Transport in Lesotho

Lesotho is landlocked and connected to South Africa by road, rail and air. Its road network covers about 6,792 km: the 2020 classification recorded 1,736 km of paved roads, 3,694 km of gravel roads, 1,280 km of earth roads and 82 km of tracks. By the end of 2022, the paved network had reached about 1,877 km and the gravel network had fallen to about 3,552 km. Roads Directorate, the Department of Rural Roads, Maseru and local government share responsibility for different parts of the network. The A1, A2, A3, A4, A8 and A31 are national corridors. Many rural roads remain unpaved, and steep sections, erosion, storms, flooding and maintenance problems can interrupt travel. About 40% of earth and gravel roads have gradients above 6%, which increases access and safety risks in mountainous areas. Public transport is mainly provided by private companies and individuals. A 4+1 is a sedan taxi carrying up to four passengers plus the driver. Minibuses, Sprinters and buses also serve urban and rural journeys. Maseru has 10 centralised public transport ranks, but waiting areas, shelters, sidewalks and safe passenger access are often incomplete. There is no verified nationwide timetable or integrated public transport map. Service frequency depends on the rank, corridor, demand, weather and available vehicles, and remote communities may have limited commercial service. Passengers commonly hail a 4+1 or use a taxi rank. The Road Transport Board, or RTB, regulates road transport and the fare framework. Public transport providers require permits: a C Permit covers service between defined points, a D Permit covers local-area service, and an F Permit covers passenger trips. Current fares should be checked with the RTB or the relevant local rank because fuel prices, consumer prices and operating costs lead to frequent revisions. A 2023 local reference listed M13 for a 4+1, M12 for a minibus, M9 for a Sprinter and M8 for a bus, but later reported revisions have not been consistent. Walking and cycling are practical transport modes throughout Lesotho. Walking, bicycles, ridden animals and animal-drawn carts are especially common in rural and peri-urban settlements. The term non-motorised transport, or NMT, covers these forms of movement when they do not rely on a motor vehicle. NMT policy promotes connected footpaths, footbridges, access roads and facilities for people with disabilities, but safe sidewalks, crossings and stops remain insufficient in many places. Bicycles are legally treated as pedal cycles, although no verified nationwide bicycle-hire system or dedicated cycling network was found. Rail has an established freight function but no regular passenger service. The rail connection between Maseru Bridge and Maseru Station is about 2.5 km long and includes industrial and Mascon sidings. Transnet Freight Rail manages the connection, which links Maseru with Bloemfontein and the wider South African rail and port network. Mascon functions as a freight and customs facility under Ministry of Public Works and Transport supervision. Lesotho has no evidenced passenger rail system or separate national rail department and legal framework. Moshoeshoe I International Airport is Lesotho's main international airport. Mokhotlong and Qacha's Nek are regional airports, and several aerodromes support other aviation needs. The 2023 aviation policy identified Airlink as the only scheduled international carrier, serving Moshoeshoe I International Airport and OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa. Scheduled domestic air service was recorded as zero. Medical, defence and other non-scheduled flights may be available, while airport rehabilitation can affect facilities and schedules. The Department of Civil Aviation handles aviation policy, regulation and airport administration. Check the current flight schedule before relying on air travel. The Department of Traffic and Transport handles vehicle registration, driving licences, vehicle permits and inspections, with eCitizen providing access to several services. A driving-licence application generally requires two passport photographs, valid identification and passed theory and practical tests. Stated fees are M200 for a light-duty licence, M250 for a heavy-duty licence and M400 for an extra-heavy-duty licence, with a stated processing time of three days; actual district processing may differ. A Public Driving Permit requires the applicant to be at least 21, to have at least two years of driving experience, a medical certificate, police clearance and a practical test. The stated fee is M200 and the stated processing time is two months. Imported and SADC vehicles may require customs and VAT evidence, Interpol or CID checks and roadworthiness documents. Roadworthiness and fitness checks use different fees for different vehicles. Stated fees are M320 for a light motor vehicle roadworthiness test and M300 for a fitness test; M400 and M450 respectively for heavy commercial vehicles and buses; and M300 and M450 respectively for motorcycles up to 350 cc. A new C Permit requires a certificate of fitness, identification, registration and an application, with stated fees from M205 to M395 depending on passenger capacity and a stated processing time of three months. The current requirements, fees and processing times should be confirmed with the Department of Traffic and Transport because district practice and official schedules can change. The Road Traffic Act 1981 and Road Traffic Regulations 1981 govern driving, vehicles and road use, while the Road Transport Act 1981 and Road Transport Regulations 1981 govern transport services. Vehicles drive on the left. Default speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside them unless a sign sets another limit. On steep mountain roads, uphill traffic generally receives priority where passing is difficult, so a downhill vehicle yields. Traffic signs and police directions apply, and rules cover brakes, lights, tyres, vehicle construction, loads, passenger capacity, parking, emissions and noise. Drivers need a valid licence, registered and roadworthy vehicle, and any permit required for the service or vehicle use. The National Road Safety Council, Road Safety Department, Lesotho Mounted Police Service, Roads Directorate, health services and Road Fund share road-safety responsibilities. Pedestrians and other vulnerable road users face high exposure, while crash data, enforcement capacity and post-crash services remain limited. A policy estimate based on 2016 data recorded 28.9 road deaths per 100,000 people; this is not a current district-level risk measure. Congestion in Maseru, the imported second-hand sedan fleet, unsafe emissions and weak public transport coordination affect safety and environmental performance. Hotter conditions, storms and flooding can damage infrastructure and reduce reliability. South Africa is the dominant cross-border transport connection. Lesotho has 11 border posts, with the Maseru border post serving as a major commuter gateway. Cross-border trips may involve immigration, customs, vehicle, insurance and roadworthiness requirements that depend on the trip and vehicle. There are no seaports relevant to Lesotho. Low-capacity ferries operate on some rivers, including the Malibamatso, Senqu and Senqunyane, but services are informal or fragmented, depend on the site and weather, and have limited capacity. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport supplies or operates some ferries, while Lesotho Highlands Development Authority rules address safety and water quality. No comprehensive national water-transport law or complete private-ferry oversight system was evidenced.