Lesotho Travel Overview

GENERAL

Official name of the state

Kingdom of Lesotho.

Capital

Maseru.

Geography

According to a2zgov, Lesotho is surrounded by South Africa. The kingdom lies on the highest section of the Drakensberg on the eastern edge of the South African plateau. The mountainous country is crossed by valleys and gorges. To the west it descends from the mountain foothills to rolling hills and a plain along the border; two thirds of the population live here. The three great rivers Orange, Caledon and Tugela have their source in the mountains of Lesotho.

Government

Parliamentary monarchy (in the Commonwealth) since 1993. 1993 Constitution. Parliament with 120 members, Senate with 33 appointed members. Independent since 1966 (former British colony).

Head of state

King Letsie III., Since 1996.

Head of government

Pakalitha Mosisili, since March 2015.

Electricity

220 V, 50 Hz; Adapter required.

Time zone

South Africa Standard Time: CET +3

TRAVEL WARNING

Country-specific safety information

Crime

Lesotho has a high level of violent crime. Travelers should exercise caution, especially in the capital Maseru (around the Victoria Hotel in the city center), when traveling from Leribe to the Katse Dam and at lookout points. In other rural areas, too, there has been an increase in robberies and carjacking. The new bypass to Maseru Airport is the scene of car thefts. It should definitely be avoided at night.

It is recommended that you avoid walking after dark, driving overland in the dark and parking vehicles in unlit streets as much as possible.

Lesotho Travel Overview

MONEY

Currency

1 lot = 100 lisents. Currency abbreviation: M, LSL (ISO code). There are banknotes in denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 Maloti; Coins to the value of 5 and 2 Maloti as well as 50, 20, 10 and 5 Lisente (the coins for 2 Lisente and 1 Sente are no longer in circulation). The plural of “Loti” is “Maloti”, the plural of “Sente” is “Lisente”.

The South African Rand is equivalent to the Loti and is recognized as a means of payment; However, coins are not always accepted.

Credit cards

Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are partially accepted, but only in cities. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs

ec / Maestro card / Sparcard

EC cards with the Maestro symbol are accepted worldwide.

Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.

ATMs are located in the capital Maseru, symbols on the machines indicate which cards are accepted here.

Bank opening times

Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m.-3.30 p.m. and Sat 8.30 a.m.-11.30 a.m.

Foreign exchange regulations

No restrictions.

Currency Exchange

It is recommended to swap euros and US $ in the country. Changing money in banks can sometimes be very time-consuming. When traveling on to neighboring countries, you can have the rand given as change, as it is also accepted as a means of payment in neighboring countries.

LANGUAGE

Overview

The official languages are Sesotho and English. Zulu and Xhosa are also spoken.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

DUTY-FREE SHOPPING

Overview

The following articles can be imported into Lesotho duty-free:

400 cigarettes or 50 cigars;
1 liter of wine or 1 liter of spirits;
A bottle of perfume (maximum 300 ml);
Gifts up to a value of 500 M.
Valuables must be declared.

ECONOMY

Business etiquette

A light suit, shirt and tie are common for business appointments; the atmosphere is informal. The majority of business people speak English.

Business hours: Mo-Fr 08.00-12.45 and 14.00-16.30; Sat 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Economy

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Marketing
PO Box 747, Maseru 100
Tel: 31 74 54.

Lesotho National Development Corporation
Private Bag A96, Development House, Block A, Kingsway Street, Maseru 100
Tel: 31 20 12.
Internet: www.lndc. org.ls

Lesotho chamber of Commerce and Industry (chamber of Commerce)
PO box 79, Maseru 100
Tel: 32 34 82nd

Business contacts

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Marketing
PO Box 747, Maseru 100
Tel: 31 74 54.

Lesotho National Development Corporation
Private Bag A96, Development House, Block A, Kingsway Street, Maseru 100
Tel: 31 20 12.
Internet: www.lndc. org.ls

Lesotho chamber of Commerce and Industry (chamber of Commerce)
PO box 79, Maseru 100
Tel: 32 34 82nd

COMMUNICATION

Phone

International direct dialing to some cities. The internal telephone network is limited. The national telephone company is called Telecom Lesotho (Internet: www.telecom.co.ls).

Cellphone

GSM 900. Network operator is Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Ltd (GSM 900) and Econet Ezi-Cel. The reception / transmission range is limited to the larger cities.

Internet

Internet cafés can be found in Maseru (M15-M20 every half hour). Internet providers include LEO Internet Services (Internet: www.lesoff.co.za).

Post Office

Post office opening times: Mon-Fri 8 am-1pm and 2 pm-4.30pm, Sat 8 am-12pm.

Radio

Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.

SHOP

Overview

Basotho hats, grass mats, pottery, wool and mohair runners, tapestries, textiles, silver and gold objects, copper and ebony work. Shop opening times: Mon-Fri 8 am-5pm, Sat 8 am-3pm.

NIGHTLIFE

Introduction

Some hotels and restaurants offer live entertainment. There are cinemas in Maseru and the two largest international hotels have casinos.

CULINARY

ACCOMMODATION

Hotels

In the bigger cities there are hotels of different standards. In the more remote regions, visitors can find accommodation in mountain huts. New hotels have recently been built in Maseru, Leribe and Masionokang, and many hotels in Maseru meet international standards. Further information from the Lesotho Tourist Board (see addresses).

CULTURE

Religion

80% Christians, 20% natural religions.

Social rules of conduct

When staying in a village, it is good form to get in touch with the village chief. Usual forms of courtesy are appreciated. Clothing should be practical and casual; visitors should take local customs into account. Taking photos: Taking photos of public buildings and facilities, uniformed people and military vehicles requires police approval. Tipping: 10% is common in hotels and restaurants.

CLIMATE

Best travel time

Temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Rainy season in summer. 85% of the rainfall in the mountains falls between October and April. In the highlands it snows from May to September. It is hottest in January and February. Lesotho offers over 300 days of sunshine a year.

COUNTRY DATA

Area code +266 Area (sqkm) 30355 Population 1947701 Population density (per sqkm) 64 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 121

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