Travel Information From Estonia to Lesotho

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Routine Vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (Influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Shingles

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Lesotho.
Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.
Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.
Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages to Lesotho.

Measles

Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.

Rabies

Rabid dogs are commonly found in Lesotho. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Lesotho, there may be limited or no rabies treatment available.
Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.
Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include
• Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
• Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens
• Visitors to rural areas
Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Lesotho.

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

You will need 3 months validity remaining on your passport from the date you intend to leave.

Local Phrases Language : Southern Sesotho and English

Local Phrases :

Greetings

Hello = Lumela
Good morning = Khotsong
Good afternoon = Lumelang
Goodbye = Sala hantle
Nice to meet you = Ke thabela ho u tseba

Conversational

How are you? = U phela joang?
I am good thank you = Ke hantle kea leboha
What’s your name? = Lebitso la hau ke mang?
My name is … = Lebitso la ka ke …
Do you speak English? = Na u bua senyesemane?
I don’t speak … = Ha ke bue…
How do you say… in … = U bolela joang… ho…
I don’t understand = ha ke utloisise

Basics

Yes = Ee
No = Che
Please = Ka kopo
Thank you = kea leboha
You’re welcome = Ho lebohile nna
Excuse me = Ntšoarele
Wait = Ema
Hurry up = Phakisa
Go away = Tsamaea
Let’s go to = Ha re eeng ho
I want to go to … = ke batla ho ea ho…
A little bit = Hanyenyane
A lot = Tse ngata

Shopping & Eating Out

Restaurant = Reschorente
Do you have? … = Na u na le? …
Not too spicy = Ha e na linoko haholo
It was delicious = E ne ele monate haholo
The bill, please = Chelete ka kopo
How much? = Bokae?
Very expensive = E turu haholo
Can you reduce the price? = O ka fokotsa theko?
Please can I have a beer? = Ke kopa ho noa biri?

Transportation & Directions

Taxi = Tekesi
Car = Koloi
Bus = Bese
Right = lehlakore le letona
Left = lehlakore le letshehadi
Straight = Setereiti
Stop here = Ema mona

Places

Downtown = Motse-moholo
Street = Seterata
Hotel = Hotele
Museum = Musiamo
Mall = Mall
Market = Mmaraka
Hospital = Sepetlele
Doctor = Ngaka
Police = Mapolesa
Post office = Ofisi ea poso
Bank = Banka

Time & Dates

What time is it? = Ke nako mang?
Today = Kajeno
Tomorrow = Hosane
The day after tomorrow = Letsatsi ka morao ho hosane
Yesterday = Maobane
When? = Neng?

Emergencies

Where is the toilet? = Ntloana e hokae?
Help me, please = Nthuse ka kopo
Call an ambulance = Letsetsa ampulense
I don’t feel goo = Ha ke utloe hantle

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Possession of drugs is a serious offence and punishments can be severe. Homosexuality is illegal

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Maseru

Maseru is the capital city of Lesotho, a landlocked country encircled by South Africa. The city is on the Caledon River. Traditional crafts feature at the cone-shaped Basotho Hat, a shop and information center. On the Thaba Bosiu plateau, east of the city, are ruins dating from the 19th-century reign of King Moshoeshoe. Thaba Bosiu overlooks Mount Qiloane, a conical mountain that is one of the nation's symbols.

Customs Allowances : Click Here

Petty crime

Most people visiting will just be passing through the cities on their way to one of Lesotho's beautiful farm lodges. Even so, urban crime is probably the biggest issue for tourists. The threat of crime in the capital Maseru is considered critical by the US department of state. Nearby border towns of Maputsoe and Hlotse are not much better.

Strangely enough, increased security in South Africa due to the 2010 FIFA World Cup has contributed to crime in Lesotho. Ramped up border security has remained in place and criminals who used to slip over to hit wealthier South African targets are now being forced to look closer to home.

In addition, lots of Lesotho men used to enjoy good incomes as miners in South Africa. However, as the mining jobs dry up these guys are returning home in hordes and settling in the city centres. Inadequate jobs and income mean even more are turning to crime in desperation.

