring South Africa.
Being a small country evacuation can be done by Ambulance however travelers must purchase their own travel and medical insurance before traveling to Lesotho
Malaria & Yellow fever vaccination for Lesotho
Yellow Fever
Requirements: Required if traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission and ≥6 months of age, including transit >12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of YF virus transmission.
Recommendations: None
Malaria
No malaria transmission but traveling with anti-malarial tablets is recommended
Currency of Lesotho
Lesotho uses the loti as its official currency. Introduced in 1966, the loti was first circulated in 1980 as a replacement of the South African rand. The loti has the symbol L, or M for the plural form maloti, and uses the code LSL. Each loti has 100 subdivisions called sente (plural lisente). The Central Bank of Lesotho is responsible for issuing the loti. The loti comes in various denominations including lisente coins of values 5, 10, 20, and 50 and maloti coins of values 1, 2, and 5. The loti banknotes are in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 maloti. The banknotes come in various designs, colors, and sizes, but have a standard width of 70mm. The M10 note measures 130 by 70 mm with red and yellow as its main colors. The M20 note is slightly larger, measuring 135 by 70 mm, with purple and light blue as its main colors. The M50 note is 138mm long and is colored violet. The M100 note is green in color with a length of 140mm; the M200 note has a length of 145mm and primarily orange in color. Counterfeiting of the currency led to the introduction of a new series in 2010.
Official Language of Lesotho
Today, the national and official languages of Lesotho are English and Sesotho. These languages were nominated as such in 1966 at the time of the country’s independence. The distinction was further enforced by the 1993 Constitution which states that these two languages are official and that no transaction conducted in English or Sesotho may be declared invalid.
English is generally spoken in government offices and official business. For educational purposes, it becomes the language of secondary school after the 5th year of instruction. Being able to communicate in English is seen as a necessity for obtaining a job and for conducting business.
Best time to travel to Lesotho
Lesotho experiences two seasons that is the winter and the summer seasons and in both seasons the weather is extreme that is during summer, the temperatures are extremely hot and during the winter season, it becomes too cold especially at night. The best time therefore to travel to Lesotho is in between the months when the seasons are changing.
During the winter season, the best time to visit is between June to September and the best time to visit Lesotho during the summer season is from November to March.
What to wear while in Lesotho
Women usually wear long dresses and skirts in vibrant colors and patterns with blankets around their waists, and for special occasions (like church or weddings) they wear a traditional Basotho dress called the Seshoeshoe. Seshoeshoe is worn in endless varieties of designs, patterns, and colors.
There are no restrictions on dressing code for tourists but we advise on decent dressing while in public and you can wear the way you like while in tourism places
What to bring while traveling in Lesotho
- Jeans or other pants you’ll be comfortable in while riding a horse.
- Hiking boots and a small day pack for trekking.
- A top-notch camera.
- A rain jacket or umbrella.
- An electrical adaptor is suitable for Lesotho.
Car hire and driving in Lesotho
Lesotho drives on the left, with right-hand drive vehicles. Although the number of paved roads is gradually increasing, the majority of Lesotho’s 5,000 miles of roads are unpaved. We recommend hiring a local driver while traveling in Lesotho.
Local food of Lesotho
The national dish is called Pap-pap, made from cornmeal, similar to polenta. Stews are common and often made with peanuts. Basotho cuisine includes many sauces but is generally not as spicy as food from other African countries.
Tipping while traveling in Lesotho
Tipping in Lesotho is pretty common and follows closely to the tipping customs of South Africa. Lesotho is known as The Kingdom in the Sky as its lowest point is higher than any other country. The whole country is above 1400m! Taxis: Tipping Taxi Drivers in Lesotho is expected, you should aim to tip 20%.
Further information about Lesotho
It’s recommended to book an organized safari package through Wilderness Explorers Africa for the best experience in Lesotho and this can be combined with neighboring South Africa.
Safety of Lesotho
Lesotho is generally considered a safe country to travel to. However, even though it has served as a safe haven and a sanctuary from all the troubles that are hitting the rest of Africa pretty hard – Lesotho also has its issues with crime, both petty and violent, illnesses, and poverty.
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