š±šø 22 Lovely Facts about Lesotho
Looking to boost your knowledge of the big wide world? Why not start with these culturally inspiring facts about Lesotho!
1. Lesotho wasnāt its original name!
Originally namedĀ Basutoland, this country was renamed theĀ Kingdom of LesothoĀ upon independence from the UK inĀ 1966.
2. Landlocked and lovely!
A small and beautiful mountainous country, Lesotho is an enclaved landlocked country completely surrounded byĀ South Africa.
3. But⦠how do you even say it?
Just so you know, Lesotho is pronouncedĀ le-soo-too.

Flag of Lesotho
4. Lesotho may be larger than you think.
It has an approximate area of 11,583 square miles (30,000 square kilometers).
5. Hereās the co-ordinates youāll need to fly here.
The coordinates for Lesotho are 29.4667° S, 27.9333°
6. Millions of people call Lesotho home.
Lesothoās population was 2.142 million in 2020.
7. Much of the population lives rurally.
Approximately three-fourths of its population live in rural areas and engage in animal herding and subsistence agriculture.
8. Whatās the capital of Lesotho?
MaseruĀ is the capital and covers an area of 53.3 square miles (138 square kilometers) and had a population of 330,760 in 2016.
9. Itās a breath-taking territory!
Lesotho has a terrain that consists of highlands with plateaux, hills andĀ mountains. Approximately more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level.

Maloti-Drakensberg Park, Sehlabathebe , Lesotho
10. Hot and cold – you pick!
The temperature here in the Summer is hot (perfect) and the winters can be cold, with snow in the mountains. Usually, you can expect the most rainfall betweenĀ OctoberĀ and April.
11. Rivers run across the country.
This country is home to three rivers; theĀ OrangeĀ River, theĀ Tugela RiverĀ and theĀ Caledon River āĀ they all have their source in the Lesotho mountains.
12. What do citizens of Lesotho call themselves?
Did you know that the inhabitants of Lesotho are called theĀ Basotho? The singular term isĀ Mosotho, not, as youĀ mayĀ have thought, a Lesothos!

Matelile, Lesotho
13. Sadly, lifespans run short on average here.
The averageĀ lifeĀ expectancy here is 54.33 years (2019).
14. What can people spend in Lesotho?
The currency of this South African country is theĀ Lesotho Loti.
15. A familiar language is spoken in Lesothoā¦
The official languages here areĀ Southern SothoĀ (aĀ BantuĀ language, also known asĀ Sesotho) and English, so you shouldnāt need to worry about learning a new language!
16. Lesotho is a crafty country!
Those of you who have aĀ loveĀ of all things crafty will be interested to know thatĀ rugsĀ (wool and mohair), tapestries, pottery, beadwork and basketry feature a lot in Lesothoās culture, as do the creation of traditional conical straw hats and beautifully decorated Basotho blankets (known asĀ kobo) which are worn by the locals.
You can plan your trip around the theĀ Morija Arts and Cultural FestivalĀ (held in October as a celebration of Lesothoās diverse culture) if you want to experience all that is crafty that this country has to offer!
17. Get exploring!
Lesotho is a great place to go if you love an adventure; it boasts 1000m high ālowlandsā where you can participate in a spot of craft shopping and sightseeing or if you prefer, you can explore and walk around the beautiful and historic highlands to the southern, central and northeastern parts of the country where youāll see beautiful streams passing through an āancient dinosaur playgroundā ā we love the sound of that!
18. There are some gorgeous sights out here.
If youāre interested in nature and conservation you must visitĀ Sehlabathebe,Ā Lesothoās National Park, andĀ Bokong Nature Reserve, Tsehlanyane Nature Reserve and Liphofung Cave Heritage Site.
19. Lesotho thrives on textiles and more.
Lesotho is dependent upon a small economy which consists of textile manufacturing, agriculture, remittances and regional customs revenue.
20. But itās the H2O that matters!
Its most important natural resource isĀ water! Known as āwhite goldā, water generates important revenue for the economy.
In 2004 theĀ Lesotho Highlands Water ProjectĀ opened to supply water to SouthĀ Africa.
Apples, apricots, peaches, pears and quinces grow here due to the climate ā think of all the jam you could make!
21. Its industries are really varied, however!
Industries include construction, clothing, textiles, handicrafts, food processing and beverages (beer is brewed locally in Lesotho).

Lesotho house under construction
22. Hereās who youāll need to call.
Want to call your friends in Lesotho? Ā Youāll need to use the international dialling code +266.
FAQs about Lesotho
Is Lesotho part of South Africa?
Not in terms of territory - but it is completely surrounded by South Africa, oddly enough!
Is Lesotho the only enclave on the planet?
No - there are two others - Vatican City and San Marino - both of which are surrounded by Italy.
What is Lesotho most famous for?
Lesotho is arguably most famous for its incredible national parks and scenery - and even for its beer!
Do you know any fun facts about Lesotho? Share them in the comments below!
This page was last modified on May 16, 2022. Suggest an edit