What is the best time to visit Lesotho?

Best Time to Visit Lesotho

The best time to travel to Lesotho is during spring (September to November) and winter (May to August).

Spring in Lesotho

Spring in Lesotho is a beautiful time of year, with lush green landscapes and mild temperatures. The days are warm and sunny, and the nights are cool and comfortable. The country’s wildflowers are in full bloom during this season, and the mountain peaks are often dusted with snow. Travelers can expect to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and horseback riding, as well as festivals such as the annual Maseru Festival and the Lesotho Cultural Festival.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Lesotho

Lesotho in January

Weather

January is the hottest month of the year in Lesotho, with temperatures ranging from 15-30°C (59-86°F). The days are usually sunny, but the nights can be cool. Lesotho experiences its highest rainfall during the months of December and January.

Events

• The Lesotho Marathon is held in January, usually on the last Sunday of the month. The marathon is a 42.2 km race that starts and finishes in the capital city of Maseru.
• The Lesotho National Day is celebrated on the 4th of January. This day commemorates the country’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
• The Lesotho Open Golf Championship is held in January. The tournament is open to both professional and amateur golfers.
• The Lesotho Music Festival is held in January. The festival features a variety of local and international music acts.
• The Lesotho National Arts Festival is held in January. The festival features a variety of music, dance, and theatre performances.

Lesotho in January

Weather

January is a summer month in Lesotho, with average highs of 25°C (77°F) and lows of 10°C (50°F). The days are long and sunny, and the nights are cool.

Events

• The annual Lesotho Marathon takes place in January. It is a 42.2km race that starts in Maseru and ends in the village of Ha Kome.
• The Lesotho National University of Science and Technology holds its annual graduation ceremony in January.
• The Lesotho National Arts Festival takes place in January. It is a week-long celebration of music, dance, theatre, and visual arts.
• The Lesotho National Day of Prayer is held in January. It is a day of prayer and fasting for the nation of Lesotho.
• The Lesotho Open Golf Tournament takes place in January. It is a 72-hole stroke play tournament held at the Maseru Golf Club.

Lesotho in March

Weather

March is the beginning of autumn in Lesotho, and temperatures start to drop. The average high temperature is around 18°C (64°F), while the average low temperature is around 5°C (41°F). Rainfall is also common during this month, with an average of around 80 mm (3.1 in).

Events

• The Lesotho National Marathon takes place in March, usually on the first Saturday of the month. It is a 42.2 km race, which starts and finishes in the capital city of Maseru.
• The annual Lesotho National Arts Festival is held in March. It is a week-long event that celebrates the country’s culture and art, with performances, exhibitions, and workshops.
• The Lesotho National Day is celebrated on the 4th of March. It is a public holiday, and is marked by parades, speeches, and other festivities.
• The Lesotho International Music Festival is held in March. It is a three-day event that features local and international artists, and is held in the capital city of Maseru.
• The Lesotho National Soccer Cup is held in March. It is a tournament that features teams from all over the country, and is held in the capital city of Maseru.

Lesotho in April

Weather

April in Lesotho is characterized by warm days and cool nights. The average temperature is around 14°C (57°F) during the day and 5°C (41°F) at night. Rainfall is common, with an average of about 90mm (3.5 inches) of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The Lesotho Marathon takes place in April, usually on the last Saturday of the month. The race is an annual event that attracts runners from all over the world and includes a half marathon, 10K, and 5K races.
• The Lesotho National Arts Festival is held every April in Maseru. The festival features traditional music, dance, and art from the country, as well as workshops and other activities.
• The Lesotho Highland Games are held in April in the city of Maseru. The event includes traditional activities such as tug-of-war, Highland dancing, and bagpipe playing.
• The Lesotho Agricultural Show takes place in April in Maseru. The show features agricultural products from the country, as well as livestock shows, competitions, and other activities.
• The Lesotho Open Golf Championship is held in April in Maseru. The tournament attracts golfers from all over the world and includes a pro-am tournament, as well as a ladies’ tournament.

Lesotho in May

Weather

May in Lesotho is generally warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 16°C (61°F) to 25°C (77°F). The days are long, with the sun rising around 6:00am and setting around 7:00pm.

Events

• The Lesotho National Marathon is an annual event that takes place in May. The marathon is a 42.2 km race that starts and ends at Setsoto Stadium in Maseru.
• The Lesotho National Craft Fair is a two-day event that takes place in May. The fair showcases traditional crafts from all over Lesotho, including weaving, pottery, and basketry.
• The Lesotho National Music Festival is an annual event that takes place in May. The festival features traditional and contemporary music from Lesotho and the surrounding region.
• The Lesotho National Agricultural Show is an annual event that takes place in May. The show showcases the best agricultural products from Lesotho, including livestock, produce, and handicrafts.
• The Lesotho National Arts Festival is an annual event that takes place in May. The festival showcases traditional and contemporary art from Lesotho and the surrounding region.

Lesotho in June

Weather

June is the beginning of winter in Lesotho, with temperatures ranging from 0-18°C (32-64°F). The days are generally sunny, with occasional showers.

