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Climate in Lesotho


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Lesotho

Map - Lesotho

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In Lesotho, the climate varies essentially with altitude: it is temperate at the lowest elevations, while it gets colder with increasing altitude. Winter is the driest season, while summer is the rainiest.
Lesotho is a small mountainous country, enclave of South Africa, by which is entirely surrounded. In most of the country, crossed by the Drakensberg (or Maloti) range, the altitude exceeds 2,000 meters (6,500 feet). The highest peak is Mount Thabana Ntlenyana, 3,482 meters (11,424 feet) high.

Waterfalls in Lesotho

Being in the Southern Hemisphere, the country has obviously reversed seasons in comparison with Europe and North America.
In Lesotho, the weather is often unstable, with rapid changes in wind and temperature from day to day.
Snow is more common at high altitudes, above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), where rainfall is more abundant as well.

The climate in detail


  • Temperature and rain - Maseru, Oxbow Lodge
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

Temperature and rain


Maseru

Climate chart - Maseru
The capital, Maseru, is located at an altitude of 1,600 metres (5,250 ft), in one of the least elevated areas of Lesotho (the lowest altitude is 1,400 metres or 4,600 feet). Here, the climate is temperate: it's warm in summer, sometimes hot during the day, but with cool nights, while it's mild in winter during the day but with cold nights.
In fact, the temperature range between night and day is generally wide.
In summer, from December to February, highs hover around 24/28 °C (75/82 °F) and lows around 14/15 °C (54/59 °F). As mentioned, summer is the rainiest season, mainly due to afternoon thunderstorms, which, however, don't reduce too much the sunshine duration.
In winter, from May to August, lows are slightly above freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), while highs are around 16/19 °C (61/66 °F).
Precipitation in Maseru mounts to 775 millimeters (30.5 inches) per year, including more than 95 mm (3.7 in) from November to March, while precipitation is scarce in winter. Although winter is a dry season, sometimes snow can fall.
The sun at Maseru shines all year round.

Oxbow Lodge

Climate chart - Oxbow Lodge
As mentioned, with increasing altitude, the climate gets colder. The Oxbow Lodge is located in the north, 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) above sea level, in the Maloti Mountains, not far from the Moteng pass. Here, from May to August, night temperatures usually drop a few degrees below freezing. Summer is very mild during the day, but with cold nights.
Precipitation is more abundant than in Maseru, amounting to 1,100 mm (43 in) per year. However, winter is dry here too.

When to go



Despite the fact that it is the rainiest season, the austral summer, from December to February, is the best season to visit Lesotho because in any case it's sunny, and at night it's not as cold as the rest of the year.
During the day, it can get hot at lower altitudes, but nights remain cool: even in Maseru, it will be useful to bring a sweater for the evening.
In this period, however, some mountain roads may be impassable because of the rains.

You can also go in spring and autumn, especially in April, September and October, when the temperatures are mild, although there are still considerable differences between night and day; the sun frequently shines, and rainfall is possible but not abundant.
Sometimes, however, it can freeze at night even in spring and autumn, and it can snow at high altitudes.

What to pack



In winter (June to August): in Maseru, bring spring/autumn clothes, a sweater and a warm jacket for the evening; above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), a down jacket, gloves, a scarf, a hat, hiking shoes.

In summer (December-February): in Maseru, bring light clothes for the day, a sweatshirt and a jacket for the evening, a sun hat, a light raincoat or umbrella; for the highest elevations, a sweatshirt or sweater, a warm jacket, hiking boots.

Climate data - Lesotho


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Maseru (1.600 meters)
Maseru, location on the map
Maseru, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.151412951148111214
Max temp.282725221916161922242627
Precip.125115110602515525258095100
Prec. days131312843234101112
Day length138131122113106103105111120128136140
Sun hours9988888999910

Oxbow Lodge (2.500 meters)
Oxbow Lodge, location on the map
Oxbow Lodge, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.7751-3-6-6-40346
Max temp.1918161412991114151618
Precip.170125150854025104040140145160
Prec. days1713151053235131315
Day length137131122114107103105111120128136140



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