The Ultimate Guide to Maseru: How to Uncover the Charms of Lesotho's Capital City

Maseru is the capital city of Lesotho and is a scenic land of large mountains with narrow valleys that surround it and protected it from encroachment during war times. It is completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa but is separated from it by the surrounding mountain ranges. After gaining independence from Great Britain in 1966 the country has welcomed modernisation programs which have brought in new wealth to the country and has made it a popular destination for tourists.

Choosing a Place to Stay

There are many Hotels in Maseru Lesotho to choose from that offer all the amenities and services you would require for a comfortable stay. Avani Lesotho Hotel & Casino offers a luxurious stay with a wide variety of rooms and dining options as well as Maseru’s only casino. Make sure you choose a place that is centrally located so that travelling to visit the local attractions will be easy to do.

Image via Avani Lesotho Hotel & Casino

Thaba-Bosiu National Monument

This monument is just a short drive away and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is a symbol of Basotho heritage. The rocky plateau served as the stronghold for King Moshoeshoe 1 during war times and has several water springs and the remnants of the Moshoeshoe’ 1 village on the plateau. There is also a graveyard where Moshoeshoe 1 and other families are buried. The walls of a two-roomed European house and several houses occupied by the villagers are still standing.  

Katse Botanical Gardens

The gardens were originally created as a result of a plant rescue mission to protect the spiral aloes that were displaced from the impact of the Katse Dam being built. It has now flourished to include gravel, and hillside trails passing via a rock garden. The Katse Botanical Gardens is a beautiful place to visit that has many different plant species with flora indigenous to it. The nursery also has a wide variety of seedlings for sale as well as a medicinal section for special medicinal plants and so also serves as an educational centre for local communities, as well as for scientists, students as well as the visiting public. The nearby Motebong Lodge has undertaken work with the Botanical Gardens for its own landscaping endeavours.

Maletsunyane Falls

This waterfall is a must-visit attraction when in Maseru. The waterfall is a single cataract on a tributary of the Orange River with a drop of 192 meters and so is considered to be one of the world’s highest waterfalls. It is located close to the quaint village of Semonkong, which in the local language means “place of smoke”, which is aptly named because of the watery and “smoky” dust that is released by the tremendous bursting energy of the water falling, which envelops the surrounding area for hundreds of metres. The water falling from the top causes a reverberating echo when it comes into contact with the basin of the falls and so a local legend has formed saying that the sound comes from the wailing people who have drowned in the falls.

Ts’ehlanyane National Park

This National Park is located in the Maloti Mountains in the Leribe District and is part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area. It is a great place to spend a few days with great hiking, swimming and even pony trekking amidst beautiful mountain scenery. Inside the park, you will find caves, rivers, waterfalls, cliffs and lovely natural ponds. The park has accessible hiking trails that can be trekked in a day or even multi-day treks that span about 39km. Since the park is at a high altitude, be sure to pack some warm clothes as it can get very cold.