Getting to Lesotho

Getting to Lesotho is so easy. Many visitors arrive by air, but many more come by road. As Lesotho is surrounded by the Republic of South Africa, our road networks are linked, and air services to Maseru connect with international services flying in to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Johannesburg International Airport is the hub of air traffic to all of Southern Africa, including Lesotho.

When flying to Maseru, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR LUGGAGE IS ON THE AEROPLANE.
More often than not the luggage is dumped and arrives on the next flight or even a day later. The lodges out of Maseru have to spend endless trips collecting your luggage and this will be charged to clients account.

SAA do not compensate in anyway for “Dumped Luggage.” and do not transport it to the lodges out of Maseru. (Hiking holidays can be spoilt due to boots in lost luggage!)

Maseru is just over an hour’s flight from Johannesburg, or four-and-a-half hours’ drive on good tarred roads, primarily highways.
Getting to Lesotho by air from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban SA Airlink, an associate of SAA, has flights to Maseru using 29-seater BAe Jetstream 41 aircraft.
From other parts of Africa There are regional links from almost all other African countries to Johannesburg, and some links to Durban and Cape Town.

From Europe There are daily links from most European countries to Johannesburg with European long-haul carriers and South African Airways, as well as direct links to Durban from London and to Cape Town from London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Copenhagen, Zurich and Vienna.

From the Middle East, Asia and Australia The best routes are via Johannesburg from Tel Aviv, Dubai, Mumbai (Bombay), Bangkok, Hong Kong, Osaka, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Perth and Sydney.

From the Americas SAA and American Airlines together operate 7 flights a week from New York to Johannesburg. Other services link with Miami, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. There are also excellent connecting flights from North America through Europe. Other Services In addition, there are South African light aircraft/air taxi companies who can provide charter services both to Lesotho and within a domestic network of 30 local airstrips. Most of these services are in the East and South of Lesotho.

Getting to Lesotho by Road

Lesotho’s road network has greatly improved recently. Main North 1 provides excellent access to most areas in the north — all the road from Maseru to Butha-Buthe and on to Mokhotlong is now tarred. The new tarred road to Katse has opened much of the area of the Highlands Water Project, with the road to Molimo Nthuse and up to Mohale dam site now fully tarred. Main South 1 is a good tarred road to Moyeni, Mount Moorosi and on to Qhoali. However, roads in the south and east of Lesotho can still be difficult in poor weather, and some need 4x4s at all times.

Vehicles will be permitted entry to Lesotho on presentation of the following documents:
– Valid driving licence of the driver with certified English translation, or an international driving licence.
– Appropriate insurance certificates.

Drivers of rental cars based in South Africa must have a certificate from the rental company permitting the temporary exportation of the vehicle.
All goods and luggage brought into Lesotho are subject to customs control and baggage may be subject to examination. Visitors from Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia and South Africa are not allowed to bring liquor into Lesotho. Domestic pets are subject to quarantine requirements.