Lesotho Places: 30 Best Places to Visit in Lesotho. Highland, landlocked Lesotho is surrounded by South Africa and is crossed by a series of river valleys and mountain ranges, the highest of which is 3,482 m above sea level. On the plateau of the capital, Maseru lies the ruins of the 19th-century kingdom of Lesotho, known as “Thaba Bosiu”. At the summit of the plateau lies the iconic mountain, “Mount Qiloane”, which has long been a symbol of the people of Lesotho.
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1. Drakensberg
The easternmost part of the escarpment is the Drakensberg, which encircles the central plateau of Southern Africa. The highest point on the escarpment – between 2,000 and 3,482 m – is in the Lesotho-South Africa border region.– Lesotho Places
2. Maseru
Lesotho is a landlocked nation bordering South Africa. Its capital city is Maseru. Maseru is situated on the Caledon River. At the center of Maseru is a cone-shaped basket shop and information center featuring traditional crafts.
On the plateau east of Maseru are ruins dating back to the 19th-century reign of King Mosososheh.
At the top of the plateau overlooking Maseru are the ruins of Mt. Qiloane. The conical mountain is a symbol of the nation. – Lesotho Places
3. Thaba Bosiu
Moshoeshoe II is buried on the plateau. The plateau hosts Moshoeshoe’s 1 village remnants. The walls of a two-room European house and several houses occupied by Moshoeshoe1’s relatives and villagers still stand. Moshoeshoe 1’s and Iîis’ family members were buried in a graveyard. The most recent is MoshoeshoeII’s grave on the plateau.
The plateau was named Moshoeshoe at night because as one gets closer to the impressive and formidable mountain, it gets mainly for enemies at night. It covers an area of approximately 3km by about 2km and is accessible only by foot passes.
There are steep vertical cliffs along the ridge. Several water springs exist on the plateau, some of which have been named after historical figures such as ‘Mamohato’s first wife’s water spring and ‘Mashoeshoe’s brother’s water source. – Lesotho Places
4. Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village
The mountain of Thaba Bosiu is situated on a sandstone plateau between the Orange River and the Caledon River in Maseru District, Lesotho. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Lesotho at one time, and it was also the residence and military base of the King of Lesotho during most of his reign. In 1967, the government of Lesotho designated the mountain as a national monument. – Lesotho Places
5. Maletsunyane Falls
Maletsunyana Falls is a 192m high waterfall in Lesotho, Southern Africa. It is situated near Semonkong which is also named after the waterfalls. The falls fall from a ledge in the Triassic-Jurassic basins. The falls are situated on the Maletsunyane River. – Lesotho Places
6. Royal Palace Maseru
The Palace is situated at the rear of the museum and the local Magistrate’s Court, so it’s a busy area. There’s not much to see here, but by Malagasy standards, it’s pretty impressive.
You’re only allowed to stand in certain areas, so you can get a better view of the well-maintained garden. It’s not worth making an extra trip for, but it’s worth checking out if you’re passing by or visiting the museum. – Lesotho Places
7. Basotho Hat
The hat features a wide brim and a pointed top. The shape of the hat is said to be derived from the shape of the mountain of Qiloane.Basotho tribal chiefs used to wear a similar style of hat when performing a type of song called “mokorotlo” at certain ceremonies.
In the 1950s and ’60s, the hat became popular among the general public. It was called mokorootlo because of its connection to the Basotho identity of the tribe. The hat became such a symbol of Lesotho that it was chosen to be featured on the new flag of Lesotho when the country gained independence from Britain in 1966. – Lesotho Places
8. Morija Museum & Archives
Morija Museum and Archives, commonly referred to as the Museum is situated in Morija, one of Lesotho’s largest villages. The museum opened its doors in 1956 and moved into its current permanent premises in 1989. – Lesotho Places
9. Lancers Gap
Lancer’s Gap is a 1.9 km short, steep, tarred pass on Maseru’s eastern outskirts. It’s the shortest of Lesotho’s official passes documented. The drive is straightforward and suitable for all vehicles, with the only twist being a chicane section through a set of very narrow double hairpin bends.
