56 Informative Facts About Lesotho [A South African Country]

Last updated on January 12th, 2022

29. The country experiences harsh cold winters. And the traditional dress of the people, which is a blanket made almost entirely from wool, protects them from the freezing temperatures. These blankets often contain colorful pattern and are their cultural identity as well as a status symbol.

30. Lesotho is also home to the highest ski resort in Africa, Afriski, situated at 3050 m above sea level.

31. Lesotho’s currency the “Lesotho Loti” is not accepted in South Africa. However, on the contrary, the South African Rand is accepted freely all over Lesotho.

32. Pakalitha Mosisili, since 17 March 2015, is the current Prime Minister of Lesotho.

33. Lesotho became a constitutional monarchy in 1933.

34. Maletsunyane Falls is a 192-meter-high waterfall in Lesotho. The Tulega Falls in Africa is the second highest waterfalls in the world at 3,110 ft. Are you inquisitive about the name of the tallest waterfalls in the world? Note that, it is Angel Falls, which is located in Venezuela. However, there is some debate regarding the exact height of the Tulega Falls, which is considered by many to be more than that of the Angel Falls.

35. Lesotho has less than 2% of forest area. And 10% of the country’s land is arable.

36. The country is divided into ten districts, each of these districts are named after their principal towns.

37. At least 23% of the country’s population is affected by the HIV virus and the government is taking the help of technology to combat the deadly disease.

38. In 2016, Lesotho experienced the worst drought in more than 40 years of history. People are forced to eat once a day and have to walk miles to collect water for use.

39. Sesotho was one of the first African languages to develop a written form and has an extensive literature.

40. The Basotho hat is a famous conical woven hat with a distinctive knot at the top. The design of these hats is also featured on the national flag of the country. (See the flag above)

41. Lesotho’s capital city–Maseru–experienced a political conflict in 1998, which resulted in the destruction of infrastructure. In the event, many historical buildings were also destroyed.

Lesotho on the map

42. Pap-pap or papa is the daily staple food of the people of Lesotho. This dish is a cornmeal porridge (a dish consisting of oatmeal or another meal or cereal boiled in water or milk.) The porridge is accompanied with a thick sauce made from vegetables, peas, and other chopped greens.

43. To avoid the cost of importing food from neighboring South Africa, most families raise their own wheat, corn, cabbage, pumpkins, and peas etc.

44. Beef is the most important meat in Lesotho and the people slaughter cows on special occasions. Sheep and goats are also raised for wool, milk, and meat. Chicken provides fresh eggs that can be used in the breakfast.

45. Funerals and weddings are an expensive occasion for a Lesotho family as they have to serve delicious food to the guests and neighbors.

46. Beer and tea are quite popular in the country. Tea is often served with fried cakes while beer which is locally brewed is preferred by many households in the region.

47. Cow in Lesotho is valued above money.

48. An automobile is mostly possessed by the wealthy class of the society.

49. The legal system of the country is based on the English common law and the Roman-Dutch law.

50. Lesotho is a homogeneous country. More than 98% of the people of the country belong to the Basotho ethnic group.

51. Lesotho is also associated with a dinosaur–Lesothosaurus—which evolved some 200 million years ago in this region. Lesothosaurus means “lizard from Lesotho.” It was 1 m long, herbivore and a bipedal. The name was suggested by paleontologist Peter Galton in 1978.

52. Lesotho is classified as one of the Least Developed Countries in the world.

53. The literacy rate for women in the region is higher than that of the men. Men are mostly occupied in livestock and subsistence farming from a young age.

54. In 1868, Lesotho became an official British protectorate.

55. People living in rural and mountainous regions live in huts called rondavels. Walls of these huts are made from stone and mud while the roofs are built from the grass. Those who live in towns have houses with concrete walls and roofs covered tin.

56. Because of its natural abundance, water in the country is known as “white gold.”

Lesotho – country at a glance