FAQs Travel in Lesotho

The Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho may be rugged and untamed, yet it holds a gentle beauty—delicate as a spring blossom, soft as the summer grass draping its rolling hills, refreshing like a sparkling mountain stream in autumn, and both awe-inspiring and austere against the backdrop of a winter landscape.

No matter your preferred season, Lesotho has something to offer. But perhaps its greatest gift is the quiet closeness of nature, providing a sense of peace and tranquility unmatched anywhere else—an ideal refuge for the overworked and overstressed.

Lesotho boasts low humidity and exceptionally clean air, making it a refreshing destination year-round. Each season brings its own unique charm and beauty.

Flora Highlights

• February: Look out for vibrant Red-hot Pokers and blooming Aloes.
• March/April: Fields come alive with the soft pinks and whites of cosmos flowers.
• September: The landscape is sprinkled with the delicate pink hues of peach blossoms.

What to Pack

No matter when you visit, it’s essential to be prepared for all kinds of weather. Pack long trousers, a warm fleece, rain gear, sunscreen, and a hat. Winters, especially from 4:30 pm to 9:00 am, can be bitterly cold with temperatures often dipping below zero. For this, bring thermal underwear, gloves, warm hats, and scarves. However, daytime temperatures are usually milder, allowing for t-shirts and shorts during the warmer parts of the day.

November to April (Summer)

Following the first rains in October or November, the countryside transforms into a lush, green paradise. Summers can be hot, with sudden, short-lived thundershowers, hailstorms, and lightning. The majority of Lesotho’s rain falls during this seven-month summer season from November to April.

May to October (Winter)

Winters in Lesotho are dry, with bright, sunny days and crisp, clear skies. Early mornings can be freezing until around 9:00 am, but daytime temperatures warm up, only to drop sharply again after 4:30 pm. June is typically the coldest month, with minimum temperatures around 0°C. Snowfalls are common at the start and end of winter. While snow at Malealea usually melts the next day, the distant Thaba Putsoa mountain range often retains its snowy cap for longer, offering breathtaking, snowy vistas.

If you are not on roaming, internet connectivity will be lost after crossing the border.  We recommend you buy an Econet Sim card from a registered agent when you cross the border. 

A new Econet Tower has been installed in the Malealea Valley with 4G connectivity. To stay connected we recommend you buy an Econet Starter Pack as you enter the country. You need to register this with your passport. Insert the sim card into your phone and buy airtime which you can transfer to data. We recommend that you insert this sim card into a Wifi dongle (if you have one) and use this as your Wifi connection. Google Maps may not work without internet connectivity. Consider using offline maps or local guidance.

PLEASE STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AND WAIT FOR THE TRAFFIC OFFICIAL TO SIGNAL TO YOU TO DRIVE FORWARD TO WHERE HE IS STANDING OR WAVE YOU THROUGH! THE TRAFFIC OFFICIALS ARE VERY FRIENDLY, IF YOU FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS  - THERE IS NO PROBLEM AT ALL

KEEP 2 RED TRIANGLES IN VEHICLE FOR LESOTHO

When Driving in Lesotho distance is measured more by time than by kilometers.  You can expect to cover roughly 240kms in a full day of driving with will take anywhere from 6 - 8 hours.  

On gravel roads, travel times increase significantly - if a section is marked 60kms, you should plan for it to take about 3 - 4hrs to complete

No, please do not give sweets or stationery or anything to children on the side of the road. 

While we understand this is done with good intentions, we must urgently ask that this practice stop immediately.

Over many years, we have worked closely with community leaders and chiefs to discourage roadside begging. Unfortunately, these actions are undoing that progress and creating serious risks:

Safety: Children are now running alongside buses and vehicles, and we fear that one day there could be a tragic accident.
Community Impact: Giving out sweets encourages begging, which harms both the children and the relationship between our lodge, our guests, and the surrounding villages.
If you or your clients would like to donate sweets, biscuits, or any other items, please deliver them to the Malealea Development Trust when you arrive at the lodge. The Trust will ensure they are distributed responsibly and at the right time to children who are genuinely in need.

For the wellbeing of the children and the sustainability of tourism in Malealea, we kindly urge you to instruct all groups and individuals not to hand out sweets or food along the road.

We greatly appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this matter. Together, we can ensure a safe and respectful experience for both guests and the communities we all value.