The pass’s average gradient is a solid 1:12, but there are a few sections that climb to 1:5. If you’re coming from the east in descending mode, it’s best to run it against engine compression. – Lesotho Places
10. Katse Dam
The Katse Dam is the second-largest double-curvature arch dam in Africa. It is a concrete arch dam located in Lesotho’s Malibamat’so River basin. The dam forms part of the larger Lesotho Highlands water project, which will eventually comprise five large dams in isolated rural areas. – Lesotho Places
11. Maluti Mountains
The Maloti mountains are part of the Lesotho highlands and stretch for approximately 100 km to the southern border of the Free State of Zanzibar. The mountains of the Maloti range form part of the larger Drakensberg mountain range which covers large parts of southern Africa. – Lesotho Places
12. Katse Dam Botanical Gardens & Nursery
Located in the heart of Katse village in Lesotho, the Katse botanical gardens are home to a wide variety of alpine flora. The gardens have their roots in the plant rescue missions that were carried out to reduce the effects of Katse Dam, particularly the spiral aloe. The collection focuses on Sotho traditional medicinal plants and is home to a vast seed bank. – Lesotho Places
13. The Lion Rock Mountain
Less than 30 minutes’ drive from the capital of Maseru, sits one of the most striking rock formations on the planet. Lion Rock Mountain may only stand a few hundred meters tall, but it still manages to create an awe-inspiring landscape that is straight out of the movie “The Lion King.” If you are on your way out of Maseru and want to explore some of the more remote attractions in Lesotho, a quick detour here is sure to leave you in awe and wonder. – Lesotho Places
14. Mohale Dam
Mohale Dam, Lesotho, is a rock-fill concrete-faced dam. This dam is the second in a series of dams planned to be built as part of Phase 1B of the proposed LHWP. This series of dams will eventually comprise five large dams, all located in remote rural regions of the country. The total cost of the project is estimated at US$1,5 billion. – Lesotho Places
15. Malealea
Malealea, also known as Makhomalong or Letlapeng, is a small village located in the Mafeteng area, about 80km north-west of Maseru, in the southern part of Lesotho, on the banks of the Botsoela River, about 3 km west of Matelile. Malealea is accessible via 7 km of gravel road. In the 2006 census, Malealea had a population of 613 people living in Makhomalong and Letlapeng. – Lesotho Places
16. Butha Buthe
Butha-buthe is the capital and largest city in the Butha-buthe District of Lesotho, with a total population of 35, 108 inhabitants. It is named after the Butha-Buthe Mountain, which is situated north of the city. The name means “place of deposits”. – Lesotho Places
17. Hlotse
Hlotse is one of Lesotho’s main market towns. It is located on the river Hlotse, close to the border with South Africa. The town was established in 1876 by the British missionary, the Reverend John Widdicombe, and was one of the colonial centers of Lesotho until independence. The population of the town was 38,558 in 2016. – Lesotho Places
18. Mokhotlong
Mokhotlo is a Constituency, City, and the seat of the Mokhotlo District in Lesotho, located in the highlands of the north-eastern part of the country. Mokhotlo is the first big city in Lesotho to have an airport on the way from South Africa through the Sani Pass, close to the Maloti mountains. – Lesotho Places
19. Quthing
Quthing District, also known as Moyeni, is one of Lesotho’s largest and most important cities. It is the capital and largest city in the Quthing sub-district. Quthing was founded in 1877 and was abandoned in 1880 during the Gun War. It was later moved to its present location. It is Lesotho’s southernmost town.
