Maseru

Maseru is the capital of and largest city in Lesotho and is very close to the north western border with South Africa. Although there isn't a huge deal to see in Maseru, it is well worth stopping here upon entry into Lesotho to stock up before venturing further in (where there are very, very few Asian-style shops).

KingswayMaseru - Main street in Maseru BasothoHatShop - Basotho Hat building in Maseru Sun flower field 3 - Sunflower field in Maseru

Travel to Maseru

By car

You can get into Maseru by vehicle through the entry point from South Africa.

Travel on a Bus in Maseru

Maseru Bridge Border Post is a drop off point for most South African national coach services, from where you can catch a taxi into Maseru.

• Vaal-Maseru Bus Services - ☎ +27 18 462-1000 sometimes runs a Johannesburg to Maseru service. It's best to call them for up-to-date information.

• Local bus from Bloemfontein - At 06:00 daily a coach leaves from Bloemfontein's main bus station direct to the Maseru Bridge border in about 2 hours. If you miss this then numerous Toyota Hiaces will drop you half way, where you can pick up a second Hiace to Maseru - this option takes from 3 to 5 hours depending on how long it takes for the Hiace to fill.

• Intercape - Drop off at Ladybrand, from where it's a 20-minutes shuttle van journey to Maseru.

Best way to travel in Maseru by a Taxi

Being the transport hub of Lesotho, anywhere in Lesotho that's connected by road to here will have a Minibus taxi service to Maseru. For more information on taxis, see Lesotho#By taxi|here.

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Maseru

Moshoeshoe Airport is located 18 km from Maseru. South African Airways operates a couple of daily Flights from Maseru to Johannesburg, which typically cost around M2,200. Luggage is lost very regularly and there is no lost luggage reporting system. You should arrange taxi pick-up in advance as there are no taxis at the airport. Taxis charge aroundML100.

Mission Aviation flies from the smaller Moeshoeshoe I airport just off Airport Road, 2 km from central Maseru. They offer charter Flights to amongst other places, Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka and Katse and are contactable on +266 2232 5699. Flights are fairly expensive and their little planes can be cramped, but they fly to most airstrips in Lesotho.

How to get around in Maseru

A map of central Maseru can be found here Google Maps now have very detailed maps of Maseru and Lesotho.

Best way to travel in Maseru by a Taxi

The bus stop on Moeshoeshoe Road is the main taxi station,but private cabs are available from the price of M50

Public cabs travelling around the city cost M6.50 and they are available in stations around town.

For information on catching taxis in Lesotho and Maseru, call Comfort Taxis and speak to Khosana on +266 6274 5199.

For information on catching taxis in Lesotho, Moonlight taxis are on +266 22312695

What to see in Maseru

There is not a huge deal to see in Maseru, as the city is crucially a base for expeditions and travels deeper into Lesotho.

• The Mokorotlo. One of the nation's most monumental buildings and the Mokorotlo is the traditional hut built in a modern sophisticated style, it is a virtual museum where you can learn more about the cultures and tradition of the friendly Basotho nation.
• Thetsane is worth having a wander around on a weekday - two kilometers south of Maseru on Pioneer Road (past the Pope's Podium) are a cluster of factories that churn out t-shirts and jeans for numerous US chain stores, including Kmart, Children's Place and Gap (if you've ever bought an Old Navy top chances are it was stitched together here). The chaotic hustle and bustle of Thetsane contrasts sharply with the slow pace of life elsewhere in Lesotho, and it's a fascinating place to see what African industrialisation looks like.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Maseru

• The Lehakoe Club and Gym, Moshoeshoe Road (next to the Central Bank, near the Houses of Parliament) Excellent gym by any standards, with 2 swimming pools, tennis & squash courts, steam rooms and sauna. M400 per month membership, also daily and weekly membership available.
• Lesotho National Tennis Courts Kingsway bypass, functional and affordable tennis courts, tuition available.
• Maseru Golf Course, play a round with some expats.
• Moeshoeshoe Day is celebrated in Maseru in early March with colourful processions through the downtown.

