Local Attractions

Maseru is an ideal base from which to explore the western region of Lesotho with its magnificent scenery, rich history , culture and crafts. The country is often referred to as the “Kingdom in the Sky” because of its elevated situation - the altitude never drops below 1000m above sea-level. Besides having spectacular scenery, Lesotho offers the ultimate outdoor experience, whether you enjoy hiking, mountain biking, ponytrekking or 4 X 4’s.

Lesotho's attractions include:

An award-winning building in Maseru, modelled on a Basotho Hat which houses the Lesotho

Cooperative Handicrafts Centre

The Basotho Pony, world famous for it's unique equine qualities, is an integral part of traditional life.
The Basotho have held on to their customs of which music and dance play an important role.
One of the world's strangest abodes, the Kome Cave village at Sefikeng, was once home to a group of cannibals.

Maluti Mountains
Explore the magical Maluti Mountains of Lesotho. The roads are all in good condition and making a trip into the mountains, only 1-hour’s drive away, will provide visitors with a memorable experience. In winter, when the Maluti Mountains are covered in snow, the views are unforgettable.

Ponytrekking
Discover the joys of pony trekking. This peaceful means of exploring the canyons and waterfalls has become a popular and accessible activity. The Basotho are renowned as a nation of horsemen and for generations the sure-footed Basotho pony has been bred as the ideal form of transport in the rugged mountains. Pony-treks can be arrranged that take you wandering through the magnificent scenery with plenty of stops to enjoy the view and relax by a cool waterfall for a picnic. Treks range from one hour to six days with overnight stops in local villages or lodges.

Morija
45 km south of Maseru is Morija, the site of the earliest mission station in Lesotho, set up by the French Protestant Missionaries. The Morija Museum and Archives shows the history of the country from the time of the dinosaurs to the present day.
Lancers Gap
Lancer’s Gap, on the road north from Maseru, offers fine views of the City and the Caledon Valley. It is the site of a famous battle in 1852 when Basotho warriors, under Moshoeshoe l’s son Molapo, defeated the 12th Royal Lancers under Lt. General Sir George Cathcart whilst on a punitive expedition.

ThabaBosiu
Moshoeshoe’s stronghold was never taken and is an important historical site approximately 25 km east of Maseru. On top of this flat-topped hill are the remains of the King’s dwellings and villages, as well as a royal cemetery. There is an information centre from where visitors can climb up to the summit of the plateau.
Thorkild Hand Weaving and Moteng Weavers
Take in the arts and crafts of the country – visit the local weaving centres, such as Thorkild Hand Weaving and Moteng Weavers. Each of these centres provide opportunities for visitors to buy high-quality and well-designed traditional Lesotho products.

Katse Dam
The Katse dam, in the Lesotho Highlands, is one of the most spectacular water features in the country. Located on the Malibamatso River, this dam was completed in 1997 and is central to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. The dam is second in size in Africa to Ghana’s Lake Volta Akosombo Dam. The impressive dam wall is 185m high, 700 m long and contains 92 000 cubic metres of concrete. The Highlands Water Project was designed to supply water to the Gauteng region in South Africa and simultaneously makes Lesotho self-sufficient in electric power. Visit previously inaccessible villages on a day trip into the Highlands.

Mohale Dam
The site of this dam, which was completed in 2003, is 91 km from Maseru. It is south west of Katse Dam and almost doubles the water supply to South Africa through an inter-connecting tunnel into the Katse reservoir.

Semonkong
Semonkong, meaning “Place of Smoke”, is so named because of the Maletsunyane Falls, the highest single-drop falls in Southern Africa. The falls are set in awesome surrounding cliffs with the water plummeting down a 192m drop.

Dinosaurs
History started in Lesotho about 200 million years ago and evidence is demonstrated by the fossilised footprints of dinosaurs that have been uncovered throughout Lesotho. Important sites include Qalo in Butha-Buthe, Morija, Masitise, Subeng Stream and Tsikoane in Leribe.

Sani Pass
This awesome mountain pass ascends from the top of the Drakensberg Escarpment to Kwa-Zulu Natal. Unfortunately the steep road is only open to 4 X 4 vehicles. Close by is the highest peak in Southern Africa, Thabana – Ntlenyana, which is 3 482 m.