Lesotho: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

Lesotho is a small mountain kingdom in southern Africa, completely surrounded by South Africa. Its capital is Maseru. More than 80 percent of the country lies over 1,800 metres above sea level, so it is often called the Kingdom in the Sky. Lesotho is known for its rugged highlands, sure-footed Basotho ponies, colourful wool blankets worn as cloaks and the cone-shaped Basotho hat.

On My Earth Toy you can visit the Basotho Hat building in Maseru, a craft shop built in the shape of the traditional mokorotlo, the woven straw hat that is a national symbol and even appears on Lesotho's flag.

Geography and nature

Lesotho is the only independent country in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 metres. Its highest peak, Thabana Ntlenyana, reaches 3,482 metres, the highest point in southern Africa. The Maloti and Drakensberg mountains get snow in winter, and the country even has a ski resort. Rivers that start here, such as the Orange River (called the Senqu in Lesotho), carry water far across South Africa, and big dams send some of that water to South African cities.

People, languages and culture

Almost everyone in Lesotho is Basotho and speaks Sesotho; English is the other official language. Most people are Christian. In the cold highlands, people wrap themselves in thick, patterned Basotho blankets, and shepherds often wear them while herding sheep and goats on horseback. The Basotho pony is famous for being tough and steady on steep mountain paths. Wool and mohair from local sheep and Angora goats are important products.

History in a nutshell

In the early 19th century, King Moshoeshoe I gathered people scattered by wars and founded the Basotho nation, defending them from his mountain stronghold of Thaba Bosiu. To protect the kingdom from Boer settlers, he asked for British protection, and in 1868 the land became the British protectorate of Basutoland. The country became independent on 4 October 1966 as the Kingdom of Lesotho, with a king as head of state.