Events

• Lesotho’s annual horse racing event, the King’s Cup, takes place in June. It is held at the Maseru Race Course and is attended by many of Lesotho’s elite.
• The annual Maseru Marathon is held in June. It is a 42km race that attracts runners from all over the world.
• The annual Lesotho National Arts Festival is held in June. It features performances from local and international artists, as well as workshops and exhibitions.
• The annual Lesotho National Music Festival is held in June. It features performances from local and international musicians, as well as workshops and exhibitions.
• The annual Lesotho National Film Festival is held in June. It features screenings of local and international films, as well as workshops and exhibitions.

Lesotho in July

Weather

July is the winter season in Lesotho. The temperatures range from 10°C to 18°C during the day, and can drop to as low as -5°C during the night. The days are mostly sunny, but there is a chance of rain and snowfall in the higher parts of the country.

Events

• The annual Lesotho Marathon takes place in July. The marathon is a 42.2 km race that starts and ends in the capital city of Maseru.
• The Lesotho National Day is celebrated on the 4th of July. The day marks the country’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
• The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is celebrated in July. The project is a major infrastructure development that provides water to South Africa and Lesotho.
• The Lesotho Cultural Festival is held in July. The festival celebrates the country’s culture and heritage, with traditional music and dance performances.
• The Lesotho Open Golf Tournament is held in July. The tournament is a professional golf tournament that attracts some of the best golfers in the world.

Lesotho in August

Weather

August in Lesotho is the start of the dry season, with temperatures ranging from 19-25°C (66-77°F). The days are mostly sunny, with occasional afternoon thunderstorms.

Events

• The Lesotho National Day is celebrated on 4 August. This is a national holiday and the day is marked with parades, speeches, and other festivities.
• The Lesotho International Marathon is held in August. This is a 42 km race that takes place in the mountainous terrain of the country.
• The Lesotho Highland Games are held in August. This is an annual event that includes traditional sports such as caber tossing, stone putting, and tug-of-war.
• The Lesotho Cultural Festival is held in August. This is a week-long celebration of the country’s culture, with music, dance, and traditional food.
• The Lesotho Open Golf Championship is held in August. This is an annual golf tournament that attracts professional and amateur golfers from around the world.

Lesotho in September

Weather

September in Lesotho is typically warm and dry, with temperatures ranging from a low of 8°C (46°F) to a high of 26°C (79°F).

Events

• The Lesotho National Day is celebrated on the 4th of September. This day is marked with parades, concerts, and other festivities to commemorate Lesotho’s independence from Britain in 1966.
• The Lesotho Marathon is held annually in September. The race is a 42.2 km (26.2 miles) run that starts and finishes in the capital city of Maseru.
• The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is an annual event that takes place in September. This event brings together representatives from the government, industry, and the public to discuss the progress of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
• The Maseru International Trade Fair is held in September. This event is an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services to the public.
• The Lesotho National Arts Festival is held annually in September. This event is a celebration of the country’s diverse culture and features performances from local artists, musicians, and dancers.

Lesotho in October

Weather

October marks the beginning of the summer season in Lesotho. The average temperature during this month ranges from 10°C (50°F) to 24°C (75°F). The days are generally sunny and the nights are cool. Rainfall is low during this month, with an average of 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain.

Events

• The annual Maseru Marathon takes place during October in Lesotho. The event is hosted by the Lesotho Athletics Association and is open to participants of all ages. The marathon is a great way to experience the natural beauty of Lesotho.
• The annual Lesotho National Arts Festival is held in October. The festival celebrates the country’s rich cultural heritage and showcases the work of local artists, musicians, and dancers.
• The Lesotho Agricultural Show is held in October. The event showcases the best of Lesotho’s agricultural industry, with displays of local produce, livestock, and crafts.
• The Lesotho Highland Games are held in October. The event features traditional sports such as caber tossing, stone throwing, and tug of war.
• The annual Lesotho Music Festival takes place in October. The event features performances by local and international artists, as well as workshops and seminars on music production and composition.

Lesotho in November

Weather

November in Lesotho is a mild month, with temperatures ranging from the low 50s to the high 70s Fahrenheit. The days are generally sunny, with some scattered showers and thunderstorms.

Events

• The National Day of Prayer is held annually in Lesotho on November 3rd. This day is celebrated with prayer and reflection to thank God for the blessings of the year.
• The Lesotho Marathon is held annually in November. This marathon is a 42.2 km race that takes place in the capital city of Maseru.
• The Lesotho National Arts Festival is held annually in November. This festival celebrates the country’s rich cultural heritage through music, dance, and art.
• The Lesotho International Mountain Bike Challenge is held annually in November. This event is a 4-day mountain bike race that takes place in the mountains of Lesotho.
• The Lesotho National Day of Peace is held annually on November 11th. This day is dedicated to promoting peace and reconciliation in Lesotho.

Lesotho in December

Weather

December is the start of the summer season in Lesotho, with temperatures ranging from the mid-teens to the mid-twenties Celsius. The days are sunny and warm, with occasional rainfall.

Events

• The Lesotho National Marathon takes place in December. It is a 42.2 km race that starts and ends in the capital, Maseru.
• The Maseru Craft Market is held in December. It is a great place to find handmade souvenirs, jewelry, and traditional clothing.
• The Lesotho Highland Festival is held in December. It is a celebration of Lesotho’s culture and traditions, with traditional music, dance, and food.
• The Lesotho National Day is celebrated on December 4th. It is a day of national pride and celebration, with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.
• The Lesotho National Soccer Cup is held in December. It is a tournament between the top teams in the country, and the winner is crowned the National Champion.