Useful Information in Lesotho
Purpose of your visit
Ensure you have discussed and documented the proposed aims of your visit with Dr Clowes, chair of Dolen Cymru health committee, and Honorary consul to Wales. These objectives will be agreed to by the director of health services in Lesotho through Dr Clowes and in keeping with the overall aims of the MOHSW.
Before going
Health travel advice for travelling to Lesotho see Nathnac Read the advice from the Foreign Office on Lesotho and advice from the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation Ensure you have health insurance which covers emergency medical evacuation.
If you are traveling under the auspices of Dolen Cymru, please fill in and return the following information to Executive Director: Cathrin Daniel at dolencymru@btinternet.com
Next of Kin: Word Doc | PDF
Health Information Questionnaire: Word Doc | PDF
Documents which are officially required to register with the Lesotho Medical Council
Original and certified copy of degree/diploma/certificate
Original and certified school transcript
Certificate of good standing < 6 months old
Original and certified copies of post graduate certificates
Two passport sized photographs
Documentation of work experience ( a letter of introduction from Dr Clowes)
Copies of identifying pages of passport
Application fees
Specialists - R595
These documents need to be shown to the Director of Health Services who will write a letter of introduction to the Lesotho Medical Council to obtain your licence to practise in Lesotho and to the medical superintendent of the hospital where you will be working.
Weather
December - March is summer in Lesotho. The temperature can be as high as 30 degrees during the day, but it may be cool at night. In the summer there are showers, hail and thunder storms. Winter can be freezing, especially at night. Check the weather before leaving at www.bbc.co.uk/weather
Currency
Lesotho's standard unit of currency is the Loti (pleural = Maloti) which is equivalent to the South African Rand which can be obtained in the UK or at the airport in South Africa. There are ATM machines in Maseru but inform your bank about your proposed travel or they may block transactions. Hotels in Maseru will accept credit cards and debits cards. Guesthouses and B&Bs tend to only accept cash.
NOTE:Although the South African Rand is accepted everywhere in Lesotho and in most respect is totally interchangeable with the Maloti, you cannot spend or change Maloti for Rand once out of Lesotho. Therefore either spend or change your Maloti before you leave the country.
Visas
Upon entry to SA you receive a tourist visa When crossing the border to Lesotho you will generally receive a visa which lasts 2 weeks which can be extended in Maseru. No payment is required for these.
Getting there
Fly to Johannesburg and get to Maseru either by road (7 hours) or by flight to Bloemfontein in SA (140 km from Maseru) or to Maseru airport (20 km from Maseru) For flight costs to Maseru or Bloemfontein and to book see - South African Airways
Accommodation
If calling from Wales the code is 00266 For information on Lesotho tourism including accommodation click here For information on Maseru including accommodation click here
Lancers Inn
Telephone: 00266 22312114
Lancers Inn is a 10 minute walk from QEII, need to book well in advance with credit card details to reserve room. Very central and a restaurant available for lunch and evening meals.
Price of accommodation in Lancers (as of Jan 2008)
| Rooms (ensuite) | Chalets (includes a kitchen and sitting area) | Monthly rates Chalets & flats (self catering) |
| Single B+B M575 | Single B+B M655 | Single M10,950 |
| Double B+B M695 | Double B+B M715 | Double M11,250 |
Lesotho Sun
15 minute walk to QEII - M1105/night B&B
Maseru Sun
30 minute walk to QEII
M1085/night B&B
M599/night B&B per person single at the w/e
M698/night B&B for 2 sharing at the w/e
Mpilo lodge
Telephone 00266 22317800
Restaurant available for evening meals. Mpilo Lodge is 25 minute walk from QEII.
| B&B | Week days | Week ends |
| Single accommodation | M350 | M300 |
| Double accommodation | M500 | M400 |
| Family room | M600 |
Transformation Resource Centre
Telephone 00266 22314463. E-mail: mofolo@trc.org.is
30 minute walk from QEII
Basic self catering accommodation for M250 /night in a guarded compound, worth considering for longer term visits, ask for the double room.
