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Lesotho

COUNTRY GUIDE

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LESOTHO
(pronounced - luh-soh-toh | ləˈsəʊtəʊ)
OFFICIAL NAME: Kingdom of Lesotho
DEMONYMS: Basotho, Mosotho, African
Lesotho is part of the Southern Africa region in the continent of Africa. Lesotho is also known as the Land of the Basotho and is also known as the Kingdom in the Sky. It is in the Southern hemisphere and is 30.4 thousand square kilometres in size. The primary languages spoken are Sesotho and English; the capital city is Maseru and the main currency used is the Loti.
LGBTQIA+ Equality Index
Medium-Low
LGBTQIA+ Dollar
c.51 million
LGBTQIA+ Population
c.61.5 thousand
ALLOW SAME-SEX MARRIAGES
No
RECOGNISE GENDER CHANGE
No
BANNING GAY CONVERSION THERAPY
No

Geography

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Capital) - Light (200px)

CAPITAL

Maseru

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Region) - Light (200px)

REGION

Southern Africa

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Continent) - Light (200px)

CONTINENT

Africa

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Hemisphere) - Light (200px)

HEMISPHERE

Southern

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Area) - Light (200px)

AREA

30355

(square kilometers)

Interactive Map Icons - Geo (Oceans) - Light (200px)

SURROUNDING OCEAN(S)

Landlocked

Region Image

Name in other languages

learn the literal translations of the country’s name in twelve of the most popular languages
English Flag
English
Lesotho
Mandarin Flag
Mandarin
莱索托
Dutch Flag
Dutch
Lesotho
Spanish Flag
Spanish
Lesoto
Arabic Flag
Arabic
ليسوتو
Portuguese Flag
Portuguese
Lesoto
French Flag
French
Lesotho
Hebrew Flag
Hebrew
לסוטו
Russian Flag
Russian
Лесото
German Flag
German
Lesotho
Hindi Flag
Hindi
लेसोथो
Japanese Flag
Japanese
レソト

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NOTIFICATIONS

LAST UPDATED:  April 25, 2023
×  LOW-MEDIUM RISK  | LGBTQIA+ travel discretion is advised. Though it is not illegal to identify as LGBTQIA+ or engage in same-sex relationships, it is recommended that you carry out independent research before travelling...read more

Latest

| STATUS

  • There are currently no known issues or armed conflicts taking place within this country. It is advised that you consult your country's foreign or overseas department before you travel. Your government's ministry will provide you with the latest information and guidance as to whether it is safe to travel to this country (or to parts of it)
  • LGBTQIA+ travel discretion is advised. Though it is not illegal to identify as LGBTQIA+ or engage in same-sex relationships, it is always recommended that you carry out independent research before travelling
  • GENDER IDENTITY/EXPRESSION | The country does not have any laws in place regarding gender identity and expression
  • LGBTQIA+ ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS | This country has no anti-discrimination laws) in place. The lack of regulations means that there is no legal protection for those community members living or visiting from facing discrimination
WHO Covid19 Update Service
DISCOVER THE LATEST COVID-19 INFORMATION. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION, FROM NEW TO CONFIRMED CASES



Government

| INFORMATION

Interactive Map Icons - Foreign Office (200px)
LESOTHO
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
ministry of foreign affairs and international relations | lekala la litaba tsa kantle ho naha le likamano tsa machabeng
The foreign office or ministry is typically a department within a government that focuses on promoting that particular country and what it represents worldwide. The department will often highlight national security, travel restrictions, visa requirements and all relevant foreign policies
Interactive Map Icons - Medical Body (200px)
LESOTHO
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
ministry of health | lekala la bophelo
The health office or ministry is typically a department or organisation within a government that focuses on all things relating to health. The department will often highlight travel restrictions, vaccination requirements, pandemics, outbreaks, and relevant health-related information
Interactive Map - Greetings

  USEFUL PHRASES | GREETINGS

Common phrases and terms in the local language(s)
Gayther Useful Phrases – Greetings (500px)
GREETINGS
greeting | tumeliso
HI
hi | lumela
HOW ARE YOU?
how are you? | u phela joang?
GOOD MORNING
good morning | khotsong
I'M GOOD, AND YOU?
i'm good, and you? | ke molemo, 'me uena?
GOOD AFTERNOON
good afternoon | lumelang
WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
what is your name? | lebitso la hau ke mang?
GOOD NIGHT
good night | robala hantle
MY NAME IS…
my name is ... | lebitso la ka ke ...
WELCOME
welcome | amohelehile
NICE TO MEET YOU
nice to meet you | ke thabela ho u tseba
GOODBYE
goodbye | sala hantle
DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?
do you speak english? | na u bua senyesemane?

