Let's clear one thing up. Li-soo-too.
Just the name alone proved a challenge for me. Not les-oh-toe, les-oth-o or any other crazy pronunciation under the sun. Li-soo-too... got it? Let's continue then (ha!)
Location. Lesotho is a teeny little landlocked country inside South Africa. With a total population of just over 2 million, it's home to less people than that of Greater Manchester. The capital city is Maseru, but it is perhaps better known to tourists for its scenic views including the Maluti Mountains, and Maletsunyane.Economy. Far less prosperous than Manchester, though, it is estimated that around 40% of the population live below $1.25 a day. This is why charities such as Skillshare International have set projects up in Mafeteng and surrounding areas to reduce poverty and tackle the issues which have arose as a result of it- such as the HIV/AIDs epidemic which has devastatingly spread throughout the whole of the continent.
Weather. As I keep getting told, (by everybody using the same Wikipedia page I have), Lesotho's lowest point, 1,400m, is the... highest low point in the world. The height and location means that it is generally cooler than its neighbours and suffers particularly cold winters with snow not uncommon in the mountains. I'll be there June - September, the winter time, so the temperature will drop but thankfully the rain would have mostly cleared!
Food. The basis of most diets in Lesotho is 'papa' which is a cornmeal porridge which can be mixed with just about anything. Meat and vegetables for dinner, or sweeter things for dessert.
Today is the 29th June, it's still the morning but I fly out to Johannesburg later on today, and I still (of course) keep remembering things I have to pack. Ahhhh. See ya soon, Lesotho!
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