Maseru, the Capital
A small, friendly capital on the Mohokare (Caledon) River, and the starting point for every one of our tours into the Mountain Kingdom.
Capital CityLesotho's Front Door
Maseru grew from a small police camp established in 1869 into the capital of an independent Lesotho. Its name means "place of red sandstones", and the city still has an easy, unhurried pace that visitors find disarming after Johannesburg.
Our short city tour is a great orientation on arrival day: the viewpoint over the Royal Palace of King Letsie III, the cone-shaped Basotho Hat craft centre for blankets, hats and weaving, historic government buildings and a lively local market.
Maseru is also where most of our tours begin. We collect guests from hotels and guesthouses across the city, and from Moshoeshoe I International Airport.
- Population
- ~330,000
- Border
- Maseru Bridge (24 hrs)
- Airport
- Moshoeshoe I International
- From Johannesburg
- ~4.5–5 hours by road
- City tour
- 1–2 hours
- From
- R700 per vehicle
Things to Do in Maseru
Royal Palace viewpoint
See the residence of King Letsie III and hear about Lesotho's constitutional monarchy.
Basotho Hat craft centre
Shop for mokorotlo hats, Basotho blankets and mohair weaving in the iconic hat-shaped building.
Local markets
Fresh produce, street food and everyday life in the city centre.
Arriving in Maseru
From Johannesburg
Most international visitors fly into OR Tambo International in Johannesburg. From there it's roughly 4.5–5 hours by road to Maseru via the Free State and the Maseru Bridge border post. We offer private airport and intercity transfers with flight monitoring and a name-board welcome.
Where to stay
Maseru has hotels, lodges and guesthouses for every budget. We can recommend and book the right place for you through our accommodation booking service, and plan the rest of your trip with itinerary planning.
Maseru Questions
How do I get from Johannesburg to Maseru?
The simplest option is a private road transfer, about 4.5–5 hours from OR Tambo. There are also short regional flights into Moshoeshoe I International Airport.
How far is Maseru airport from the city?
Moshoeshoe I International Airport is about 18 km south of the city centre, roughly a 30-minute drive.
What is there to do in Maseru?
Visit the Royal Palace viewpoint, shop for crafts at the Basotho Hat, explore local markets and take a half-day trip to Thaba Bosiu or Kome Caves.
More of Lesotho
Ready for Your Adventure?
Our team in Johannesburg and Maseru respond personally — usually within a few hours.