Lesotho is a democratic, sovereign, and independent country with the unique characteristic of being surrounded by its neighbour, the Republic of South Africa (RSA). It has a land area of approximately 30,355 square kilometres. Lesotho’s highland covers around 65 per cent of Lesotho’s land area at elevations ranging between 2,300 and 3482 metres. From the lowlands’ sandstone hills to the highlands’ basalt cliffs, this is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1000 metres. The capital town of Lesotho is Maseru, which was established in 1869 as a police camp on the eastern side of the Caledon River after the treaty of the Aliwal North between the British colonial administration and the Boer Republic of the Orange Free State.
Scenic Beauty and Serenity in Lesotho
Lesotho’s remote and rugged countryside is spectacular in all its guises, and the visitor experiences that primal thrill of discovering the unknown. The serenity of the landscapes also lures holiday makers who beg to walk, hike, or ride, no matter what the weather, and breathtaking landscapes in different combinations of mountains, skies and water challenge artists and photographers alike.
The thin and cool air in Lesotho, which is deservedly classed as the highest country in the world, imparts a gentle hue to the colours of nature and is the reason why Lesotho’s mountains famously have an almost transparent blue tone and an ethereal feel.
Stories in Stone: Lesotho’s Prehistoric Heritage
Lesotho has a treasure trove of Bushmen (San) rock art. The country is liberally sprinkled with such sites, and many of the pictures have important information for the historian, depicting traditions, hunting methods and techniques, and a way of living that is long forgotten.
The wealth of rock art is attributable to the wonderful sandstone formations of the region, where nature has formed cliff overhangs which provided the ideal shelter for early man. It was on the walls that San have left us the valuable legacy of their paintings.
