Local handicrafts (primarily pottery and weaving) of the Basotho are sold in almost every town. Lesotho's most famous handicrafts include the traditional Basotho wide-brimmed, conical straw hats, mats with woven designs, replicas of the rock paintings at Ha Baroana and copper chess sets. You'll also see traditional jewelry made from porcupine quills, seeds and clay beads. Mohair tapestries and gemstones are widely available and extremely affordable. Most of the larger tapestry shops will ship your purchases anywhere in the world.
Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm, Saturday 8 am-3 pm.
Malealea Lodge (http://www.malealea.co.ls) and Thaba Tours (http://www.thabatours.de) can help you arrange pony trekking and excursions into the mountains.
Lesotho is so small that it's possible to see most of the country in less than a week. The following itinerary will give you a good taste of things:
Day 1—Arrive Maseru.
Day 2—Explore the city and visit Thaba Bosiu, or drive north to Teyateyaneng for craft shopping at the numerous tapestry shops.
Day 3-6—Drive from Maseru to Malealea or Semonkong, where you can relax, hike or go pony trekking.
Day 7—Depart Lesotho.
Maletsunyane FallsThe highest of several waterfalls in Lesotho, Maletsunyane is less than two hours by road from Maseru. There is a lodge in nearby Semonkong village with both dorm beds and rooms with private baths. The village of Malealea is a good base from which to hike and pony trek to Maletsunyane, as well as to Lesotho's two other highest waterfalls, Ribaneng and Kentane. 70 mi/112 km southeast of Maseru.
MaseruThe capital, Maseru (pop. 140,000), has grown considerably over the past decade, although there are few attractions in the city itself, apart from its laid-back pace and appealingly quirky ambience. However, it makes a good base for exploring the surrounding countryside. One possibility is a day trip to Thaba Bosiu, the former hilltop fortress of King Moshoeshoe I which defied invaders-including the British, the Boers and the Zulus-for almost 50 years. The king is buried there, and you can arrange a guide to take you to the top of the hill. Another possible excursion is the city of Teyateyaneng, where you can purchase handwoven tapestries from crafts shops and watch the weavers as they work. About 6 mi/10 km southeast of Maseru, the stone shelter of Ha Baroana (its name means Home of the Little Bushmen) has ancient rock paintings of the animals that inhabited the region more than 1,000 years ago.
Molimo-NthuseTo really get away from it all, head to Molimo-Nthuse (the name translates as God-Help-Me Pass.) The views are great, and the hiking is pleasant, albeit very basic. The government's Pony Trekking Center is there and can help you arrange treks of up to five days. There are no lodges, restaurants or stores, so you'll need to take a tent and all provisions with you. For catered (and correspondingly pricier) treks, contact the lodges in Malealea or Semonkong. 60 mi/100 km east of Maseru.
Sehlabathebe Natl ParkThis remote park has some wild animals, but it's primarily a place to escape and unwind. There's a rustic lodge, and plenty of space for camping (take everything with you). Sehlabathebe can be reached by air, via a decent dirt road (in a four-wheel-drive vehicle) from Maseru or by hiking in from South Africa over the Drakensberg escarpment. 85 mi/135 km southeast of Maseru.