Business Customs

Breakfast meetings are gaining popularity, lunches tend to be one hour long, and business meetings are either normally held in offices or over meals. It is important to reconfirm appointments the day of the meeting. There are often delays and many meetings start or run late.

Business attire in Lesotho is similar to attire in the United States, if slightly more formal. Common terminology used for dress code in business invitations are: 

• Black Tie (dark suit and tie or tuxedo or formal evening dress)
• Business (jacket and tie or a business dress)
• Smart Casual (casual clothing with or without tie, but no jeans and no sneakers)
• Casual (includes jeans but no sport shorts)

Travel Advisory

For travel advisory information on Lesotho, please click on the link below to the State Department’s consular information sheet for Lesotho: https://travel.state.gov/…/Lesotho.html

Visa requirements

U.S. citizens traveling to Lesotho require a valid passport. U.S. passport holders on holiday or business visits for periods of up to  90 days, do not a require visa to enter  Lesotho. Vaccination for yellow fever is a common requirement and travelers should carry their international vaccination cards with them. For more information concerning entry requirements, travelers may contact the Lesotho Embassy in Washington:

Embassy of Lesotho 2511 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, DC. 20008

Tel: (202) 797-5533

Website: https://ls.usembassy.gov

U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following links:

State Department Visa Website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html

United States Embassy Maseru Website: https://ls.usembassy.gov/visas/

Currency  

The currency unit is the loti, which is pegged 1:1 against the South African Rand; the average exchange rate for 2021 to 2022was 1480:1 Maloti to the dollar. Lesotho uses the metric system for weight and measurements.  Credit  and debit cards are widely accepted at major restaurants and in retail centers, and ATMs that accept U.S. ATM networks are generally available in Maseru.

Telecommunications/Electronics

Lesotho Communication Authority (LCA) regulates telecommunication services.  Lesotho’s telecommunications network has grown significantly in recent years; however, market penetration is still below the African average.  Econet provides mobile network services, along with Vodacom Lesotho (VCL). Dial-up is still the most common mode of internet access; VCL and Econet however, also have wireless broadband technology (3G and EVDO respectively).  Both VCL and Econet have launched 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services.  Lesotho is the first African country to launch 5G network service.  In 2019, VCL conducted fixed-wireless 5G trials based on a trial 3.5HGz license.  Currently only two commercial clients have expressed interest in using 5G hence services are not yet offered.

Resources

Lesotho Communications Authority:  https://www.lca.org.ls/

Transportation

Travel to Lesotho can either be by road or by air. Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU) is located in Maseru, and there are regular flights to/from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Owning or renting a private car is essential in Lesotho since public transportation is, in most instances, not suitable for U.S. tourists or travelers, except for a few private taxi companies.  It is highly recommended that travelers to Lesotho consider pre-arranging and making use of car rental facilities.  Avis Car Rental and Europcar operate in Lesotho.

Language

Sesotho and English are the official languages of Lesotho. Meetings with foreigners are generally conducted in English.

Health

Medical facilities and overall care in Lesotho are limited.  Vitality Health Lesotho provides ambulance service in cases of emergency.  Specialist care is available in  90 miles west of Maseru in Bloemfontein, South Africa.  .  U.S. Embassy Maseru maintains a list of physicians and other health care professionals, but the Embassy does not guarantee service or provide recommendations.

Many medicines are unavailable at facilities in Lesotho; travelers should carry an adequate supply of necessary medicines and/or prescription drugs, along with copies of their prescriptions. Lesotho has a very high HIV prevalence, currently estimated at 25.6 percent of the adult population. Travelers should ensure they are aware of the associated risks and risk behavior.  Additional information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC’s Internet site at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

The time difference between Lesotho and the Eastern Time Zone of the United States is seven hours during U.S. Standard Time and six hours during U.S. Daylight Saving Time.

Businesses are open Monday through Friday, generally from 08:00 until 17:00.  Some businesses close for lunch between 13:00 and 14:00. Banks are open weekdays from 09:00 to 15:30, and on Saturdays from 08:30 to 12:00.

Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings

Travelers must declare all goods in their possession except for personal clothing, essential toilet articles, and used sporting equipment. To be free from declaration, these goods must be for the passenger’s personal use and not intended as gifts or to be sold, exchanged, or traded.  All articles, used or unused, carried by the visitor as presents or parcels for other persons, must be declared.

For more information on requirements on temporary entry of materials and personal belongings, please check the customs requirements at the Revenue Services Lesotho at https://www.rsl.org.ls.