Lesotho travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Safety and Security section (reference to student demonstrations). The overall level of the advice has not changed; there are no travel restrictions in place in Lesotho.

Travel Summary

• There is no British High Commission in Lesotho, but there is an Honorary British Consul who can be contacted in consular emergencies only. All other enquiries should be directed to the British High Commission in Pretoria. See the contact details of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• You are advised not to walk about Maseru or drive in rural areas at night. There have been incidents of muggings and vehicle hijacking, some involving firearms. There have also been incidents of armed robbery in Maseru and increase in gun-related crime. Sporadic demonstrations are possible.
  
  
• Most visits to Lesotho are trouble-free. We are not aware of any British nationals who required consular assistance in Lesotho in 2009.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See the Terrorism section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the general (insurance) section of this Travel Advice.
  

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see terrorism abroad.

Crime

Gun-related crime in Maseru is increasing.

Muggers in central Maseru, even in daylight, often target foreign nationals, frequently at knife point. You are advised not to walk alone in isolated areas. Only carry essentials with you. Keep valuables out of sight. You are advised not to walk around Maseru after dark and avoid driving in rural areas at night. When driving in urban centres, especially Maseru, keep doors locked, windows shut and valuables out of sight. Park in well-lit areas and do not pick up strangers. Take care at the approaches to main border crossings, particularly at night.

Armed car-jacking are increasing.

There are occasional armed robberies in Maseru. If you are involved in such an incident, offer no residence.

Take precautions to safeguard valuables and cash. Deposit them in hotel safes, where practicable. Keep separate copies of important documents, including passports. For more general information see victims of crime abroad.

Political Situation

There are occasionally spontaneous political demonstrations in Maseru. In October and November 2009 there were student demonstrations following shooting incidents at the National University of Lesotho and Lesotho Agricultural College. You should avoid demonstrations, rallies and large public gatherings as a precaution.

There was an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili on April 22 2009. No British nationals were injured in this incident.

Lesotho country profile

Local Travel

There is no effective public transport system or reliable taxi service in Lesotho.

Road Travel

A British driving licence or International driving licence is valid for use in Lesotho for up to three months. A local driving licence must then be obtained.

Driving standards in Lesotho are poor and you should drive carefully. Local mini-bus taxis are poorly maintained, often uninsured and invariably ignore road safety rules. Animals roaming on the roads are a hazard, especially at night.

For more general information see driving abroad.

Air Travel

The European Commission has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the European Union. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - air.

For more general information see airline security.

Local laws and customs

Homosexuality is illegal. Possession of drugs is a serious offence. Punishments can be severe. For more general information for different types of travellers see your trip.

Entry requirements

Visas

British nationals can obtain entry visas on arrival. Overstaying without proper authority is a serious matter. You may be held in detention.

Passport Validity

You must hold a valid British passport, which should be valid for at least a further six months and have at least two spare pages to allow the immigration authorities to affix visa stamps.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

South Africa

If you intend to visit South Africa before or after Lesotho you should be aware that South African authorities state officially that only one blank passport page is required for entry, but there have been reports that some South Africa officials insist on two blank pages. We recommend you have two blank pages.

Health

Lesotho has only very basic medical facilities. Expatriates use the medical facilities in Bloemfontein, South Africa, a 90-minute drive (140km) from Maseru.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 260,000 adults aged 15 or over in Lesotho were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 23.2% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Lesotho and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. For more general health information see Travel Health.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling, including cover for medical evacuation by air. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is When Things Go Wrong.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

Representation

There is no British High Commission in Lesotho, but there is a British Honorary Consul in Maseru, who can be contacted in consular emergencies only: Peter Barrett Sentinel Park United Nations Road Maseru Lesotho Telephone: (266) 2231 5537
Mobile: (266) 5885 1210
Facsimile: (266) 2232 6237
E-mail: barrett@leo.co.ls

All other enquiries should be directed to the British High Commission in Pretoria, which covers Lesotho. You can apply for new passports at the Consular Section of the British High Commission in Pretoria in person or by courier (you pay the charges if you use a courier).

Money

A couple of ATMs in Lesotho have the facility to accept international ATM cards but are unreliable (First National Bank and Standard Bank). Credit cards are not widely accepted. You should take traveller's cheques or South African Rand in cash, which circulates as an official currency in Lesotho along with the Maloti.