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Lesotho
Country Specific Information
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May 28, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: 
Lesotho is a constitutional monarchy with a democratically elected lower house of parliament. The upper house, the Senate,
is comprised of appointed hereditary chiefs and politicians. A Prime Minister is the head of the government. Geographically,
Lesotho is an extremely mountainous developing nation completely surrounded by the country of South Africa. The capital,
Maseru, is at 5,000 feet (1,500M) above sea level, and the mountains reach to 11,400 feet (3,500M). Facilities for tourism
are limited. A limited number of restaurants are available in Maseru. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Lesotho for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport is required, but no visa for U.S. citizens is needed for visits of 180 days or less. Vaccination for yellow fever is a common requirement and travelers should carry their international vaccination cards with them. For more information concerning entry requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Kingdom of Lesotho, 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 797-5533. Visit the Embassy of Lesotho’s web site at http://www.lesothoemb-usa.gov.ls/ for the most current visa information.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Lesotho held a general election in February 2007, which international and local observers considered peaceful and independent. Opposition parties disputed the allocation of parliamentary seats following the election, leading to a protracted political impasse, massive rallies, and several work stoppages in 2007 which disrupted public transportation and some commercial activity. Although the Southern African Development Community (SADC) undertook a mediation effort aimed at achieving dialogue and reconciliation, senior political and government figures were targeted in a spate of armed attacks in June 2007. These attacks, including the kidnapping of Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) guards and the seizure of military weapons, resulted in a government-imposed daily curfew from June 15 to June 22, 2007, and reports of harassment at security checkpoints and roadblocks. Efforts by the Maseru City Council to disperse unlicensed street vendors in the central business district led to confrontations between police and vendors. U.S. citizens should avoid political gatherings and street demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: U.S. citizens should remain vigilant about their surroundings at all times. Lesotho has a high level of crime and foreigners are frequently targeted, robbed and sometimes killed. American citizens reported an increased number of incidents in the first half of 2008, including armed and unarmed confrontations, carjackings, and home invasions. However, there are no indications that U.S. citizens are being specifically targeted or that there is an increase in the overall crime rate.
The Lesotho Mounted Police Service reported the presence of a number of armed gangs. Lesotho’s high unemployment rate, aggravated
by the return of large numbers of unemployed miners from South Africa, and the ongoing effects of social upheaval due to high
HIV/AIDS rates of infection, continue to contribute to an increasing number of reported crimes. These types of crimes occur
primarily in the capital city of Maseru, but can occur elsewhere in Lesotho. Crime scenes have included popular restaurants,
pedestrian overpasses, unlit or poorly lit roads, and other locations foreigners are known to frequent. Victims have included
foreign diplomats, volunteer workers, employees of non-governmental organizations, and nationals of Lesotho. U.S. citizens
are advised to avoid large groups and demonstrations, walking and driving at nighttime if possible, and walking in the capital
city of Maseru even during daylight. Personal crime is more likely to occur at night, but there have been numerous recent
incidents in the middle of the day. Traveling alone or at night is particularly dangerous. The Lesotho Mounted Police Service
handles policing duties. Police resources are limited and response time varies widely. U.S. citizens should report crime
to the police and to the Embassy consular section.
There is a serious baggage pilferage problem at Johannesburg International Airport, also known as Oliver Tambo International
Airport, in South Africa. Persons traveling by air to Lesotho must travel via Johannesburg. The pilferage problem particularly
affects travelers changing airlines and those flying on smaller airlines. Passengers flying on major international carriers
may not be affected to the same degree. Travelers are encouraged to secure their luggage, use an airport plastic wrapping
service, and avoid placing currency, electronics, jewelry, cameras or other valuables in checked luggage. Make an inventory
of items in checked baggage to aid in claims processing if theft does occur. The claims processing procedure can be time-consuming.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney, if needed.
See our information on Victims of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical facilities in Lesotho are limited. Good medical service is available in Bloemfontein, South Africa, 90 miles west
of Maseru. There is no reliable ambulance service in Lesotho. The Embassy maintains a list of physicians and other health
care professionals in Lesotho who may see U.S. citizen patients. The Embassy does not guarantee their services or provide
recommendations.
Many medicines are unavailable at facilities in Lesotho; travelers should carry with them an adequate supply of needed medicines
and/or prescription drugs, along with copies of prescriptions. Lesotho has a very high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, currently
estimated at over thirty percent of the adult population.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection,
may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP
(1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at
http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United
States. The information below concerning Lesotho is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate
in a particular location or circumstance.
Traffic moves on the left, with right-hand drive vehicles. Never assume right-of-way, as aggressive and undisciplined local
driving habits result in frequent collisions. Lesotho has a high number of traffic-related deaths and injuries given its
small size. The previous king died in a road accident in 1996. Driving after dark is dangerous due to the absence of street
lighting, livestock on the roads, and the prevalence of crime, including incidents of carjacking. American citizens may encounter
roadblocks manned by unauthorized or off-duty police officers soliciting cash payments for alleged traffic violations.
Travel is best done by private car. Rental cars are available, and cars rented in neighboring South Africa may be brought
into Lesotho with written permission from the rental company. Although bus and public taxi services exist, chronic overloading
combined with inadequate vehicle maintenance and lack of driver training make them unsafe. Some private taxi service exists
in the capital, but roving mini-bus taxis should be avoided. There is no passenger train service in the country.
Although the number of paved roads is gradually increasing, the majority of Lesotho’s 5,000 miles of roads are unpaved. A
few main rural highways are comparable to U.S. two-lane rural roads, but lane markings, signs, shoulders and guardrails are
not to U.S. standards, and unfenced livestock pose a particular danger. Lesotho's mountainous terrain makes driving on secondary
roads hazardous. Unpaved roads in the interior, often narrow, twisty and steep, are poorly maintained. For travel in the
interior, especially in wet or snowy weather, a high ground clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. Four-wheel-drive
is required for entering Lesotho through the Sani Pass on the eastern border.
The authority for road safety issues rests with the Lesotho Mounted Police Service. There are no auto clubs or reliable ambulance
services. Drivers should contact the police in emergencies.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the web site of the country’s national tourist office and national authority responsible
for road safety at http://www.lesothoemb-usa.gov.ls/tourism.htm.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Lesotho, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Lesotho’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
The only scheduled air service is between Maseru and Johannesburg on a South African Airways subsidiary. There is no scheduled service among towns within Lesotho.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Tap water is not reliably potable. Visitors to the interior of Lesotho should bring clothing and equipment suitable for
cold weather during the winter months (June - October). In the mountains, weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly. In
winter snow often closes mountain passes and temperatures often drop below freezing during the night, even in the lowlands.
Please see our Customs Information.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Lesotho laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Lesotho are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Lesotho are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Lesotho. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at 254 Kingsway, Maseru West; the mailing address is PO Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho. The telephone number is 266-22-312-666. The Embassy’s e-mail address is infomaseru@state.gov and the URL is http://maseru.usembassy.gov/.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Lesotho dated December 19, 2007 to update sections on Entry/Exit Requirements,
Crime, and Traffic Safety and Road Conditions.
