Lesotho
Lesotho: travel information

How do you get to Lesotho?
Plane
There are no direct flights to Lesotho from Europe, the connections are mainly
via Johannesburg in South Africa. The country's international airport is
located in Maseru.
Train
There are currently no more passenger trains from South Africa to the country.
Car and bus
Three major highways connect Lesotho and South Africa and there are several
border crossings. There are also regular minibuses between Maseru and
Johannesburg.
Travel in the country
Flight connections
Mission Aviation offers domestic flights in Lesotho.
Bus
In the lower regions there are minibuses
Railways
There are no passenger trains in Lesotho.
Ferry connections
The country has no navigable waterways.
Rental
cars An international driver's license is recommended for rental cars. National
driver's licenses are only accepted if they are issued in English or a certified
English translation is attached; in Lesotho they are generally valid for six
months.
Roads
The country's road network covers around 6,000 km, of which around 2,000 km are
paved. Except for the paved main road from north to south, the roads are often
impassable during the rainy season. All-wheel drive vehicles are recommended.
Traffic rules
There is left-hand traffic in Lesotho. In order to avoid trouble with the
police or even the courts, one should strictly adhere to the traffic regulations
in force in the country. The maximum speeds shown can of course be reduced or
increased by traffic signs. Regardless of the information given here, it is
advisable to obtain detailed information from the ADAC or the AvD.
Top speeds
- In urban areas: there is a speed limit of 50 km/h in built-up areas
- Country roads: there is a speed limit of 80 km/h on country roads
- Expressways: there is a speed limit of 120 km/h on expressways
It is mandatory to wear seat belts.
Alcohol limits
The official alcohol limit for drivers of motor vehicles in Lesotho is 0.0 per
mil.
International license plate
According to
Abbreviationfinder, Lesotho's international license plate is:
Formalities, visas
Travelers from the Federal Republic of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and most
other EU countries do not require a visa for a stay of up to three months in
Lesotho. The passport must be valid for at least six months upon
entry. Foreigners should also be able to provide evidence of sufficient funds
for their stay and a return ticket with a firmly booked return flight date.
Visa Department of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Lesotho
Kurfürstenstraße 84
10787 Berlin
Tel: 0049 - (0) 30 - 2 57 57 20
Email: [email protected]
Lesotho: currency, shopping
Currency
The national currency of Lesotho is the Loti.
Currency 1 Loti = 100 Lisente
The plural of Loti is Maloti, the singular of Lisente is Sente.
Lesotho forms a common currency area with South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and
Swaziland (the "Rand Monetary Area"), in which the South African rand functions
as the reserve currency that is recognized in all the countries belonging to
it. The loti has a fixed exchange rate of 1: 1 at the edge.
Shopping, souvenirs
Popular souvenirs from Lesotho are the typical Basotho hats, grass mats,
colorfully patterned woolen blankets and tapestries, ceramics, carvings made of
ebony, silver and goldsmiths and copper items.
Import and export of foreign currency
Import and export of goods
The following articles can be imported into Lesotho duty-free:
400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g tobacco
1 l wine or other alcoholic beverages
a bottle of perfume with a maximum of 300 ml.
The import of weapons and drugs as well as pornographic material is prohibited!
Lesotho: travel medicine, risks
Infectious diseases
- Malaria: There is no risk of malaria in the country.
- HIV infections, AIDS
- Amoebic dysentery
- Bacterial agitation
- Cholera - but there is only a risk of infection for
travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water,
including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all
kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio
- tetanus
- Rabies - but only for risk travelers who can come into contact
with the vector animals.
- Typhoid - however, there is only a risk of infection
for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated
food.
Vaccination recommendations
Vaccinations against the following diseases are recommended when traveling to
Lesotho:
- Cholera - but only among travelers who can come into
contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- Diphtheria - a vaccination against diphtheria should
always exist, also in the home country.
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio - vaccination against polio should always
exist, also in the home country.
- Tetanus - a vaccination against tetanus should always
exist, also in the home country.
- Typhoid - but only for travelers who can come into
contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
Compulsory vaccination
For all persons older than one year and arriving from a yellow fever infection
area designated by the WHO, there is a compulsory vaccination against a yellow
fever disease.
Yellow fever vaccination for children
In most countries where a yellow fever vaccination is compulsory, this also
applies to children over one year of age, in some countries even from six
months. It should be noted that vaccination against yellow fever had a number of
side effects, such as encephalitis. Around two-thirds of those affected were
children under six months. Therefore, under no circumstances should children
under this age be vaccinated. But children under one year of age should also not
be vaccinated if possible. If in doubt, yellow fever infection areas must then
be avoided. Any vaccination against yellow fever may only be carried out in
specially authorized yellow fever vaccination centers!
