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

• Local currency

  There are no restrictions on the import and export of local currency.

• Foreign currencies

  There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currencies.

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

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

Africa

Asia

Europe

Oceania

Central America

South America

North America