Maseru Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Maseru is the capital of and largest city in Lesotho. It is situated on 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 Western shops)
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Get in
Maseru is the transport hub of Lesotho, anywhere in Lesotho thats connected by road to here will have a Minibus taxi service to here.
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
Maseru - Bloemfontein (SA) 157 km
Get around
By taxi
Stoppo on Moeshoeshoe Rd is the main taxi station. For information on catching taxis in Lesotho, see the national page
See
There is not a huge deal to see in Maseru, as the city is essentially a base for expeditions and travels deeper into Lesotho.
- Moeshoeshoe Day is celebrated in Maseru in early March with colourful processions through the city centre.
Do
- The Lehakoe Club and Gym, Moshoeshoe Road (next to the Central Bank) Excellent gym by any standards. M142 per month membership, also daily and weekly membership available.
Buy
Supermarkets
- OK Shoprite, Kingsway - Good stocking up place before you head to the mountains
- OK Shoprite, Moeshoeshoe Rd - again a good stock up place.
Crafts
- Basotho Hat, Kingsway - a government run craft store which stocks locally made crafts.
Eat
Budget
- White Box Food, not a restuarant, but a good budget eating option - on Kingway at lunchtime lots of food vendors are cooking up chicken, pork, rice and papa and serving it to the office workers in town for around M12-M15 a box - very tasty and very filling
- M'editerranea Pizza, (just off Pioneer Rd, near OK supermarket) - decent pizza, best coffee in town, but not very African!
- Mimmo's Pizza, United Nations Rd - very garlicy pizza!
- Nando's, Moeshoeshoe Rd - good chicken
- KFC, Kingsway - chicken
- New Asia, Kingsway (behind Victoria Hotel) - good chinese restuarant - access from the carpark behind Victoria Hotel
- Peace Restuarant, Moeshoeshoe Rd (just down from Nando's) - at the back of a Chinese grocery shop the Peace Restuarant 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.
Mid range
- Lancer's Inn, Kingsway - good food but slow service, but how often do you get to eat with the King of a country? King Letsie III regularly dines here!
- Lesotho Sun, Nightingale Rd - a chinese restaurant, and a grill restaurant. Great all you can eat buffet on Sundays at lunchtime with loads of food, doors open at 12.30 but it packs out really quickly! Get there quickly!
- Regal Restuarant, Kingsway (part of the Basotho Hat complex) - the only non-hotel, non-chinese restuarant that offers a pleasant dining experience - good (British-style) indian food, appealing interior and good service.
Drink
- 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 weeknights.
- Lesotho Sun - Pool bar - Great for sundowners. Buy-1-get-1-free on Fridays 5pm-7pm (very popular)
Sleep
Budget
Keep away from the Khali Hotel (a little distance from the centre of Maseru in the Hillsview suburb) cheap but nasty
Mid range
- Lesotho Sun, Perched up high on a hill overlooking the city, with one of only a handful of swimming pools in the city. There is a casino on sight for all your gambling needs. Rooms from 850LSL.
- Maseru Sun, Much the same as the Lesotho Sun, although not as good views. Rooms from 820LSL.
- Lancer's Inn, Kingsway, ph: +266 31-2114 (fax: +266 31-0223) 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 regularly dines in the restaurant! Rooms from 400LSL.
Cope
Internet Access
In Maseru, there are several internet cafes, although fairly cheap (usually 0.20-0.50 ZAR per min) they are pretty slow at best. The main internet cafes are:
- 999 Internet, Kingsway (opposite the Post Office). The best value in Maseru
- Leo Internet, (near the Basotho Hat)
- The Lesotho Sun, very expensive.
Mobile Phones
Maseru has reasonably good reception. 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 simcards in each country you stay - a good way of staying connected. Most towns in Lesotho have cellphone coverage.
Post
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 2.40LSL.
Get out
In Lesotho:
In South Africa:
- Ladybrand - the closest town across the border. 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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