Lesotho Kingdom in the Sky
By Aga Szydlik
The Lesotho Kingdom is an enclaved country in southern Africa and the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters (3,281 ft) in elevation. Its lowest point of 1,400 meters (4,593 ft) is thus the highest in the world. Over 80 percent of the country lies above 1,800 meters (5,906 ft).
The Basotho are a Bantu ethnic group whose ancestors have lived in southern Africa since around the fifth century. The Basotho nation emerged from the accomplished diplomacy of Moshoeshoe I, who gathered together disparate Sotho–Tswana origin clans that had dispersed across southern Africa in the early 19th century. Most Basotho today live in South Africa, as the area of the Orange Free State was originally part of Moshoeshoe’s nation (now Lesotho).
“Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination.
This is an alpine country where villagers on horseback in multicolored balaclavas and blankets greet you through precipitous round bends. The hiking and trekking – often on a famed Basotho pony – is world class and the infrastructure of the three stunning national parks continues to improve. An astonishingly beautiful country, this ‘Mountain Kingdom’ needs to be seen to be believed.”
Aga Szydlik
Aga is an international award-winning documentary photographer based in the USA, and her work focuses mainly on documentary photojournalism, conservation, and exploration of heritage sites, indigenous tribes, and rituals. She actively supports human rights and conservation efforts.
Aga’s professional journey began with fight photography when she lived in Thailand. Muay Thai was one of her many passions, and when she was presented with the opportunity to cover Muay Thai fights, she didn’t think twice about it and had the best time of her life doing it. Aga traveled extensively in SE Asia, had many adventures, and met many fascinating people. Eventually, a few years later, her journey took her to Indonesia and South Africa. Aga’s passion for photography and travel is shared with her love for science, as she spends most of her time trying to cure people and the planet.
Aga actively supports human rights movements, environmental protection, and conservation efforts. Aga’s assignments involve both freelance work and collaborations with various NGOs.
As a nation that boasts about its rich culture, the Basotho can trace their origins to the pre-historic age. The Basotho, also known as Sotho speakers, are said to have originated from the north of Southern Africa. The Basotho made their way down as various tribes settled in different parts of the country. Some groups settled in the west, while others settled in the east and further south. Today these diverse groups are respectively known as the Batswana, BaPedi and Basotho tribes.
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The Kingdom of Lesotho | Key Facts
■ Total Size: 30,355 square km
■ General Terrain: mostly highlands with plateaus, hills, and mountains
■ Geographical High Point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
■ Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
■ Major cities: MASERU (capital) population of 220,000
■ Languages Spoken: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa.
■ Independence: 4 October 1966
■ Nationality: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
■ Religions: Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%
■ National Symbol: Basotho hat
■ National Anthem or Song: Lesotho fatse la bo ntat’a rona (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)
■ The economy of Lesotho Major Industries: food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism, subsistence farming
■ Agricultural Products: corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
■ Natural Resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
■ Major Exports: manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food, and live animals
■ Major Imports: food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products
■ Currency: loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)
■ National GDP: $3,723,000,000