• Go canoeing on the Caledon river - The Lesotho-Durham Link offer canoeing trips (phone in advance to see what they can offer, +266 223 25166). Around M200 for an afternoon.

• Join the Hash The Maseru Hash House Harriers are a good way of meeting expats, getting some exercise, and seeing some more off-the-beaten-path parts of Maseru. They're quite tame, with the traditional drinking games kept to a minimum.
• Hike up the Hill behind the Lesotho Sun. Behind the hotel is a rocky hill (where they are now building the new Chinese funded parliament building - Lesotho supports the One China policy). Should take about 30 minutes to climb but is well worth the effort - go before sunset and take your camera!

• Trips from Maseru - If you are living and working in Maseru there are numerous options for day trips and weekend getaways. This is a few years old now but have a look here.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Maseru

Supermarkets and food

• Pick'n'Pay, Pioneer Shopping Centre, Pioneer Road - Very well-stocked South African supermarket and stores.
• OK Shoprite, Kingsway (LNDC Centre, behind the Vodacom shop) - Good stocking up place before you head to the mountains
• OK Shoprite, Moeshoeshoe Road - again a good stock up place.
• Fruit & Veg City, Kingsway (Gothic Church end) better fruit and veg than shoprite, also has a very random 'Italian deli' section selling expensive Pasta and Italian soft drinks.
• Bensons Quality Fresh Meats, Main North road - very good (South African run) butchers. Original owners have sold this business to run Pick'n'Pay. They deliver too. +266 22321479

Crafts

• Basotho Hat, Kingsway - a government run craft store which stocks locally made crafts. Large variety of beautiful hand-made jewelry of copper and ceramics, dresses, wire push toys. Worth poking your head in just to enjoy the unusual architecture.

Other

• Chinese tailors, Kingsway, opposite Fruit & Veg - good tailors who can duplicate a suit for for about M1,000 (they take the measurements from an existing suit rather than measure you)

• Lesotho Cellphone Services 10 Lioli Road - Industrial Area - a cheaper place to purchase white goods and electrical items than the furniture shops along Kingsway

• For electronics On Kingsways, also just opposite Fruit & Veg there is a large and surprisingly well-furnished shop selling computers and accessories, mobile phones and accessories, cables, etc., at decent prices.

Halal Food

• White Box Food, not a restaurant, but a good budget eating option - on Kingsway at lunchtime lots of food vendors are cooking up Chicken, Beef, Rice and papa and serving it to the office workers in town for around M12-15 a box - very tasty and very filling
• M'editerranea Pizza (just off Pioneer Road, near OK supermarket) - good fresh Pizzas, by far the best coffee in town, great atmospheric music.
• Mimmo's Italian Deli, United Nations Road - nice decor, variable food, including very garlicy Pizzas and Pasta dishes. Service is pretty bad but this is Lesotho.
• Nando's, Moeshoeshoe Road - good Chicken, Portuguese style
• KFC, Kingsway - chicken
• New Asia, Kingsway (behind Victoria Hotel) - good Chinese restaurant - access from the carpark behind Victoria Hotel
• Peace Restaurant, Moeshoeshoe Road (just down from Nando's) - at the back of a Chinese grocery shop the Peace Restaurant offers an authentic Chinese eating experience - good food, plastic chairs, Chinese karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights! You can almost believe you are in China
• Good Times Cafe, LNDC Centre, Kingsway (above the Vodacom shop) - the only nightspot in Maseru also serves up adequate South African fare - OK for lunch if you have 1,5 hours or more. Tends to be empty in the evenings except for a few expats. Big screen for live football.
• Solomon's Ground, below the post office at the junction of Constitution Road, this restaurant offers decent Italian food and on Thursdays offers an Ethiopian buffet.

