Key facts
Lesotho is a country located in Southern Africa. Lesotho has only one border country: South Africa. As for languages, the country’s residents speak English and Southern Sotho.
The national currency in Lesotho is Lesotho loti (LSL). The loti (maloti) (L or M) is subdivided into 100 sente (lisente).
Mosotho
Banknotes
M10M20M50M100M200
Mosotho
Coins
125102050L1M2M5
Check with your bank before your trip to find out if there are any fees for using your card abroad. Some banks do not charge fees when you use a foreign ATM or pay in foreign currency, but others may charge a fixed cost for each transaction or allow a limited number of free withdrawals. The travel card provided by Wise.com, Revolut or Monose might be an excellent option to cut down on transaction fees.
Ookla® Speedtest No data available.
ATM Density It may be difficult to locate an ATM in Lesotho.13.86 ATMs per 100,000 people.The global average is 39.49.
SIM Registration You can buy a SIM card in Lesotho without having to register it with your ID or passport.
Socket types
There is one common socket type used in Lesotho. Type M is not very common around the world, so it might be a good idea to check if your electronics need an adapter.
The sockets’ shapes and voltage differ from country to country and a travel plug adapter may be required. Portable devices, such as phones, notebooks or tablets, usually handle the entire range of voltages used across the world (110-240V).
Public holidays
In the year 2024, Lesotho will celebrate 11 national public holidays. The next one Independence Day will take place on October 4.
| Date | Holiday name | |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024 | New Year’s DayNew Year’s Day | |
| March 11, 2024 | Moshoeshoe DayMoshoeshoe Day | |
| March 29, 2024Moving holiday | Good FridayGood Friday | |
| April 1, 2024Moving holiday | Easter MondayEaster Monday | |
| May 1, 2024 | Workers’ DayWorkers’ Day | |
| May 9, 2024Moving holiday | Ascension DayAscension Day | |
| May 25, 2024 | Africa Day/ Heroes’ DayAfrica Day/ Heroes’ Day | |
| July 17, 2024 | King Letsie III’s BirthdayKing Letsie III’s Birthday | |
| October 4, 2024 | Independence DayIndependence Day | |
| December 25, 2024 | Christmas DayChristmas Day | |
| December 26, 2024 | St. Stephen’s DayBoxing Day |
Sources
- EF English Proficiency Index (EF Education First)
- Speedtest Global Index® (Ookla®)
- Automated teller machines (ATMs) (per 100,000 adults) (The World Bank Group)
- Registration Policies Per Country (Prepaid Data SIM Card Wiki)
Tourism
What hotel chains are present in Lesotho?
There are no Mariott hotels in Lesotho.
There are no Hilton hotels in Lesotho.
There are no IHG hotels in Lesotho.
There are no Best Western hotels in Lesotho.
There are no Radisson hotels in Lesotho.
There are no Accor hotels in Lesotho.
What fast food chains are present in Lesotho?
The McDonald’s chain does not operate in Lesotho.
The KFC chain operates in Lesotho.
The Burger King chain does not operate in Lesotho.
The Subway chain does not operate in Lesotho.
The Domino’s Pizza chain does not operate in Lesotho.
The Starbucks chain does not operate in Lesotho.
Sources
- Country by National Dish (Samson Daniel)
Weather
What is the weather like in Maseru?
Weather data for Maseru (capital city) by Open-Meteo.com
Transport
Railways There are no passenger trains available.
Subway Systems There is no subway system in any city.
Taxi Apps Unfortunately neither Uber nor Bolt are available in Lesotho.
Sources
- List of high-speed railway lines (Wikipedia)
- List of metro systems (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- The Global Enabling Trade Report 2016: Road connectivity (World Economic Forum)
Safety
Emergency phones in Lesotho
Sources
- Lesotho Travel Advisory (United States: Department of State)
- Travel Advice for Lesotho (United Kingdom: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Mortality caused by road traffic injury (The World Bank Group)
- Corruption & Economic Crime (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Smoking & Alcohol
Smoking ban No known rules against smoking, or no information is available.
Cananbis legality Both recreational and medicinal use of cannabis is prohibited.
Sources
- List of smoking bans (Wikipedia)
- Legality of cannabis (Wikipedia)