Lesotho

 

Quick Facts

• Continental region – Southern Africa
• Currency symbol of Lesotho –Lesotho loti (L,M)
• Capital City –Maseru
• Official languages – Sesotho and English
• Population – 2,108,000 (2018)
• Country dialling code  –  (+266 )
• Official website – Lesotho
• Top 3 biggest industries  –Food, beverages, textile
• Google Maps link –Lesotho
• Where is it? –Lesotho, a high-altitude, landlocked kingdom encircled by South Africa, is crisscrossed by a network of rivers and mountain ranges including the 3,482m-high peak of Thabana Ntlenyana. On the Thaba Bosiu plateau, near Lesotho’s capital, Maseru, are ruins dating from the 19th-century reign of King Moshoeshoe I. Thaba Bosiu overlooks iconic Mount Qiloane, an enduring symbol of the nation’s Basotho people.

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Lesotho In Pictures

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Lesotho History

• How did the country get its first name? – Lesotho was previously known as Basutoland. 
• How did the country get its current name? – After Basutoland gained independence 4 October, 1966 it was renamed Kingdom of Lesotho. The name Lesotho roughly translates to “the land of the people who speak Sesotho”.
• When and by whom the country was first discovered? – Basutoland was known as a single polity since at least 1822, under King Moshoeshoe I. 
• Who were the first Inhabitants? – The first inhabitants of the mountainous region that makes up present-day Lesotho were the hunter–gatherer people known as the Khoisan. They have left many examples of their rock art in the river valleys. Lesotho was settled by the Sotho peoples in the 16th century.
• When it was first recognized as a country? –Oct 04, 1966
• Who was the first leader of the country? –The first paramount chief was Lerothodi, the son of Moshoeshoe. 

Five Significant Events 

1. 1966 Event Independence: Independence as Kingdom of Lesotho, with Moshoeshoe II as king and Chief Leabua Jonathan (Basotho National Party) as prime minister.(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13729501)   

2. 1996 Event King Letsie III Restored: Moshoeshoe II restored to throne, but dies in a car crash. Letsie III restored as king.(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13729501)

3. 2002 Event Mosisili’s second term: Prime Minister Mosisili is sworn-in for a second five-year term.(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13729501)

4. 2004 Event Lesotho water project: Opening of first phase of multi-billion-dollar Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which supplies water to South Africa.(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13729501)

5. 2017 Event Elections: Prime Minister Mosisili loses early elections, Thomas Thabane returns to power.(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13729501)

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Five Places to Visit in Lesotho

1. Tse’hlanyane National Park: This National Park is as underrated as it is underused. This is the largest park in Lesotho and no other place is about as far away from it all as Ts’ehlanyane.(https://lesotho-blanketwrap.com/2016/things-to-see-in-lesotho/top-10-places-to-visit-in-lesotho/)

2. Katse Dam and Botanical Gardens: Any trip to Lesotho is highlighted by a visit to Katse Dam. This is the centerpiece of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project which transfers the water of the Lesotho Highlands via an incredible conduit of dams and tunnels through the mountains, eventually dispelling out onto the plains of South Africa’s Free State Province. (https://lesotho-blanketwrap.com/2016/things-to-see-in-lesotho/top-10-places-to-visit-in-lesotho/)

3. Sani Pass and the Highest pub in Africa: Amazingly popular with locals and tourists alike, The Sani Pass is a remarkable area for driving, hiking or mountain biking while enjoying sprawling views of the Drakensburg Mountains. (https://lesotho-blanketwrap.com/2016/things-to-see-in-lesotho/top-10-places-to-visit-in-lesotho/) 

4. Thaba-Bosiu: A national Monument, Thaba-Bosiu or “mountain of the night” was the mountain stronghold of “Moshoeshoe the Great” and is considered the birthplace of the Basotho nation. It is by far one of the most important historical sites in Lesotho and invokes a sense of identity for the proud nation Basotho.(https://lesotho-blanketwrap.com/2016/things-to-see-in-lesotho/top-10-places-to-visit-in-lesotho/)

5. Kome Cave Dwellings: Away from anyone’s view, including that of warring tribes and the primeval cannibals that came to maraud Lesotho due to hunger in the early 19th century, is a remarkable village where cave dwellings have been carved and built under towering sandstone rocks. (https://lesotho-blanketwrap.com/2016/things-to-see-in-lesotho/top-10-places-to-visit-in-lesotho/)

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References: 

• https://lesotho-blanketwrap.com/2016/things-to-see-in-lesotho/top-10-places-to-visit-in-lesotho/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13729501
• https://www.britannica.com/place/Lesotho
• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lt.html
• https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/lesotho.htm