• Oh Lah Lah French Café Cnr Kingsway & Pioneer Road - French café and restaurant, serves simple but delicious, reliable and good quality food like Burgers and grilled Meat, packed at lunchtime, open air seating under trees, on a busy corner in in central Maseru

• Lancer's Inn, Kingsway - good food but slow service.
• Lesotho Sun, Nightingale Road - a Chinese restaurant, and a grill restaurant, both quite average for the price (expensive) but if you are after a nice Steaks then it's more convenient than a trip to Ladybrand. There's a gluttonous all you can eat buffet on Sundays at lunchtime with loads of food. Doors open at 12.30 but it soon packs out as post-church middle-class Basotho families stuff themselves. Get there early if you want to get your nose in the trough! M120 per person.
• Maseru Sunday Cabanas, runs the same Sunday lunch buffet food-fest as the Lesotho Sun, but at last one traveller reported that Cabanas "buffet" grill was much better than at the Lesotho Sun, even though they are both part of the Sunday International Group, and had a much wider choice. That said, a tip is that the butter pudding on the desert table is great, in an old-fashioned home style.
• Regal Restaurant, Kingsway (part of the Basotho Hat complex) - the only non-hotel, non-Chinese restaurant that offers a pleasant dining experience - good (British-style) Indian food, appealing interior. Expensive, though, and though some call the service good, others say it's average at best.
• Ocean Basket, South African chain serving seafood and sushi.

• Good Times Cafe LNDC Centre, Kingsway (above the Vodacom shop) - the only non-hotel bar in Maseru likely to appeal to the tourist - can be very lively at weekends especially after pay-day (at end of the month) with live music and many of Lesotho's young and rich in attendance - but can be quiet on week nights.
• Lesotho Sunday - Pool bar - Great for sundowners. Buy-1-get-1-free on Fridays 5PM Monday - 7PM (very popular)
• UN Club - the opening times are a little unpredictable, but worth a try for the more adventurous - its next to the Sparrows and gas station behind Lancers Inn ( GPS / Google Earth coordinates 29°18'57.63"S 27°28'48.57"E)
• Local bar in the suburbs - want to get off the tourist trail and see some suburban Maseru life? try this bar - safe and friendly (and affordable), with a pleasant organic juice garden out back used for hosting the occasional wedding reception.About 2 kilometers southeast of the cathedral traffic circle, just off main south ( GPS / Google Earth coordinates 29°19'40.17"S 27°30'24.83"E)

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Maseru

Maseru - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Maseru, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Maseru. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Maseru and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Maseru. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Maseru. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inMaseru: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Maseru.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Maseru: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Maseru, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Maseru.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Maseru, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Maseru, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Maseru and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Maseru, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Maseru, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Maseru without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Maseru is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Maseru.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Maseru is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Maseru, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Maseru Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Under M200|M200 to M800|Over M800}}

Many backpacker types pass through Maseru en route to Semonkong|Semonkong Lodge or Malealea in the mountains, or head to Ladybrand in South Africa. However do not discount Maseru as a budget overnight destination - there are affordable accommodation options and the best of which is probably the Lesotho-Durham link.

• Lesotho - Durham Link - off the Agric / Old Airport Road, on the northern edge of the lake ☎ +266 2232 5166 M100 per person (dormitory) 3 kilometers from the centre of Maseru you'd need to get a taxi or a combi down the old airport road, ask to go to the Agric College as your driver may not have heard of the place. Camping is also feasible at M35 per day - only recommended for the summer months (October through May).

The following good accommodations were built as training centres although they do cater for Muslim travellers if you ask in advance!

• Anglican Training Centre Corner Assisi Road and Lancers Road ☎ +266 2232 2046 M120 Basic amenities,

• Maseru Backpackers - near the air squadron and air field slightly out of town but pleasant ☎ +266 2232 5166 M150 per person per day Hot water and kitchens.

• Lesotho Work Camps Association Kingsway behind the Catholic cathedral on the roundabout at the top of Kingsway M120 per person per day Hot water and a small kitchen, although not so clean as the Anglican Training Centre.

• Mohokare Guest House - 260 Kofi Annan, New Europa ☎ +266 2231 4442 +266 2231 4445 Single- M400, Double-M550 Tranquil modern, comfortable and safe accommodation, 3km from the downtown. Its a great place to stay without being expensive. Quote 'Kavi' when booking

• Boikhutsong Bed & Breakfast - 623 Tjobolo, Hillsview ☎ +266 63059190 A 6 bedroom guesthouse in the Hillsview suburb - get a taxi or its a 30 min walk.

