Lesotho National Parks
Lesotho is a rugged country with spectacular mountain scenery which can best be explored on pony treks, hiking and camping in the remote regions of the country.
Called the "Kingdom in the Sky," Lesotho has the highest lowest altitude of any country in the world. In other words, Lesotho 's lowest point (4530 ft./1380 m. above sea level) is higher than the lowest point of any other country. Most of the country lies above 6000 feet (1830 m).
Lesotho is an "island" surrounded by the Republic of South Africa which makes it one of only three countries in the world (including the Vatican and the Republic of San Marino) surrounded entirely by one other country.
The country is called Lesotho (pronounced Lesutu), an individual is called Mosotho, and the people Basotho. Many men wear multicolored traditional blankets to keep them warm in the cool and often freezing air; they also wear the traditional conical basket hats.
The Basotho are the only Africans to adapt to below-freezing temperatures that can drop to -8° F (-22° C). Snow can fall in the mountains any time of the year and in the lowlands between May and August. Summer temperatures seldom rise over 90° F (32° C). The rainy season is during the summer with 85 percent of the annual rainfall (about 28 in./710 mm) occur- ring October-April, making many roads impassable.
The western part of the country is lowland with altitudes of 5000-6000 feet (1525-1830 m). The eastern three-quarters of the country is highland rising to 11,420 feet (3482 m) in the Drakensberg Mountain Range, bordering the Natal Province of South Africa.
Bushmen (Qhuaique) inhabited Basutoland (now Lesotho ) until the end of the sixteenth century. Forthe following 300 years the area was inhabited by refugees from numerous tribal wars in the region; these refugees formed the Basotho tribal group.
Moshoeshoe I reigned from 1823-1870, and his kingdom was powerful enough to keep the warring Zulus at bay. Wars with South Africa from 1823-1868 resulted in the loss of much land, called "The Lost Territory." Lesotho asked to become a British Protectorate to gain assistance in halting the encroachment of its lands by the Orange Free State ( South Africa ). Lesotho was a British Protectorate from 1868 until its independence on October 4, 1966.
Lesotho has the highest literacy rate in Africa . Its economy is based on agriculture and earnings from laborers working in mines in South Africa . Light manufacturing and tourism are also important foreign exchange earners.
The mountains of Lesotho are Southern Africa 's most important watershed. The Highlands Water Project, a large project that involves selling water to South Africa , is underway and promises to provide Lesotho with much needed income.
The two best ways of seeing what this country has to offer are by pony trekking or a four-wheel-drive safari into its most remote regions.