Lesotho

About Lesotho

Capital

Maseru

Continent

Independence Date

4 October 1966

Official Language	Afrikaans
Second Language	Zulu
Population	~2.3 million
Passport Color	Blue
Passport Rank	#68
Dialing Code	266
Country TLD	.ls

Lesotho Overview

Lesotho, officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a small, landlocked country located in Southern Africa. It is unique for being entirely surrounded by South Africa. The capital and largest city is Maseru.

Lesotho is known for its stunning mountainous terrain, earning it the nickname “The Kingdom in the Sky.” The country’s highlands provide scenic beauty, adventure tourism, and natural resources such as water and diamonds. The Basotho people have a rich cultural heritage, symbolized by their traditional Basotho blanket and hats known as Mokorotlo.

The official languages are Sesotho and English. The national currency is the Lesotho Loti (LSL), which is pegged to the South African Rand. Lesotho’s economy is closely tied to South Africa and is driven by textiles, agriculture, remittances, and hydropower exports.

Quick Facts About Lesotho

Coordinates	29.6100° S, 28.2336° E
Bordering Country	South Africa (completely enclaved)
Region / Continent	Africa (Southern Africa)
Total Area	~30,355 sq km
Population Density	~72 people per sq km
Highest Point	Thabana Ntlenyana – 3,482 m
Major Rivers	Orange River, Caledon River
Climate Type	Temperate mountain climate; cold winters and mild summers
Famous For	Mountain scenery, Basotho culture, pony trekking, Maletsunyane Falls
Major Landmarks	Maseru, Thaba Bosiu, Sani Pass, Katse Dam
Official Languages	Sesotho, English
Currency	Lesotho Loti (LSL); South African Rand (ZAR) also accepted
Government Type	Constitutional Monarchy
Time Zone	UTC+2 (South Africa Standard Time)
Major Exports	Textiles, diamonds, water, agricultural products
Visitor Entry	Visa-free for many Commonwealth and African countries