Lesotho has a wide range of standards when it comes to places to stay - from five star hotels and luxury lodges to rustic bush camps, guesthouses, backpackers and campsites.

Maseru is well serviced with banks. Banking hours vary from bank to bank. Generally, they are open from 09:00 to 15:00 on Monday to Friday. Some banks open later and some are open on Saturdays. Forex bureaus are normally open until 17:00 and are able to do electronic transfers to and from foreign countries.

Government offices are open from 08h00 to 16h30 on Monday to Friday. They close from 13h00 to 14h00.
Shops are generally open from 08h00 to 17h00 on Monday to Friday and from 08h00 to 13h00 on Saturdays.

Lesotho is a fascinating country to travel around by vehicle. Be fully equipped for spending the night with no facilities at all except perhaps a nearby river. Have a bucket for washing pots and clothes, all cooking gear and all the food you need for the whole journey apart from fresh vegetables.

Meat is not always available in the remoter areas so bring substitutes. Most villages will sell onions, tomatoes, potatoes, bread, sugar, salt and oil. You can buy just about anything you need for your journey in Maseru, but tinned food is pricey. Always have at least twenty litres of drinking water in the vehicle at all times as well as spare jerry cans of petrol. It is best to boil all water before drinking it.

Be very careful in towns and villages not to leave your vehicle open and unattended. People with little are easily tempted.

You should have no problem sleeping outdoors in designated camping areas or remote places along the way, but get into the habit of locking things away before you go to sleep. Tourists may camp or caravan almost anywhere in Lesotho, provided they first obtain permission from the local chief. It is often possible also to overnight in a village rondavel.

Car hire facilities are available in Lesotho, and local companies have links with South African companies. South African rental cars can be brought into Lesotho if the rental company gives permission in writing at the time of renting.

Lesotho enjoys ideal weather conditions, ranging from the warmth of the lowland areas and lakeshores to the coolness of the highlands. Lesotho has a summer rainfall climate. Summer extends from November to January and has temperatures that average between 21°C and 25°C, but do rise up to 30°C. Thunderstorms are common in summer.

Winter lasts from May to July and brings snow to the mountains (although snow can fall on the highest peaks at any time of the year). Houses are not built for the cold, so bring along enough warm clothing. Autumn days are long and warm.

Lesotho has cold winters so bring adequate warm clothing. Pack lightweight casual clothes if you're travelling in summer.

Dress in Lesotho is informal. In the daytime, men need only wear sports shirts and slacks, or walking shorts. If you are here on business, a safari suit or lightweight suit will be acceptable. Ladies need little more than cotton dresses, skirts and tops. In the mountains and in winter it can be cold, so wrap up warmly with sweaters and scarves or buy some excellent locally made ones here. A good pair of walking shoes is necessary, as are good waterproofs in the rainy season. In the evening, a little more formality is called for in city hotels and a jacket and tie may be requested for men in the top restaurants.

Lesotho’s standard unit of currency is the Loti (plural Maloti). One Loti is divided into 100 Lisente. The Loti is equivalent to the South African Rand. In fact, Rands are accepted interchangeably with Maloti, reducing money-changing hassles considerably. Bear in mind - Maloti are not accepted in South Africa, so make sure you leave the country with Rands in your pocket.
There are no restrictions on the amount of money tourists may bring into the country.

Most hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and the bigger shops will take credit cards. Most of the bigger banks will advance local currency against a credit card.

Travellers should carry an adequate supply of medicines and first aid accessories, as supplies are limited. Most chemists in the major towns are open from 08h30 to 12h30 and 14h00 to 17h00 on Monday to Friday and from 08h00 to 13h00 on Saturdays. There are no emergency chemists open after hours or Sundays.

The IDD code for Lesotho is +256. Internet is available in Maseru only. Outlying towns with good telephone lines can access email by phoning the server in Maseru or use satellite connections.

Telephone and fax services are available in all main towns and at all main hotels. Satellite connections facilitate telephone and fax communications between Lesotho and most European countries, the USA and elsewhere in the world.

Lesotho cellphone networks use the GSM900 standard. You can roam with your cellphone if you’ve arranged it with your service provider. You can also buy a sim card cheaply in Lesotho and use it to make phonecalls within the country.

Lesotho is a member of the Common Customs Zone, which includes South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia, so transfer of most personal goods is no problem. The importation of alcohol and firearms is prohibited.

Bona fide baggage, the property of and accompanying the passenger, may be imported into the country duty-free provided the goods are re-exported at the end of the stay.

Duty-free allowances of consumables is as follows:

• Spirits, wines and liquors - one litre
• Beer – 2.5litres (opened)
• Perfume and toilet water – 1oz bottle of perfume
• Cigarettes, cigars, tobacco - 400 cigarettes or 500g of tobacco

Local current is 220v, 50 cycle AC. Certain mountain lodges rely on generators, which may work on restricted services.

