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Frequently Asked Questions about Lesotho Lesotho

What is the best time to travel?

The best time to travel largely depends on what you want to do in Lesotho. The moderate temperatures make autumn and spring the best time to go on a trekking tour, for example.

What is the best time to see wildlife?

The best time to spot game is during the dry season (April-October) because at this time the vegetation is less dense and the animals will gather near the artificial drinking places more often.

What are the best festivals and when do they take place?

The Morija Arts and Cultural Festival takes place every year in October. It is a celebration of Basotho culture with displays of music, dance, theatre and film at a variety of venues in Morija (in the west of Lesotho), including Morija Museum and the Thabeng Football Grounds. Women dance on their knees and shake their bodies in response to drumming, clapping and singing.
Public Holidays:
-28th January: National Holiday to mark the anniversary of the overthrow of Chief Jonathan's Government in 1986.
-11th March: Moshoeshoe's Day to honour the tribal leader, King Moshoeshoe I, who consolidated the Basotho nation.
-21st March: National Tree Planting Day,. Trees are planted on this day to prevent soil erosion.
-First Monday of July: Family Day.
-4th October: Independence Day, marking the anniversay of Lesotho's independence on 4th October 1966.
-5th October: National Sports Day.


When does the tour start?

All of our tours start at 12:00 midday at the hotel where we spend our first night. Your room will be available to check-in from this time. If you arrive later, don't worry, your tour leader will meet up with you at some point to brief you.

Can I pre-book transfers and extra nights?

If you have booked your flight with Shoestring, we can offer the following two services. Firstly the option to pre-book airport transfers and secondly the option to book pre-tour nights if you have chosen to arrive earlier. Prices for these extra services are available on the tour information page.

Can I extend my trip by a few days or longer?

When you book a flight with us, you can extend the return date of the flight for as long as you like at the time of booking. If you want to change after booking, you will have to cancel the flight and book again, at heavy cost. In case you want to stay longer and need extra travel arrangements just inform your tour leader at the start and you and he/she can see if the local agent could organize something for you.

What about my passport?

You need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from your date of departure. You are responsible for having a valid passport and visa when you travel.

Do I need a visa?

UK citizens do not need a visa for Lesotho but these things can change so please click here and check out the current situation. You can also check on that website if a visa is required for any other nationalities. Make sure you find out if you need a visa at least a month before departure so you do not run out of time.
If you do need a visa, please click here to find details of the embassy you need to contact (unless you use a visa service). Shoestring does not organise your visa. You are responsible for having a valid passport and visa when you travel. You can also obtain the visa through a specialised visa agency like www.travcour.com. It is a good idea to visit this website in any case, as it provides much mor


Do I need vaccinations or malaria tablets?

Please click here for questions regarding vaccinations or malaria tablets for this country and then contact your GP or a specialised health centre and make an appointment to get your injections and pills. Please make sure that you allow at least six weeks for a full program. Two weeks should suffice for people who have already had a few injections. You are responsible for having the right protection when going on tour.

What is the recommended currency for Lesotho?

The official currency is the Loti (LSL) or plural Maloti, which is divided into 100 lisente. It has the same value as the South African Rand, and the Rand is accepted as legal currency. Banks and exchange bureaux are found in Maseru and in most main towns. Most major hotels, shops, restaurants and travel agencies accept credit cards. Local ATMs in Lesotho generally accept international ATM cards but are unreliable.

What kind of clothing and other stuff is practical to take?

Bring thin clothes and a high-necked long-sleeved T-shirt or a thin cotton roll-neck jersey for the nights to protect you against mosquitoes. Additionally, bring a jumper or sweater and a raincoat. An umbrella is useful protection against the rain as well as the fierce sun. A pair of worn-in walking shoes with a good tread and strong soles is important. Acacia thorns can easily perforate soft soles. Sandals or slippers are comfortable footwear on the days when we are not walking. Other important items to pack include sunglasses, sun cream, toiletries, basic medical travelling kit, sun hat or scarf, photo or film equipment and an adequate amount of film, spare batteries, torch, maybe a pocket knife, insurance documents, alarm clock, stationery, books and a good travel guide

What kind of luggage should I take?

