Lesotho: Some Interesting Facts

Public Holidays

Date 2005 Occasion
January 1 New Year's Day  
March 11 Mosheshoe's Day
April 4 Heroes Day
March 25 Good Friday
March 27 Easter
March 28 Easter Monday
May 1 Labor Day
July 17 King's Birthday
October 4 Independence Day
December 25 Christmas Day  
December 26 Boxing Day

Weekend - Sunday

Customs & Duties

The following goods may be imported into Lesotho without attracting customs duty: 400 cigarettes/ 50 cigars/ 50g tobacco; 1 litre of alcohol and a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use. Import of alcohol and firearms is restricted, even from South Africa.

Electricity

Local current specifications are 220v, 50 cycles AC. Certain mountain lodges rely on generators, which may mean restricted services.

Post & Communications

The local postal service is not the best in the best in the world, nor is it the worst. Their doors open to the public at 8am and close around 5pm. Letters can be sent to all European Union member countries and to select number of Asian and American countries. Telephone and fax services are available at all the main hotels in the country. There are internet cafes in Maseru where you can surf the net and check your mail for a price. You can use your GSM mobile telephones to Lesotho because it has a good cellular network infrastructure.

Tipping

10% of the bill, to anyone who has been of service to you, is considered the correct tip.

English Language Media

The only English language newspapers in Lesotho are the Mirror and the Survivor. There are five local radio stations, three of which broadcast primarily in English.