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EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Sesotho | English
Official Language(s) spoken in Lesotho
The emergency service numbers within Lesotho to call during an emergency
  • AMBULANCE - when someone is seriously ill or injured, and their life is at risk (emergency medical services and technical rescue)
  • POLICE - when you feel in danger, are in dangerous situations or have witnessed a crime (law enforcement, criminal investigation, and maintenance of public order)
  • FIRE RESCUE - when a fire occurs or where a person needs rescue (fire suppression, technical rescue, and hazardous materials mitigation)


Ambulance
AMBULANCE
ambulense (sesotho) | ambulance (english)

dial
122

Call Ambulance Service Now

Police
POLICE
mapolesa (sesotho) | police (english)

dial
123

Call Police Now

Fire
FIRE
mollo (sesotho) | fire (english)

dial
121

Call Fire Service Now


Interactive Map - Emergency

  USEFUL PHRASES | EMERGENCY

Common phrases and terms in the local language(s)
Gayther Useful Phrases - Emergency Services (500px)
EMERGENCY
emergency | maemo a tšohanyetso
HELP ME
help me | nthuse
WHERE IS THE NEAREST HOSPITAL?
where is the nearest hospital? | moo ke sepetlele se haufi?
STOP
stop | ema
WHERE IS THE NEAREST PHARMACY?
where is the nearest pharmacy? | litlhareng haufinyane ke hokae?
HOSPITAL
hospital | sepetlele
WHERE IS THE POLICE STATION?
where is the police station? | seteishene sa mapolesa se hokae?
When travelling, a non-native speaker of a language or when you cannot speak, communicating how you are thinking and feeling to a medical practitioner can be challenging. The medical diagnosis interpreter, also known as the MDI, is a free click and point solution where you can use literal translations for up to 89 different languages

USEFUL INFORMATION

TELEPHONE DIALLING CODE

266

INTERNET SUFFIX

.ls

LANGUAGES

Sesotho, English

CURRENCY

NAME:
Loti
SYM:
L, pl., M
DIVISION:
100 lisente

ELECTRICITY

VOLTS:
220
HERTZ:
50

ELECTRICAL PLUGS

NUMBER OF PLUG TYPES:
1
PLUGS USED:
Electricity Plug M

WHAT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN WHERE

It is estimated that there are over seven thousand languages and dialects spoken around the world. When travelling, it is important to find out what languages are spoken where, as well, as key phrases and terms in those languages. The Gayther Worldwide languages guide features all of the main languages spoken around the world, organised by country and region. Discover all things languages today

CLIMATE

Maseru

Weather information

Lesotho Climate Image
MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
The average monthly temperatures are based on the recorded daily highs and lows for the given location
HIGH
The daily high temperatures are an average, based on the recorded high temperatures over many years
01| JAN
18.2°C | 64.7°F
02| FEB
18.1°C | 64.6°F
03| MAR
17.2°C | 62.9°F
04| APR
14.8°C | 58.6°F
05| MAY
13.4°C | 56.1°F
06| JUN
11.3°C | 52.4°F
07| JUL
10.5°C | 50.9°F
08| AUG
11.1°C | 52.0°F
09| SEP
12.1°C | 53.8°F
10| OCT
12.8°C | 55.1°F
11| NOV
14.2°C | 57.6°F
12| DEC
16.4°C | 61.5°F
LOW
The daily low temperatures are an average, based on the recorded lowest temperatures over many years
01| JAN
11.8°C | 53.3°F
02| FEB
11.6°C | 52.8°F
03| MAR
11.3°C | 52.4°F
04| APR
9.6°C | 49.2°F
05| MAY
8.3°C | 46.9°F
06| JUN
6.3°C | 43.4°F
07| JUL
5.7°C | 42.2°F
08| AUG
6.2°C | 43.2°F
09| SEP
6.8°C | 44.3°F
10| OCT
7.2°C | 44.9°F
11| NOV
8.1°C | 46.5°F
12| DEC
10.1°C | 50.1°F
SEASONS
Saisons (fr) | Jahreszeiten (de) | Estaciones (es) | Stagioni (it) | Seizoen (du) | Estação (pt)
Lesotho Season Image
Spring SeasonSPRING
Printemps (fr) | Frühling (de) | Primavera (es) | Primavera (it) | Lente (du) | Primavera (pt)
September-November
Summer SeasonSUMMER
Été (fr) | Sommer (de) | Verano (es) | Estate (it) | Zomer (du) | Verão (pt)
December-February
Autumn SeasonAUTUMN
Automne (fr) | Herbst (de) | Otoño (es) | Autunno (it) | Herfst (du) | Outono (pt)
March-May
Winter SeasonWINTER
Hiver (fr) | Winter (de) | Invierno (es) | Inverno (it) | Winter (du) | Inverno (pt)
June-August
Interactive Map - Instructions