Pack everything into an overnight bag or backpack. An additional small rucksack or shoulder bag is handy for carrying everyday hand luggage. To keep valuable documents safe, you are best off purchasing a slim cotton money belt that you can wear under your clothes. Be sure to have a change of clothes in your hand luggage in case the rest of your luggage is delayed. Keep essentials like the pill, malaria pills, essential medicine, cheques, your camera and your toothbrush in your hand luggage.

Electricity

Please click here to check what voltage and plugs are in use in Lesotho. You could also consider taking a universal electric plug.

Travel guides and maps

If you want to take a travel guide or map, we suggest you click on Lonely Planet.

What is the accommodation like?

Stay in two-man dome tents on campsites with on-site restaurants.

How is accommodation arranged if I book alone?

If you book alone you will share your room with a fellow traveller unless you have booked a single room. Sometimes this means sharing your room with someone of the opposite sex. If we go camping, you may wish to take a small tent if you would prefer to sleep alone. If this involves extra camping fees (never very much), your tour leader will tell you and collect the extra fees.

Do I need a sleeping mat or sleeping bag?

Yes, you will need a sleeping bag with or without sheet bag, a towel and if possible a battery-powered reading lamp.

What can I expect from camping facilities?

All camping equipment (two-man dome tents, mattresses, cooking equipment etc.) is provided. 
Camping is quite popular, especially in the game parks, and the facilities are generally good.

Do they cater for vegetarians in Lesotho?

A large variety of sea food is available in Lesotho. There are a lot of restaurants that offer specialities from another country so you can eat Indian, Portuguese and Chinese dishes, amongst others. Fruit is abundant as well and it can be bought at low prices.

What kind of transportation is used?

You will travel by overland truck.

Can you travel with children?

Yes, children can travel with their families on a Shoestring tour. We recommend the easiest tours which are listed as ‘Category A’ where the distances covered are short and there is a slow traveling speed. But please check with our friendly sales team if you are unsure.
We would define a child as being under the age of 18. They would only be allowed to travel provided they do so with an adult family member or close relative.

Children under the age of 8 we recommend not to travel as they simply would not be old enough to enjoy the experience nor cope with the nature of travel that we provide.

The tour prices are the same for both adults and children however there will be a reduction on the child airfare which will vary depending on the flight selected (Please use the ‘search flights’ facility on the website to check the up-to-date prices).


Is Lesotho dangerous?

Most visits to Lesotho are trouble-free. However, there has been a recent increase in opportunistic crime and gun-related crimes due to the high unemployment rate in the cities. Most incidents occur in Maseru, but visitors should also be aware elsewhere of theft, car hijackings and muggings. Avoid walking around with valuables or keep them out of sight and do not walk alone in isolated areas or in Maseru after dark.
If you are interested in what the Foreign Office has to say, please click here.

What local customs do I need to keep in mind?

In general, you can say Lesotho has European standards. You should not take photographs of government buildings, the airport or the palace. If in doubt about whether you can take photos, it is best to ask. It is customary to ask permission from the local village Headman or Chief before camping in a particular area, and to inform the Headman or Chief if spending any time within his village.

Are there opportunities to swim?

There are many rivers but before you go swimming always ask whether there are crocodiles or hippos in the water and if the water is free of bilharzia. Always beat your shoes before putting them on, as occasionally a scorpion or snake will have crawled into them.

What other activities and sports could I do?

Pony trekking has become one of the most popular tourist activities in Lesotho and is one of the finest ways to experience the Lesotho highlands. Other activities you can do include hiking and mountain climbing, fishing, bird watching and paragliding or hang gliding.

Mobile phone, email and snail mail

Telephone and fax services are available in all main towns and at major hotels. Internet cafes are available in Maseru. A GSM 900 mobile network is limited to the main urban areas and has limited active roaming agreements with other mobile phone operators; visitors should check with their local networks to see if they have roaming agreements with the operators in Lesotho.

Mobile phone, email and snail mail

Telephone and fax services are available in all main towns and at major hotels. Internet cafes are available in Maseru. A GSM 900 mobile network is limited to the main urban areas and has limited active roaming agreements with other mobile phone operators; visitors should check with their local networks to see if they have roaming agreements with the operators in Lesotho.

Time difference with the UK

Please check the World Clock in order to find out the exact time difference between Lesotho and the UK.
Please bear in mind that the time can change depending on whether the UK is on daylight saving time or not.