Maseru

Maseru is the capital of Lesotho and is located in the lowlands of the country - they are still pretty high at an altitude of over 1000 meters. The name means "the place of red sandstone".

Maseru has a temperate climate, categorised by hot, rainy summers and cold, dry winters. The average mean daily temperature during summer—from December to March in the Southern Hemisphere-is 22 °C (70 °F). During winter, between June and September, the average temperature is 9 °C (50 °F).

Maseru has a total of six hotels, two of which, the Lesotho Sun and the Maseru Sun, have casinos. During the 1960s, prior to the relaxation of South Africa's gambling laws, the casinos were popular attractions among South African visitors, but the interest in them has since waned. The Basotho Hat shop at the city's entrance is a popular source for souvenirs.

The main tourist attractions of Lesotho, Lancer's Gap, Sani Pass, Afriski resort, Katse dam, Thaba Bosiu and the Maluti Mountains are located a short distance from Maseru. However, distances are deceiving in Lesotho as even a 120Km trip can take over 3 hours due to the rugged terrain.