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The Mountain Kingdom
Lesotho: History & Culture
Lesotho’s mountain kingdom took shape in 1824, when Moshoeshoe I gathered clans fleeing the Difaqane wars onto the sandstone plateau of Thaba Bosiu. From that stronghold a Sesotho-speaking nation survived decades of conflict with Boer settlers before Britain declared a protectorate in 1868. Basutoland was governed from the Cape Colony and then directly by Britain until it became the fully independent Kingdom of Lesotho on 4 October 1966. Entirely surrounded by South Africa and lying wholly above 1,000 metres, it is the only country in the world with that distinction. Basotho identity still centres on the sure-footed Basotho pony, the woven wool-and-mohair blanket worn against the highland cold, and the conical mokorotlo hat that appears on the national flag.
Photo by Martin Schärli, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Heritage & Landmarks
National monument where Moshoeshoe I founded the Basotho nation in 1824
UNESCO World Heritage Site shared with South Africa; Sehlabathebe NP is its core
Africa's highest-elevation dam, 1,993m, on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project
The conical straw hat that is a national symbol on the flag and number plates
Explore Lesotho
Moshoeshoe's First Refuge, Now Lesotho's Ski Gateway
Indigenous Forest and Wool Country in Lesotho's North
Pony Trekking Country in the Makhaleng Valley
Capital & Gateway
Lesotho's Roof: Sani Pass and the High Maluti
Lesotho's Remote Southeastern Wilderness
Katse Dam and the Roof of the Lesotho Highlands
Where to Stay
Exceptional 9.5/10 family guesthouse in Phahameng, Butha-Buthe — 75 km from AfriSki Mountain Resort. 6 rooms (4 king en-suite + 2 twin). From R1,100/night.
Tribute Guest House Matala, Maseru Very good 8.2/10 guest house in Matala, Maseru, Maseru District. 12 rooms. Property Details Type: Guest House Guest Rating: 8.2/10 (Trip.com, 114 reviews) Check-in: 13:00 Check-out: 10:00 Rooms: 12 Amenities Free WiFi, Free private parking, Air conditioning, Restaurant and bar, Conference room (fee applies), Laundry service (fee applies), Luggage storage,...
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