Foothill Guest House
Telephone 00266-58706566. E mail - Melvin@xsinet.co.za
Pleasant accommodations but need to use transport as is a 35 minute walk to QEII on a quiet road
| B&B | Self catering | |
| Single accommodation | M300 | M250 |
| Double accommodation | M450 | M300 |
| 3-6 sharing | M120 |
Anglican Guest house
Basic accommodation for M80 per night on a quiet road, 15 minutes to QEII, probably best for groups.
Communication
The Lesotho country code is 00266 if calling from Wales. If calling from Lesotho simply drop the country code before dialling one of the numbers below. If calling from South Africa., dial 090 then the country code (266) then the local number.
Lesotho is covered by two companies all pay as you go, cards of M10- M100 can be purchased everywhere.
1. Vodacom (also covers South Africa)2. Lesotho Telecom
Sim cards can be bought (need an unlocked phone) Cost is M30 Mobile phones (pay as you go) can be bought in Maseru, cheapest M150 including sim card
One can receive calls from the UK on the mobile using the code 00266.
Contacting the UK
To call the UK,
- Buy an international phone card and call from a landline
- Use a public phone kiosk, where you will be charged by the minute
- Call using the mobile phone, but very expensive
Internet
Several internet cafes in Maseru close (<2 min) from lancers Inn. Cost M5 per 30 minutes; recommend using a virus scan on any downloaded document before opening on your own computer. Connection may be slow.
Wifi is available to use with your laptop in Lancers at cost of M120/24 hours - ask at reception
Language
The main language of Lesotho is Sesotho which is spoken by all citizens. The second language (and the language of administration) is English. It is highly likely that all meetings and discussions with teachers and with organisations will be through the medium of English though at school and in people's homes, do not expect people to speak in English if not addressing you!
Some words and tips:
M'e = Madam. This is used to address any woman and usually comes before her first name or surname e.g. M'e Lineo is the Director of the LWL (Lineo is pronounced 'Dineo' and is her first name). It can also be used when the person is not known to you (or usefully if you have forgotten her name!). Any woman should be respectfully addressed as M'e.
Ntate = Mister. As with M'e, this word is used before a man's first name or surname. All men should be addressed as Ntate [name]. If you know them well or if they are your peer, you can use their first name e.g. Ntate Thato (the young man who works for LWL). As with M'e, Ntate can and should be used when addressing strangers simply on its own.
Khotso! = Peace (pronounced 'chotso' if using Welsh phonetics). This is a formal greeting to be used when meeting older people or strangers.
| Hello | Lumela |
| Hello Lady | Lumela 'M`e |
| Hello Sir | Lumela Ntate |
| Young lady | Ausi |
| Young man | Abuti |
| How are you? | O phela joang? |
| I am fine | Ke phela hantle |
| What is your name? | Lebitso la hao o mang? |
| My name is Lineo | Lebitso la ka ke Lineo |
| Where do you come from? | O tsoa kae? |
| I come from | Ke tsoa . |
| May I have some water | Ke kopa metsi |
| " " " food | " " lijo |
| " " " vegetables | " " moroho |
| Where is the bank? | Bankeng ke kae? |
| " " " post office | Posong ke kae? |
| Thank you | Kea leboha |
| Yes | E |
| No | Ee E |
| Good bye (Go well) | Tsamaea hantle |
| Good bye (remain well) | Sala hantle |
Electricity
There is reliable electricity in Maseru.
You will need to buy a plug converter in J'burg airport as the plugs for Southern Africa are not widely available in the UK. RSA and Lesotho plugs are 3 pin plugs but the pins are round and large.
Health and safety
The key pieces of advice are:
- NEVER WALK AROUND MASERU IN THE DARK
- NEVER leave your accommodation after dark
- NEVER walk or drive alone through areas that are considered unsafe by locals (please ask for specific advice on arrival)
- Do not drive after dark
- Avoid public transport unless necessary
- Avoid displaying obvious signs of wealth in public (such as carrying an expensive camera or withdrawing large sums of cash)
- NEVER have unprotected sex or share needles with another person
- DO NOT abuse drugs (this is an offence that carries a very heavy custodial sentence)
- Avoid eating raw salads or uncooked meat
- Drink only bottled or boiled water
The Lesotho Elections
The general elections were held in Lesotho in February 2007. The election passed without incident but there is dispute over the results and 'stay aways' (from work) and marches may occur. Avoid large crowds and follow the advice of your hosts and LWL on all matters of safety and security.
