Southern Africa · AfricaLesotho
Discover Lesotho - the only country entirely above 1,000 meters, a mountain kingdom enclosed within South Africa with dramatic highlands and Basotho pony culture.
Where Is Lesotho?
Lesotho is a country in Southern Africa. Its capital is Maseru.
- Capital Maseru
- Population 2.36M
- Area 30,355 km²
Lesotho is the only country in the world where every square meter of land sits above 1,000 meters elevation. This tiny mountain kingdom is completely surrounded by South Africa - one of only three countries on Earth entirely enveloped by another. But Lesotho is no mere geographic curiosity. Its highest peak, Thabana Ntlenyana at 3,482 meters, makes it the highest country in Africa by lowest point, and the Drakensberg escarpment along its eastern border provides some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on the continent.
The Basotho people have maintained their identity and independence against remarkable odds. King Moshoeshoe I united the nation in the 19th century by retreating to the flat-topped mountain fortress of Thaba Bosiu, which proved unassailable to both Zulu and Boer attackers. Today, Lesotho is famous for its blanket-wearing horsemen on sturdy Basotho ponies, navigating mountain passes that no vehicle can reach. The highlands get snow in winter, making Afriski the only ski resort in southern Africa. Water is the country's most valuable export - the massive Lesotho Highlands Water Project pipes water to thirsty South Africa through tunnels blasted through mountains.
At a glance
Largest cities in Lesotho
Maseru
Teyateyaneng
Mafeteng
Hlotse
Famous people from Lesotho
King Moshoeshoe I
PoliticsFounder of the Basotho nation who united warring clans and used diplomacy to protect his people from Zulu and Boer invasions in the 1800s
Thomas Mofolo
LiteratureAuthor of Chaka, a historical novel about the Zulu king published in 1925, considered one of the first great African novels
Traditional cuisine of Lesotho
- Papa
- Thick maize porridge that is the foundation of every Basotho meal, served with stewed greens, beans, or meat
- Moroho
- Wild spinach or foraged greens cooked with onions and sometimes peanut butter, a nutritious everyday side dish
- Nyekoe
- A hearty dish of beans, peas, and samp (dried corn kernels) cooked together, a traditional Basotho staple
- Motoho
- Fermented sorghum porridge with a tangy taste, served as a nutritious drink or thin breakfast porridge
Nature and landmarks in Lesotho
- Thabana NtlenyanaMountain
- At 3,482 meters, the highest peak in southern Africa and the highest point in any country south of Kilimanjaro
- Sani PassMountain
- Legendary zigzag mountain pass climbing from South Africa into Lesotho, one of the most dramatic road passes in Africa
- Maletsunyane FallsWaterfall
- One of the highest single-drop waterfalls in southern Africa at 192 meters, with the world's longest commercially operated abseil
- Ts'ehlanyane National ParkNational Park
- High-altitude park protecting one of Lesotho's last remaining indigenous forests of old-growth cheche trees
Sports in Lesotho
- Football
- Likuena (the Crocodiles) compete in African qualifiers and the national league is the most popular sport in the country
- Horse Racing
- Basotho pony racing is a unique cultural tradition in the highlands, with races at festivals drawing huge crowds
Did you know?
Lesotho is the only country in the world where every point of land is above 1,000 meters, earning it the nickname 'Kingdom in the Sky'
It is one of only three countries completely surrounded by a single other country (the others are Vatican City and San Marino)
Afriski in Lesotho is the only ski resort in southern Africa, with snow reliable enough for a winter ski season
Dinosaur footprints over 200 million years old can be found at several sites across the country
The Basotho blanket is such an important cultural symbol that it appears on the country's coat of arms
Lesotho's Highlands Water Project supplies South Africa with billions of liters of water annually through mountain tunnels
Read more about Lesotho
How the Continents Got Their Names
Zeus disguised as a bull, a Florentine explorer who stole Columbus's credit, and a southern land imagined centuries before it was found. The surprising origins of all seven continent names.
Why Do Some Countries Drive on the Left?
From medieval swordfighters to Napoleon's conquests - the surprising history behind why 76 countries drive on the left while the rest of the world drives on the right.
Can you find Lesotho on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Lesotho and its neighbours without a second thought.