• Foothills Guest House - 121 Maluti Road, Maseru West. ☎ +266 58706566 Double from M450, single from M295 A short walk from town in the leafy Maseru West suburb (where the King and most of the Government live). A good alternative to the pricey hotels in town.

• Lakeside Hotel - ☎ +266 22313646 Double room from M274, Single from M183 Several miles out of town on Main North

• Mpilo Lodge - Maluti Road, Maseru West ☎ +266 22317800 Doubles from M500, singles from M350
• Victoria Hotel - Kingsway ☎ +266 22313687 Double room from M600, Single from M540 Often the business traveller's last resort when the other hotels are full. Adequate at best. Next to the red light area and the cinema.

• Lancer's Inn - Kingsway ☎ +266 22312114 +266 22310223 Double rooms from M845, singles from M745 Right in the centre of Maseru, just off Kingsway, this is a nice colonial style hotel, reasonable rooms, and also self-catered rondavels available. Lancer's tends to be used by business travellers, although King Letsie occasionally dines in the restaurant.

• Lesotho Sunday - 20min uphill walk from the centre. ☎ +266 22313111 Double rooms from M862, singles from M762. Perched up high on a hill overlooking the city. Not one of the Sunday hotel chain's flagship hotels but it is the most 'luxurious' hotel in the city, with a very nice swimming pool. As Lesotho's classiest hotel it hosts endless government workshops and is where foreign dignitaries stay when visiting for regional conferences. Refurbishment has been on the drawing board for ages but is always set to commence 'next year'. There is a casino on site, gym, small cinema and business facilities.

• Maseru Sunday Cabanas - Old Europa ☎ +266 22312434 Double rooms from M862, singles from M762 Much the same as the Lesotho Sunday but has a larger pool. No need to go anywhere to get food because there is a restaurant by the swimmingpool site that serves delicious western and traditional food

• Queen Proteas - New Parliament DrAt the east side of the Kingsway bypass, near the turn off for the new Parliament building ☎ +266-22315215, +266 58079472 Double rooms from LM450 Opened in late 2009. Luxury hotel a little way out-of-town hence this is a better option if you have a car. All rooms are en suite and have Wi-Fi access.

Cope in Maseru

Internet access

In Maseru and there are several internet cafes, although fairly affordable (usually LSL0.20-0.50 per min) they are pretty slow at best. The main internet cafés are:

• 999 Internet, Kingsway (opposite the Post Office). The best value in Maseru
• Leo Internet, (near the Basotho Hat)
• The Lesotho Sun, expensive.

Mobile phones

Cellphones are available for hire from various shops in Maseru. If visiting Lesotho (or anywhere in Southern Africa) then bring an unlocked cellphone with you and buy pay-as-you-go SIM cards in each country you stay - a good way of staying connected. Most towns in Lesotho have cellphone coverage.

Parking

A guarded parking can be found at the junction of Pioneer Road and Kingsway (enter from Pioneer Rd). Hourly rates.

Postal Services in Maseru

There is a large Post Office on Kingsway. Post is unreliable and can take up to a month to reach its destination, but usually more likely to take a fortnight. Sending a letter by airmail will cost you approx M2.40.

Embassies and consulates

{{flag|Canada

• Canada - 3 Orpen Road, Old Europa ☎ +266 22 315365 +266 22 315366

United States | USConsular@ 254 Kingsway Ave ☎ +266 2231-2666 ext 4124 Opening Hours: Tuesday 08:00-12:00, 14:00-16:00, Friday 08:00-12:00

Travel Next

In Lesotho:

• Hlotse|Leribe - town in the north of the nation
• Semonkong - pony trekking in the Highlands and to the impressive falls
• Malealea - pony trekking in the Highlands from the large lodge
• Thaba Bosiu - historic mountain fortress of the Masotho

In South Africa:

• Ladybrand - the closest town across the border crossing. A nice place to escape to if you are living in Lesotho and are craving Western-ness!
• Bloemfontein - the nearest cinema (again, will only be useful to know this if you are living in Lesotho!)

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