In an emergency only, if you are unable to contact LWL or Dolen Cymru officials, please contact the British Honorary Consul in Maseru:
Peter Barrett
Sentinel Park
United Nations Road
Maseru, Lesotho
Tel: (266) 2231 3929 (office hours only)
Tel: (266) 2231 5537 (outside office hours)
Mobile: (266) 5885 1210
Facsimile: (266) 2231 0254
E-mail: pmb@leo.co.ls or barrett@leo.co.ls
Insurance
You may opt to be covered by Dolen Cymru's insurance policy while in Lesotho and during travel to and from Johannesburg. The cost is £30 pp and if you chose this option. Advise Dolen Cymru in sufficient time to receive a copy of the policy document. The cost may be more if staying for longer than 6 months. This insurance policy covers you for personal accident, travel medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation), property up to the value of £1000, loss of money up to £250, cancellation or curtailment of the trip and personal liability.
You are not covered if taking part in risky leisure activities (e.g. pony trekking is covered but not rock climbing) nor if infected by the HIV virus, AIDS or ARC, howsoever the syndrome is acquired.
Medical Emergencies
In the case of a medical emergency, please contact the 24-hour Medical Emergency Helpline, and quote the following information:
Your Certificate Number
Your Name
Name of Employer - Dolen Cymru
Your contact telephone number
Your location
Details of medical problem, the hospital and treating doctor's name
The number to call is: 020 7111 1101
Emergency Contact details
Wales
Dolen Cymru
128 The Exchange
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff
CF10 5ED
dolencymru@btinternet.com
Tel / Fax - 029 2049 7390
Emergency Contact Mobile Phone Details - collect before leaving Wales
Lesotho
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
Lesotho Wales Link
22 Mabile Road
Old Europa
Maseru
Lesotho
leswales@lesoff.co.za
Tel - 00 266 22 322159
Emergency Contact Mobile Phone Details - collect before leaving Wales or in Maseru
Transport (UK driving licence valid for 6 months)
Cars can be hired from the Moshoeshoe International airport and the Maseru Sun and Lesotho Sun hotels.
Avis Rent a car - Moshoeshoe airport (22320087) and Lesotho Sun Avis office (22320087) -M135/day + M1.35/km + insurance(M40.91 collision, M19.91 theft, M9.5 personal injury). M211/5 days & 200km free.
Budget Rent a car - Maseru Sun hotel (22316344) M250/day with no extra charge per kilometer M318/5days
Imperial car rentals - Moshoeshoe airport (58720215/58785487) and Industrial area, Maseru (58046223) M181/day & 1.99/km 5 days - M278 & 100km free 24 days - M149/day &70km/day
Public taxis (Matatoos (mini buses and cars) can be hailed from anywhere on the road at a cost of M3 into the centre of town and to QEII
Private taxis are also available - see brochure from Lesotho Tourism centre.
Shopping
Most things can be bought in Maseru including toiletries. Shopright is a large supermarket in the centre of town, 5 minutes from lancers where most things can be purchased. However if you are travelling outside Maseru you may need to stock up on essential items.
Lesotho Wales Office
Located near the UN buildings and close to Maseru Sun, about 30 minutes from QEII Two pleasant offices, one for health and one for education, both have computers and internet connection. Lesotho Wales office where there is a health office with a computer
Tel: 00266 22322159 or E-mail: leswales@lesoff.co.za
R&R/Weekends
Lesotho is a stunning country and it is well worth travelling outside Maseru at the weekend. The Tourist centre in Maseru is worth a visit to plan your trips. (0800-1700). for other hotels in Lesotho click here
Gyms/swimming pools
Lesotho Sun - daily rate - M50/day
Maseru Sun - M25/day
Excellent gym/swimming pool in Maseru, opposite QEII, which can be joined for M152 and a monthly rate of M140