Hazards/current warning notices
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens Service
Tel: 0049 - (0) 30 - 5000 - 2000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de
The Federal Foreign Office has issued the following current warning notices:
"As one of the poorest countries in the world, Lesotho has few offers for
tourists. Due to poverty and high unemployment, the country suffers from a high
level of violent crime. Travelers should especially travel to the capital Maseru
(near the Victoria Hotel in the city center) Be careful from Leribe to Katse
Dam, as well as at viewpoints. Carjacking and carjacking have also increased in
other rural areas. The new bypass to Maseru Airport has recently been
the scene of car robberies. It should be at night Be avoided.
Walks after dark, driving overland in the dark and parking the vehicle in
unlit streets are very dangerous. [...]
Lesotho is a mountainous country. Maseru, the capital of the "Kingdom of
Heaven", is 1,500 m above sea level, the highest peaks in the country reach
3,500 m. Due to the geographical conditions, temperatures below freezing point
in winter (June to October) are not uncommon. For this reason, and due to
possible rapid weather changes, travelers should have appropriate clothing and
equipment.
Lesotho: Diplomatic missions
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Lesotho embassies and consulates in each
country around the world.

Representations of Lesotho in Germany
The building of the Embassy of Lesotho is located in a high-rise office
building on the lively Kurfürstenstrasse - corner of Markgrafenstrasse. In
addition to the Embassy of Lesotho (3rd floor), the embassies of Liberia,
Mauritius and Colombia are also located in the building. Because of the limited
number of parking spaces available, it is advisable to use public transport. The
bus stop for bus line 100, for example, is in the immediate vicinity of the
embassy.
Embassy of the Kingdom of Lesotho
Kurfürstenstraße 84
10787 Berlin
Tel: 0049 - (0) 30-257 5720
Email: [email protected]
Consulates
Region |
Contact |
Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and
Thuringia |
Honorary Consulate General in Flörsheim near Frankfurt
Schieferstein 6
65439 Flörsheim
Tel.: 0049 - (0) 6145 - 70 75 |
Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg and Saxony-Anhalt |
Honorary Consulate General Hannover
Leinstraße 8
30159 Hannover
Tel.: 0049 - (0) 511 - 326 674 |
Bavaria |
Honorary Consulate in Unterföhring near Munich
Münchner Strasse 14
85774 Unterföhring, Munich
Tel.: 0049 - (0) 89 - 957 6801 |
German representations in Lesotho
Embassy
The Federal Republic of Germany does not have an embassy in Lesotho, but is
represented by an honorary consulate. The embassy in Pretoria/South Africa is
responsible.
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in South Africa
180 Blackwood Street, Arcadia
0083 Pretoria
Tel: 0027 - (0) 12 - 427 8900
Email: [email protected]
www.pretoria.diplo.de
The German Embassy in South Africa is still responsible for Swaziland.
Honorary Consulate in Maseru
70c Maluti Road
PO Box 75
Maseru West, Lesotho
Tel: 00266 - (0) 22 - 332 292/983
Austrian representations in Lesotho
Embassy
The Federal Republic of Austria has no representation in Lesotho.
The embassy in Pretoria/South Africa is responsible.
Embassy in South Africa
1109, Duncan Street, Brooklyn
Pretoria 0181
Tel: 0027 - (0) 12 - 452 9155
Email: [email protected]
www.aussenministerium.at/pretoria
The Austrian Embassy in South Africa is still responsible for:
- Botswana
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
- Namibia
- Swaziland
Representations of Lesotho in Austria
Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of Lesotho in Vienna
Nikolaigasse 1/2
1010 Vienna
Tel: 0043 - (0) 1 - 512 7647
Email: [email protected]
Swiss representation in Lesotho
Embassy
Switzerland does not have a diplomatic representation in Lesotho; the embassy in
Pretoria/South Africa is responsible
Embassy in South Africa
225 Veale Street, Parc Nouveau,
0181 New Muckleneuk, Pretoria
Tel: 0027 - (0) 12 - 452 0660/61/62
Email: [email protected]
www.eda.admin.ch/pretoria
The Austrian embassy in South Africa is still responsible for:
- Botswana
- Mauritius
- Swaziland
Representations of Lesotho in Switzerland
Embassy in Geneva
Rue de Lausanne 45-47
1201 Geneva
Tel: 0041 - (0) 22 - 906 1050
Email: [email protected]
Consulate General in Zurich
Bleicherweg 45
8002 Zurich
Tel: 0041 - (0) 1 - 201 4445
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