  USEFUL PHRASES | INSTRUCTIONS

Common phrases and terms in the local language(s)
Gayther Useful Phrases - Instructions (500px)
INSTRUCTIONS
YES
yes | e
EXCUSE ME
excuse me | ntšoarele
NO
no | ha ho na
PLEASE
please | ka kopo
NO, THANK YOU
no, thank you | che, kea leboha
SORRY
sorry | masoabi
MAYBE
maybe | mohlomong
THANK YOU
thank you | kea leboha

TIMEZONE

LAST UPDATED:  May 24,2024

TIMEZONE

UTC+2 (Africa/Maseru)

DST APPLIES

No

Gayther Resources

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TRAVEL RELATED

AIRPORT STATISTICS

TOTAL NUMBER OF AIRPORTS

16
TOTAL NUMBER OF HELIPORTS

0
TOTAL NUMBER OF SEAPLANE BASES

0

DRIVING

Lesotho Driving Image
DRIVE ON WHICH SIDE
Left
INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENCE REQUIRED
Unknown
Interactive Map - Travel Section Icon

LOCAL AIRPORTS

Discover the leading international and regional airports in Lesotho. The main airport's section highlights the largest or busiest airports in any country. Each airport featured provides information such as the airport's name, identifier, location and links to google maps, what3words and Gayther's transport tool. The Gayther Transport tool features thousands of airports, train and metro stations, cruise ports and much more. Click on the search button to find all of the airports available on the tool

Interactive Map - Directions

  USEFUL PHRASES | DIRECTIONS & GUIDANCE

Common phrases and terms in the local language(s)
Gayther Useful Phrases - Directions (500px)
DIRECTIONS AND GUIDANCE
directions and guidance | litaelo le tataiso
HOW DO I GET THERE?
how do i get there? | ke fihla joang moo?
HOW MUCH IS THAT?
how much is that? | ke bokae eo?
HOW FAR IS IT?
how far is it? | hole hakae?
DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS?
do you accept credit cards? | a na le amohela likarete tsa mokitlane?
WHERE IS THE BATHROOM?
where is the bathroom? | kamore ea ho hlapa e hokae?
I'M NOT INTERESTED
i'm not interested | ha ke na thahasello
WHERE IS THE CLOSEST RESTAURANT?
where is the closest restaurant? | moo ke reschorenteng e haufi-ufi?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
i don't understand | ha ke utloisise
HOW MUCH DO I OWE YOU?
how much do i owe you? | ke bokae ha ke kolota uena?

LGBTQIA+ RELATED

LGBTQIA+ Terms

learn the literal translations of key LGBTQIA+ terms in the local languages/dialects
Lesbian Flag
Lesbian
lesbiana (sesotho) | lesbian (english)
Gay Flag
Gay
gay, (sesotho) | gay (english)
Bisexual Flag
Bisexual
dikamano tsa (sesotho) | bisexual (english)
Transgender Flag
Transgender
transgender (sesotho) | transgender (english)
Intersex Flag
Intersex
intersex (sesotho) | intersex (english)
Asexual Flag
Asexual
asexual (sesotho) | asexual (english)
Questioning Flag
Questioning
ho botsa (sesotho) | questioning (english)
Community Flag
Community
setjhabneg (sesotho) | community (english)
Gender Flag
Gender
bong bo amanang le rona ho ratana ka bong bo (sesotho) | gender related (english)
Sexuality Flag
Sexuality
thobalano e amanang (sesotho) | sexuality related (english)
Non-Bingary Flag
Non-Binary
eo e seng ea binary (sesotho) | non-binary (english)
Queer Flag
Queer
queer (sesotho) | queer (english)
Gayther Dropdown - Language Country Guide (300px)

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