Good medical facilities are available in the main towns, but we recommend that medical insurance is taken out before arrival. Bring any special medication you need. Malaria is not common in Lesotho. Because the sun can burn fair skin in the rarefied air of mountains, we recommend a strong sunscreen and a hat. Lesotho’s Flying Doctor service provides emergency medical services to remote parts of the Country.

The official languages in Lesotho are English and Sesotho

Most hotels and lodges will offer a laundry service. There are no coin operated laundromats so budget travellers should consider drip-drying clothing and be prepared for hand washing. In most places you could hire someone to do your washing.

While doctors and dentists are available throughout many areas of the country, the major hospitals are located in the main towns. We recommend that visitors bring sufficient supplies of any drugs that they need regularly, and carry medical insurance.

Medical insurance should be purchased before you leave your own country and should include emergency air evacuation coverage if you’re spending any time in remote parts of the country.

Every village will have a small shop or "cafe" selling basic tinned and dried foods. The larger towns all have supermarkets which sell a fair variety of goods, certainly enough for the traveller to get by on. Lluxury items and fresh foods like cheese or vegetables and fruit (other than those grown locally) can only be found with certainty in the supermarkets in Maseru, or should be purchased in South Africa prior to coming to Lesotho. In most towns, a profusion of street vendors can be found, selling a wide variety of goods like home made fried cakes called makoenya, braaied (barbecued) meat, fruit and vegetables.

Petty theft is rife in the towns where unemployment is high. Be very awake when walking around carrying anything of value. There are master pickpockets everywhere. Don’t walk around with things you can’t do without, like your passport. Never leave your vehicle unattended and never change money on the streets. This is less of a problem in the rural areas.

For the most part, however, Basothos are very friendly and helpful.

Many of the main hotels have swimming pools, and there are excellent opportunities for golf, tennis and squash in Maseru. In Lesotho, visitors are welcome to watch our local football teams, and other popular sports include tennis and squash. Please ask the Lesotho Tourist Board for details of current programmes. Windsurfing is popular on many of our lakes, but surfers must bring their own boards. There are several health clubs in Maseru with excellent gym and other facilities.

Lesotho is in the Southern African time zone —GMT/ UST plus 2 hours all the year round.

Lesotho is an independent state and thus passports are needed to enter. Your passport needs to be valid for six months from your date of entry into Lesotho and should have at least two blank pages.

Most Commonwealth, SADC and EU nationals do not need a visa to enter Lesotho. You will be given a free entry permit that is valid for 30 days.

Holders of the following passports do not require visas for Lesotho: South Africa, Zimbabwe, U.S.A, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and Japan

It’s wisest for other nationalities to enquire about visa requirements. Phone Immigration in Maseru on telephone +256 317339 or fax +256 310409.

If you do need a visa, you have two choices. One is to get it in advance from a Lesotho embassy. The only one in Southern Africa is in Pretoria at the corner of Thomas Edison & Anderson Street in Menlo Park. Their telephone number is +27 12 467-640.
To get a visa here takes 24 hours, costs R40 and you'll need one passport photo. The visa section at the embassy is open from 9 - 12, Monday to Friday. You can also send your passport in by registered mail, but will need first to have them fax or send you the requisite forms.

The second alternative is merely to arrive at a border post. The immigration regulations allow the border officials to let you enter Lesotho, and give you 72 hours to present yourself to the Immigration office opposite the post office in Maseru to get the visa, or to leave the country. You don't need passport photos here.

If you wish to extend your stay beyond the date written in your passport, this can be done at the Immigration office in Maseru. You can also try at various border posts. Note that many of the smaller border crossings are only open between 8:00 and 16:00. Two border crossings are totally unmanned on the Lesotho side, those at Ongeluksnek and Sehlabathebe/Bushman's Nek. If you enter at either of these, you are required to present yourself at the nearest immigration office (Qachas Nek or Quthing) to complete formalities.

As this information is subject to change, visitors should check the latest information with the nearest Lesotho diplomatic mission.

Visitors returning to South Africa, and who require visas for South Africa, should ensure that they are in possession of a South African multiple entry visa.

Tap water everywhere is safe to drink. Stream water high in the mountains is probably some of the sweetest, purest water you will drink anywhere. Streams that run through villages are dirty from washing done in them, or from cattle. I believe a test is whether there is human habitation upstream, but you should use your own discretion in assessing the water's cleanliness. Bilharzia is not a problem anywhere in the country.

Sporting equipment is available for hire at some places, but for your own convenience it is advisable to bring fishing tackle, climbing equipment, golf clubs, windsurfing boards, good hiking boots and other sports equipment. Do not forget to bring your camera and a good pair of binoculars.

Don’t take photographs of government buildings, the Palace, the airport and other sensitive buildings. If in doubt, please ask. Avoid taking risks in outlying areas — help may be some distance away. Take normal precautions with your valuables. Lesotho, like any other country, is not entirely crime-free. Use seat belts when driving. Ask permission from the local Headman or Chief before camping. We are only custodians of our environment, so please keep to the tourist’s motto: "Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but your footprints.