Moyeni, also known as Quthing, is one of the largest cities in the Quthing Sub-district. It is the provincial capital of Lesotho and is home to 27,314 inhabitants. – Lesotho Places
20. Teyateyaneng
Teyateyaneng, also abbreviated as T.Y., is a town in Berea, Lesotho. It is named after the two rivers that flow through the town, the Mohokare and the Caledon, which form Lesotho’s western border with South Africa. – Lesotho Places
21. Mafeteng
Mafeteng is a town in Lesotho. It is the capital of the Mafeteng district. The town is approximately 76 kilometers south of Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. Mafeteng has a population of about 61,000 inhabitants. The town of Wepener is the nearest border town with South Africa. – Lesotho Places
22. Avani Lesotho Hotel & Casino
The capital of Lesotho is Maseru and the provincial seat of Lesotho. It is approximately 76 kilometers south of Maseru. Wepener, South Africa is the nearest border town with Lesotho. The city is named after the river that flows through it. It is also known as the “Camptown” of the district. Statistics from the National Statistics Office show that the city has a total population of about 61,000 inhabitants. – Lesotho Places
23. Qachas Nek
Qacha’s Nek is a local government area in Lesotho. It has been a constituency since 1888. The seat of the constituency is Machabeng. Machabeng is the capital and seat of the Qacha’s Nek District. Machabeng is the seat of the Machabeng Local Government and is one of the two local government hospitals in the district.
The capital of the district is Machabeng, which is located two kilometers from the Lesotho-South Africa border at an altitude of 1,980 meters. The population of Machabeng is approximately 15,900 people. – Lesotho Places
24. Pioneer Mall
The mall, which is Africa’s first of its kind, has attracted tenants from mostly South Africa to provide Basotho shoppers with a wide range of products. Currently, the mall covers an area of 30 000m2 and there are plans to expand the mall in line with demand from prospective tenants. – Lesotho Places
25. Maseru Mall
The mall caters to the urban upper-middle class, although there are no supermarkets in the mall, except for Shoprite and Pick&Pay, which have branches. There are numerous banks, eateries, hairdressing salons, and a wide variety of stores selling a variety of products including some foreign brands. Be aware that the mall is relatively spread out, with only one story structure, and you will be walking a lot. – Lesotho Places
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26. National Museum
The National Museum of Lesotho in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, is one of the most important cultural institutions in the country. It houses a large collection of sculptures, artifacts, and ethnic relics that represent the history and culture of Lesotho as a whole. The National Museum was established to preserve and promote Lesotho’s cultural heritage.
Visitors to the museum can experience the history of Lesotho from the time of the dinosaurs to the present day. The museum’s exhibits cover the different ethnic groups in Lesotho and their cultural practices. – Lesotho Places
27. Kome Caves
Kome Caves, also known as Ha Kome, is a group of mud-walled cave dwellings located in Berea district in Lesotho. The caves are located 25 km northeast of Teyayateyaneng and are still in use by descendants of the people who built them. The caves are classified as a national heritage site.
The cave dwellings were constructed and defended by Chief Teleka of the Basia Clan at the beginning of the 19th century. The main purpose of the dwellings was to hide from enemies during the dry season at the end of the 18th century. The name is Ha Kome originates from the name Ha Kome, which means “first cave”. – Lesotho Places
28. Seaka Bridge
One of Lesotho’s most iconic landmarks is the Seaka Bridge. Built in 1882 by a company in Worcester, England, the bridge was originally constructed at Commissioner Drift over the Mohokare River. After being transported from the coast on an ox wagon, the bridge was brought back to Seaka with a grant from the UK Colonial Development and Welfare fund. It was officially opened on December 12, 1959. – Lesotho Places
29. Our Lady of Victory Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory is a Roman Catholic cathedral and diocesan church in the city of Victoria, Texas, USA. It is the official seat of the diocese of Victoria, Texas. – Lesotho Places
30. Lesotho National Library
Lesotho is home to three main libraries as of 2013: the National Library and the “Thomas Mofolo” Library and the “National Archives” as well as a “variety of academic and research libraries”, “documentation centers”, “school libraries”, “special libraries”, “public libraries” and a “national library services system”.The national library is located in Maseru and, as of 2007, has a collection of approximately 88,000 volumes. The “Mofolo” library, located in the “Roma” village of 34 km Maseru has a collection of about 170 000 volumes.
The “National Archives” is located in the “Lower” basement of the “Maseru” library. Both the “National Library” and “National Archives” collections were expanded in 2005 with the Chinese “investment” in both. There is a large collection of newspapers dating back to the first half of the 20th century, as well as almost a complete collection of the Basutoland annual colonial reports. – Lesotho Places
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