Unfortunately, with South African raids off the menu, tourists stand out as an alternative source of easy cash.

As always, avoiding this situation entirely is preferable. Keeping a low profile is a good start. If possible, don't go out by yourself. A lone foreigner is a tempting and vulnerable target. Try to conceal your cameras and any jewellery as much as possible and it's best to take a cab if you're carrying lots of luggage.

You shouldn't spend much time on the streets after dark and definitely don't stray off well-lit and busy streets. The stretch between Maseru's hub of hotels and the business district is notorious for robberies.

High unemployment means there are groups of men loitering all through the streets in most cities and, while we're not in any way suggesting they're all criminals, it makes it hard to pick out potential threats.

Nights and weekends are the most dangerous times but daylight robberies are becoming increasingly common so don't assume you're safe in the sun. You'll need to keep on your toes at all times in any Lesotho city.

The last Friday of the month is payday in Lesotho and you should be especially careful heading out at this time. Alcohol-fuelled arguments and violence are a threat as people head out to spend some of their pay. More people on the streets and more money in pockets means more thieves as well.

Robbery

Knives are used in most robberies but gun crime is on the rise, especially in Maseru. If you are targeted don't put up any resistance. Thieves here have no qualms about using violence to subdue you and get what they want.

Hand over your things quickly and quietly. If you have a bag or a big camera, it's a good idea to throw it away from you rather than wait for them to grab it. Changing your attacker's focus can give you time to escape, or at least help avoid a potentially violent close quarters encounter.

International Driving Permit 1949 is required

• The most common religion in Lesotho is Christianity
• Don't forget greetings are usually all verbal, although people do nod their heads or wave from a distance. It’s important to greet properly with a basic greeting and a ”how are you” exchange.
• Don't forget Lesotho has only basic medical facilities - expatriates use medical facilities in Bloemfontein, South Africa (90-min/140 km drive from Maseru).
• Don't leave your checked luggage unsecured - theft from baggage at O.R. Tambo Int. Airport (Johannesburg) is still common.
• Don't ignore the HIV rates statistics - approximately one-quarter of the adult population is infected. Be cautious.

Do I need travel insurance to travel to Lesotho?

Travel insurance is very important when traveling overseas. We strongly recommend that you take out cover to travel to Lesotho. You can usually take out single trip or annual multi-trip cover to give you peace of mind should anything happen.

It can be a better and cheaper option to take annual multi-trip cover as it usually covers any number of trips taken in one year with a maximum of up to around 60 days away per trip.

We work with the top names in the industry and have already pre-selected the easiest, cheapest and best quality travel insurance on the market to save you time and money trying to find the best cover.

Travel insurance typically covers the following; however, you can tailor a policy to suit your needs depending on where you are traveling to, your activities and how long you are away.

• Medical Expenses
  Medical treatment can be extremely costly and add up very quickly, and include Overnight stays in hospital, minor or major surgery, accident and emergency treatment, drugs, COVID-19 treatment, journey home if you cannot use the original ticket, dental treatment, and many more unexpected expenses.
• Baggage and personal belongings
  If your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed it is extremely frustrating. If you must buy new clothes, toiletry products or personal belongings it can be very expensive and time consuming.
• Cancellation
  Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances you may need to cancel your trip. This could be due to several reasons such as illness, injury, a bereavement or many other scenarios. Usually airlines, tour operators and hotels have large cancellation fees, so buying travel insurance that covers this is recommended.

Health Care

Healthcare System in Lesotho

Healthcare of Lesotho is ranked 130th in the world. Lesotho, a small nation in southern Africa, is continually improving its access to healthcare systems. Still, even with greater access to healthcare services in some of the areas that are more difficult to reach, long treks and expensive rides are necessary to receive essential care.

Health Risk

Leptospirosis

Caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

Schistosomiasis

Caused by wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated water body.

African Tick-Bite Fever

Caused by Tick bite.

Chikungunya

Caused by Mosquito bite.

Hantavirus

Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Caused from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.