Capital: Maseru
Time zone: GMT + 2
Telephone services: Country Code: 266
Outgoing Code: 00
Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 123 / 124, Ambulance – 121, Fire – 122
Tourist information: Lesotho Tourist Board, PO Box 1378 Masseru 100, Lesotho, Tel: 313 760 or 312 896 (information). Fax 310 108.
Passport information: Valid passport required by all. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Consult embassy before departure.
Visa information: Visa required by all non-Commonwealth members
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination required.
Malaria: No special precautions considered necessary
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required by travellers arriving from infected areas.
Other Health Risks: Rabies is a threat. Lesotho is Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) free and people may swim in fresh water without this danger. There is a very high prevalence of AIDS/HIV. Visitors should seek medical advice before travelling.
Food & drink: Water outside of the main urban areas is untreated and not safe to drink. Dairy products are pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: Loti (M) = 100 Lisente.
Limited acceptance of Visa, MasterCard. Travellers cheques are widely accepted. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable
Cost of living: A developing small African nation with a growing economy.
Languages: Sesotho and English.
Weather: The climate is temperate. Rain falls mostly between Oct – Apr. The hottest period is between Jan and Feb.
Electricity: 220 Volts AC.
Post: 7 days.
Transport: ROADS: Few roads are tarred and are impassable during the raining season. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is recommended.
Special information: Visitors should take care particularly at night as as incidents of mugging are on the increase. Religion plays an important part in traditional life. PHOTOGRAPHY: Do not take photos of the palace; police establishments; government offices or anything connected with the military.