Travel Tips 24 > Africa > Southern Africa > Lesotho >
Maseru
Maseru is the capital of and largest city in Lesotho. It is situated on the north western border with South Africa. Although there isn't a huge deal to see in Maseru, it is well worth stopping here upon entry into Lesotho to stock up before venturing further in (where there are very, very few Western shops)
Travel to Maseru, visa requirements
Maseru is the transport hub of Lesotho, anywhere in Lesotho thats connected by road to here will have a Minibus taxi service to here.
Maseru Bridge Border Post is a drop off point for most South African national coach services, from where you can catch a taxi into Maseru
Maseru - Bloemfontein (SA) 157 km
Get around
By taxi
Stoppo on Moeshoeshoe Rd is the main taxi station. For information on catching taxis in Lesotho, see the national page A taxi should cost M20 for anywhere in town.
Maseru attractions and sightseeing
There is not a huge deal to see in Maseru, as the city is essentially a base for expeditions and travels deeper into Lesotho.
- The Mokorotlo. One of the country's most monumental buildings, the Mokorotlo is the traditional hut build in a modern sophisticated style, it is a virtual museum where you can learn more about the cultures and tradition of the friendly Basotho nation.
City tours
- The Lehakoe Club and Gym, Moshoeshoe Road (next to the Central Bank) Excellent gym by any standards. M142 per month membership, also daily and weekly membership available.
- Moeshoeshoe Day is celebrated in Maseru in early March with colourful processions through the city centre.
- Hike up the Hill behind the Lesotho Sun. Behind the hotel is a rocky hill (where they are now building the new Chinese funded parliament building - Lesotho supports the One China policy). Should take about 30 minutes to climb but is well worth the effort - go before sunset and take your camera!
Shopping, Maseru souvenirs
Supermarkets
- OK Shoprite, Kingsway - Good stocking up place before you head to the mountains
- OK Shoprite, Moeshoeshoe Rd - again a good stock up place.
Crafts
- Basotho Hat, Kingsway - a government run craft store which stocks locally made crafts.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
Budget
- White Box Food, not a restuarant, but a good budget eating option - on Kingsway at lunchtime lots of food vendors are cooking up chicken, pork, rice and papa and serving it to the office workers in town for around M12-M15 a box - very tasty and very filling
- M'editerranea Pizza, (just off Pioneer Rd, near OK supermarket) - good fresh pizza, by far the best coffee in town, great atmospheric music.
- Mimmo's Italian Deli, United Nations Rd - nice decor, variable food, including very garlicy pizzas and pasta dishes. Service is pretty bad but this is Lesotho.
- Nando's, Moeshoeshoe Rd - good chicken
- KFC, Kingsway - chicken
- New Asia, Kingsway (behind Victoria Hotel) - good chinese restuarant - access from the carpark behind Victoria Hotel
- Peace Restuarant, Moeshoeshoe Rd (just down from Nando's) - at the back of a Chinese grocery shop the Peace Restuarant offers an authentic chinese eating experience - good food, plastic chairs, chinese karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights! You can almost believe you are in China
- Good Times Cafe - LNDC Centre, Kingsway (above the Vodacom shop) - the only nightspot in Maseru also serves up adequate South African fare - OK for lunch. Tends to be empty in the evenings except for a few expats. Big screen for live football.
Mid range
- Lancer's Inn, Kingsway - good food but slow service, but how often do you get to eat with the King of a country? King Letsie III regularly dines here!
- Lesotho Sun, Nightingale Rd - a chinese restaurant, and a grill restaurant. Great all you can eat buffet on Sundays at lunchtime with loads of food, doors open at 12.30 but it packs out really quickly! Get there quickly!
- Maseru Sun Cabanas, Great stirfry. Great all you can eat buffet on Sundays at lunchtime with loads of food, doors open at 12.30 but it packs out really quickly! Get there quickly!
- Regal Restuarant, Kingsway (part of the Basotho Hat complex) - the only non-hotel, non-chinese restuarant that offers a pleasant dining experience - good (British-style) indian food, appealing interior and good service.
Maseru nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
- Good Times Cafe LNDC Centre, Kingsway (above the Vodacom shop) - the only non-hotel bar in Maseru likely to appeal to the tourist - can be very lively at weekends especially after pay-day (at end of the month) with live music and many of Lesotho's young and rich in attendance - but can be quiet on weeknights.
- Lesotho Sun - Pool bar - Great for sundowners. Buy-1-get-1-free on Fridays 5pm-7pm (very popular)
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
It is worth noting that if you have a (hire) car then consider staying over the border in Ladybrand - prices are inflated in Maseru by the fact that 80% of visiters are consultants of some sort and hence are not paying out of their own pockets. Also worth noting that both Sun Hotels and Lancers Inn are majority government owned, hence the staff can´t be sacked - may explain the quality of service at these places!
Budget
There are no backpacker type places in Maseru. For affordable accomodation head to Semonkong Lodge or Malealea in the mountains, or head to Ladybrand in South Africa. Keep away from the Khali Hotel (a little distance from the centre of Maseru in the Hillsview suburb), cheap but nasty.
Mid range
- Lesotho Sun, Perched up high on a hill overlooking the city, with one of only a handful of swimming pools in the city. There is a casino on sight for all your gambling needs, mainly full of addicted locals on the slot machines. Rooms from M850. (Hint - say you are with the European Union / Dfid / United Nations etc. to get a discount). 20min hilly walk to the centre.
- Maseru Sun, Much the same as the Lesotho Sun, although not as good views. Rooms from M820.
- Lancer's Inn, Kingsway, ph: +266 22-31-2114 (fax: +266 22-31-0223) Right in the centre of Maseru, just off Kingsway, this is a nice colonial style hotel, reasonable rooms, and also self-catered rondavels available. Lancer's tends to be used by business travellers, although King Letsie occasionally dines in the restaurant. Wifi (for a fee). Rooms from M400.
- Foothills Guest House, 121 Maluti Road, Maseru West. A bit of a walk from town in the leafy Maseru West suburb (where the King and most of the Government live). A good alternative to the pricey hotels in town.
- Victoria Hotel, Kingsway. Often the business travelers last resort when the other hotels are full. Adequate at best. Next to red light area.
Cope
Internet Access
In Maseru, there are several internet cafes, although fairly cheap (usually 0.20-0.50 ZAR per min) they are pretty slow at best. The main internet cafes are:
- 999 Internet, Kingsway (opposite the Post Office). The best value in Maseru
- Leo Internet, (near the Basotho Hat)
- The Lesotho Sun, very expensive.
Mobile Phones
Maseru has poor reception except in certain places. Your European mobile will probably not work. Cellphones are available for hire from various shops in Maseru. If visiting Lesotho (or anywhere in Southern Africa) then bring an unlocked cellphone with you and buy pay-as-you-go simcards in each country you stay - a good way of staying connected. Most towns in Lesotho have cellphone coverage.
Post
There is a large Post Office on Kingsway. Post is unreliable and can take up to a month to reach its destination, but usually more likely to take a fortnight. Sending a letter by airmail will cost you approx 2.40LSL.
Get out
In Lesotho:
In South Africa:
- Ladybrand - the closest town across the border. A nice place to escape to if you are living in Lesotho and are craving Western-ness!
- Bloemfontein - the nearest cinema (again, will only be useful to know this if you are living in Lesotho!)
China travel tips: Language / pensions culture in Barcelona / cheap youth hostels singapore / hotels and hostels in Trastevere in Rome / Major Morocco tourist attractions / South Africa political attractions / Vancouver visitors guide, culture & youth hostels / Las Vegas hotels, top casinos, tours and shows