Getting around Lesotho

Side of road
Left
Road quality

The road system is underdeveloped and few roads are paved. The main road which runs through the towns from the north to the western and southern borders is tarred, but other roads can be impassable during the rainy season.

It is advised not to drive in rural areas at night (or even walk around Maseru at night). There have been incidents of mugging and vehicle hijacking.

Car hire

You can hire cars in Maseru. You need permission from the car hire company to take any car over the border into Lesotho and have to pay a road tax. Maseru bridge border post is open 24 hours a day but in the main, they close at around 6pm. Bear in mind that some border posts can only be reached by 4-wheel drive.

Taxi

Buses and minibus taxis are good for short hops. Rather than being on a timetabled schedule, they leave once the bus is full, so you're better off buying tickets for any longer journey in stages, going from town to town rather than direct.This way you're not forced to wait for your bus to fill up at each stop. The cost is marginally greater than buying a direct ticket.

Documentation

An International Driving Permit is recommended. National driving licences are normally valid for up to three months, provided that they are either in English or accompanied by a certified translation. 

Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.