Geography
The Kingdom of Lesotho is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, an enclave entirely surrounded by territory of the Republic of South Africa. Is a member of the British Commonwealth? Capital: Maseru.
Lesotho is a mountainous country. Plateau in the West of the country (suburban High Velda), located at an altitude of about 1200 m above m are the main fields of agriculture. They are bordered by mountains to the East, Maluti Mountains, whose peaks are higher than 3000 m above sea level m. For these mountains is the Basotho plateau (height of more than 2000 m), where the largest river originates South Africa-Orange. Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy. The head of Government is the Prime Minister. King performs ceremonial functions. 90% of the population are Christians (majority Roman Catholics make up 53% of the population), 10% adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, the cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.). There are also a small number of adherents of the Bahai faith.
Vaccinations
Recommended vaccination of a fever, In addition to fever and possible get an infection from contaminated drinking water in remote areas of Lesotho has a pretty good record of infectious conditions, so that additional security measures be taken only when visiting the province. From a large number of HIV carriers
Customs
Lesotho is included in the South African Customs Union (SACU) with SOUTH AFRICA, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland, therefore, the regulation of import and export of material valuables, currency, consumer goods, weapons, pets match this Organization standard (see Help for South Africa). Obtaining visas at border crossings is not provided by the legislation of Lesotho
Currency
International name: LSL.
Loti ("Maloti" in plural) is equal to 100 lisente. The currency of the country "tied" to the rate of the South African Rand and RAND take everywhere and without restrictions. Exchange hard currency on RAND and Loti can be almost any Bank, foreign exchange bureaux and hotels (usually several hotels exchange rate overvalued). Banks can be exchanged easily and travel cheques, we recommend that you seek the RAND, which would save on the subsequent need to convert unused Loti when leaving the country or when travelling to neighbouring countries.
Credit cards Visa, MasterCard, Access, American Express and Diners Club are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants of the capital, but beyond their use is restricted, and indeed in the Maseru cash needed almost everywhere.
Banks are generally open from 9.00 am to 3.30 pm Monday to Friday and from 8.30 am to 11 am Saturday.
Sights to see
Riding on a horse (pony trekking) is one of the most sought-after entertainments whilst on holiday in Lesotho, not to all mountain beauties; you can get yourself on foot. Even in ancient times, the ponies were the only way of movement in the mountains of Lesotho. During your trip to the mountain grandeur of Lesotho you can breathe the fresh and clean air, but also to get acquainted with the cultural heritage and lifestyle of the local villages of the tribe of Basotho is becoming dysfunctional, as well as make excellent pictures. The main tourist centers of administration of riding this Basotho Trekking Centre (location of the God Help Me Pass), Malealea Lodge (located next to the "Gates of paradise"), Frasers Lodge (in the town of Semonkong) Trading Post Lodge and Valley of Poli. At 39 km east of the capital of Maseru in the small town of HA Baroana preserved ancient rock carvings, depicting past the San people and wildlife. Panorama tour "The Roof of Africa" opens to tourists the most intimate beauty of Lesotho. During this tour you will get acquainted with the residents of the local mountain villages, whose way of life has not changed for generations. Gorge Sani pass, in addition to its visual appeal is also a major route messages between the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. Mountain serpentines recommended conquer off-road 4 x 4, and climbing up you will discover the world of birds-Black Eagle, African Crested Ibis, Cape vulture and others. During a trip to outlying areas of the district Mohotlong, be sure to visit the highest point of the southern hemisphere Thabana Ntlenyana (3482 m). Sehlabathebe National Park National Park (Sehlabathebe National Park) in fact, the only national park in Lesotho, which stretches over 6500 hectares and is located at 2400 meters above sea level. The Park is famous for the observation of rare birds, here you can make beautiful images on a background of bizarre rock formations, as well as observe mountain antelopes. Safari in the Park can hold only, since many areas are difficult and that is why there is calm and there is nothing to overpower the enchanting sounds of wildlife. The South-western part of Lesotho is a godsend for lovers of historical values. It is in this region is the most important event occurred when creating the cultural heritage of Lesotho. Town of Morija is the only Museum in the country, also in the South, you can see the waterfall Malentsunyane, resembling a thumbnail of the world-famous Victoria Falls.
Climate
In Lesotho a temperate climate, during the winter months is July and August are often heavy snowfalls. In the area of high maximum temperature in summer reaches Velda + 32° c, and the minimum in winter is 7° c in the Highlands of the amplitude of temperature even more great, with winter frosts reach-18° c. average annual rainfallvaries between 740 mm in Maseru before 1900 mm in the Maluti mountains.
Miscellaneous
Language: official language: English, Sesotho. The local population uses Zulu languages (248 thousand media, district of Butha-Buthe), phuti (43 thousand), Xhosa (18 thousand media, Sebapala Valley and the body).
Transport
Lesotho's road network is certainly weak, paved trails make up only a third of all roads in the country. In mountain areas (excluding the path up to the dam Katce) there is no asphalt, so travel there requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Road signs are there, but they are not enough. Riding in the dark is not recommended due to complex mountain relief and an abundance of livestock, willingly walking on the roads.
Cuisine
On the territory of the Bantu tribes residing in Lesotho, they say that they can eat anything that might chew. But the continent has brought to the land of Lesotho Asian and European culinary traditions. What is unique about cuisine of Lesotho? The uniqueness of the cuisine of Lesotho is the richness of tastes and aromas, which left on these lands, representatives of different peoples and cultures. If we talk about spices, flavorful enough dishes here. If we talk about diversity, there are potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, sweet potatoes, corn, onions, courgettes and many other vegetables.
Courgettes can often be found at the kuhnân local chefs in quantity consumed meat per capita in Africa; Lesotho is one of the first positions. The most common types of meat, such as pork, chicken, lamb and beef. Exotic animals as delicacies are served in the restaurants. The most common types of meat, such as pork, chicken, lamb and beef, Lesotho is one of the few African countries where French instilled population habit to grow grapes. As well as here in large numbers eating fish, lobsters, crabs and shrimp. As with any African country Lesotho produces coconut moonshine straight out of oil palm trunks. These same Palm, more precisely their fruit, used for production of palm oil. Cuisine of Lesotho is not allocated special mixes among African countries. Rather, it is a consensus between the Asian culinary Crimean, European technology and African products.
