Lesotho Travel Tips

Visas
Holders of the following passports do not require visas for Lesotho: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Canada, Israel and Japan. Others such as Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, Belgium and Austria do need visas. Full passports are required by all. If traveling to Lesotho from South Africa, you will require a multiple-entry visa to re-enter into South Africa.

Transport
Many visitors arrive in Lesotho by air, but many more come by road. As Lesotho is surrounded by the Republic of South Africa, the road networks are linked, and air services to Maseru connect with international services flying in to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Johannesburg International Airport is the hub of air traffic to all of Southern Africa, including Lesotho. Moshoeshoe Airport is located 18km from Maseru with daily flights between Maseru and Johannesburg.

Roads in Lesotho are not as good as in South Africa and you should make sure that your car is prepared for the journey. It is important to ask locals whether the road you are going to take is suitable, especially during winter.

When taking a rented car, be sure to get permission from the rental company to take the car into Lesotho. You will need to show written permission from the rental company at the border control. Please note: Drivers require a valid international driving license, and must carry their vehicle log books. Drivers will be expected to pay a temporary road license When entering by car, some of the border posts can only be accessed by four-wheel driven cars. The main road border crossings are open 24 hours.

Communication
The country code for Lesotho is 266, followed by the number (note that there are no area codes); To phone abroad from Lesotho, dial 00, followed by the country and area codes and then the actual telephone number. To call collect, first call the operator on 100. In Maseru, there are several internet cafes, although fairly cheap they are pretty slow at best. The Mobile phone network is pretty poor, and the only British cell phones that work must be on Vodafone. Mobile phones are available for hire in Maseru.

GMT
Lesotho is in the Southern African time zone -GMT/ UST plus 2 hours all the year round.

Language
The official languages are Sesotho and English. Most people in Maseru and in the other big towns speak English to a reasonable standard. In the Highlands, especially away from tourist attractions, English will not be understood.

Currency
Lesotho's currency is the Loti (LSL), or Maloti (M) which is divided into 100 Lisente. It has the same value as the South African currency (Rand -ZAR) which is also accepted in Lesotho. However, in more rural places, it is wise to carry the local Maloti. There are Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) at banks in the main towns only. Most banks will change travelers cheques for you, but it can be a very lengthy process if they are in any other currency apart from ZAR. Restaurants outside of Maseru (and even some in Maseru) will probably not accept credit cards.

Banking and Business Hours
Banking hours are Monday to Friday (except Wednesday) from 08h30 - 15h00, Wednesday from 08h30-13h00 and Saturday from 08h30-11h00 Foreign Exchange bureaus are normally open from Monday to Friday till 13:00 and are able to do electronic transfers to and from Overseas. Shops are open Monday to Friday from 08h00-17h00 and on Saturday from 08h00-12h00

Water
Stream water high in the mountains is probably some of the sweetest, purest water to be found. However, in rural villages it is not advisable to drink from the streams as they may not be clean.

Safety
Lesotho has a history as a very safe, peaceful and welcoming country for travellers. But, like any other country, is not entirely crime-free. Muggings and opportunistic theft is on the rise in Maseru; be careful if you're wandering around the back streets here or after dark. The police are usually very efficient and helpful when these crimes occur. In the Highlands, however, hikers and campers normally have little to worry about. Here are some useful tips to remember:

• Do not carry valuables around with you and avoid carrying a bag if at all possible - this draws attention to you, as locals do not carry bags.
• Do not stop at night stop unless it is unsafe to proceed.
• Do not show off your wealth too obviously by displaying jewellery and cash.
• Do not leave valuables like cameras lying around unattended.

Health and Medical Facilities
Lesotho is at a very high altitude, and the air is very thin especially in the Highlands, and visitors may suffer from altitude sickness when first arriving. It is precautionary to drink a lot of water and also to keep covered as the sun is harsh and can get very hot in the summer. Vaccinations you will require are most likely to include the following: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Typhoid. Please consult your doctor before travelling.

Tropical diseases such as Malaria, Yellow fever and Bilharzia are not present in Lesotho. Apart from Maseru's Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Lesotho does not have very good medical facilities. If necessary, medical attention should rather be sought in South Africa. Make contact with your country's embassy either in Maseru, or in most cases, in Pretoria in South Africa.

Important information to remember
Do not take photographs of Government buildings, the Palace, the airport and sensitive buildings. If in doubt, please ask. Avoid taking risks in outlying areas - help may be some distance away. Always ask permission from the local Headman or Chief before camping.